Age-old question settled: What is an Ichabod?

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 | 8:01 a.m.

One of the major questions of the college basketball season will be answered tonight when UNLV opens its 2005-06 campaign with an exhibition game against NCAA Division II Washburn University of Topeka, Kan.

What the heck is an Ichabod?

An Ichabod is a basketball player from Washburn. Or a football, baseball or any other player from Washburn. But only players from its men's teams. The women's teams at Washburn are known as the "Lady Blues."

While the unique nickname has brought Washburn plenty of notoriety over the years, it didn't require a lot of thought on the part of some marketing genius.

In 1868, when Washburn became the Ichabods, they didn't have marketing geniuses.

Washburn was founded in 1865 as Lincoln College. It was renamed three years later after Ichabod Washburn, a church deacon and resident of Worcester, Mass, who donated $25,000 to the school.

The school's mascot, the "Washburn Ichabod," is named after the university's benefactor. Drawn by noted graphic artist Bradbury Thompson when he was a Washburn undergrad, it looks a lot like a character from the board game "Monopoly."

Other famous Washburn grads include former presidential candidate Bob Dole and television journalist and producer Bill Kurtis.

Davey Lopes, the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers great, played baseball and basketball at Washburn. Ray Washburn, the former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, did not.

All frivolity aside, Washburn has a proud athletic tradition. The football team is preparing for its first-round game in the NCAA Divison II playoffs. The women's basketball team won last year's Division II national championship, while the men's basketball team has won three consecutive conference titles.

Although graduation and injuries have relegated Washburn to an uncharacteristic fifth place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association preseason poll, the Ichabods are not to be taken lightly.

Just ask Bill Self and Gene Keady. Last year Washburn gave Kansas and Purdue all they could handle before losing 79-70 and 81-72, respectively.

Its curious nickname notwithstanding, the real reason the Rebels are playing Washburn is UNLV coach Lon Kruger's relationship with Bob Chipman, his Ichabods counterpart. The two were teammates at Kansas State in the 1970s.

"A terrific player and a great friend," Kruger said.

"He's coached there more than 30 years with over 600 wins. And going up fast. He gets 25-plus every year."

And a curious look every time his team removes its warm-up jackets.

Ron Kantowski can be reached at 259-4088 or at ron@lasvegassun.com.