Quote from: firstdown on November 17, 2008, 04:00:58 PM
Fortunately Depauw won by playing hard, and without having to rely on stealing signals as occurred in 1998 which made  the time upon the ash heap all the more unbearable.

When will the references to the sign "stealing" end?  First, DPU wasn't part of the conference so they were free to scout games in person.  Second, Wabash could have done what nearly any football team with an ounce of sense would have done and use two people to send in the signals or run a player into the huddle with the play.  DePauw was using four people to signal the offensive plays at the game on Saturday.  Third, it was evident to the Wabash students on the chain gang, the Wabash offense and anyone else on the field that DPU's defense was calling out the plays before they were run and Wabash never changed their method.  Fourth, the DPU offense rolled up close to 35 points in the first half without knowing any of the defense's signals.  Finally, the NCAA investigated it and found DPU not guilty. 

Good luck in the playoffs.

Time for me to jump in the fray...

This game is going to be won by the big uglies up front.  DPU returns 4 out of their 5 OL that pushed the alleged Hard Hat D all over the Blackstock turf last year (not too bad for a school full of pansies, huh  ).  We had a horse in Marks running behind them who is obviously not playing this year.  At the same time, Wabash lost their stud, Adi.  The DPU OL must play as well as last year to win this game.  DPU also returns the rest of their "skill" positions, but I don't know what the passing game is going to look like if there are 20mph winds tomorrow.

On the other hand, the amount of youth in the DPU defensive back 7 could be scary.  We have 6 sophomores and freshman starting on the defensive side of the ball who will be tested.  If the DPU veterans haven't prepared them for what to expect, then it could be a long afternoon.

Can the Wabash front 4 rebound from last year's performance?
Can Ellis or Karazsia step up in the biggest game of their life?
Will the Wabash air assault shred the DPU secondary?
How much pressure can the DPU front bring?

I can't wait to stand for three hours in beautiful football weather to find out.

Safe travels.

FYI- It appears that a VP from Trinity,  Michael Fischer, is one of the finalists to be president at DPU:

http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=20865

Can anyone offer any insights on Mr. Fischer?  How interactive was he with students?  How strong of a leader is he?

WOW.  This year's game epitomizes the rivalry.  The Wabash D made some great goal line stands to keep the game close.  Great play calling and execution of the deep passes down the middle by Wabash.  I don't know where the safeties were, but Hudson & Co. made us pay frequently.  One comment on Adi- the guy can shed a block to make a play.  That is a skill that not many LBs have at any level.

A few stats that you don't see very often- DPU outgained Wabash by 100 yards and held the ball for nearly 40 minutes yet Wabash's quick strike offense went toe to toe with DPU on the scoreboard. 

I am anxious to see how DPU develops next year.  We lose Marks, but only one offensive lineman (Pappas).  Are we going to transition to more of a throwing team with Spud at QB and some good receivers or are we going to find another Horse to feed (Moore)?  Personally, I love seeing a RB carry it 40 times at about 4 yards a pop between the tackles when the defense can't do a thing about it.

By the way- Sportscenter had the kick on the Top 10 Plays.

Best of luck to Wabash in the playoffs.  Winning this game makes the whole year better.

To the Wabash Faithful, A quick and belated note of best wishes to Huff for a speedy and full recovery.  If I understand the situation correctly, he came back for a fifth year.  If so, I don't think we can appreciate how much of a sacrifice he made to come back.  Take a moment to think of what he has done.  He paid for an additional semester at an expensive college, which is highly unusual.  He is not playing for a better position in the NFL draft, but to be with his team while everyone else from his recruiting class moved on to the next phase in their life.  I truly hope for his sake that he can play again this year as he certainly deserves it.

Speaking of 2007 Schedules, DPU has their 2007 schedule on the web site as follows:

Sep. 08 2007 TBA. Football vs. Anderson at Anderson Highland H.S. 
Sep. 15 2007 TBA. Football vs. Centre at Blackstock Stadium (Community Day) 
Sep. 22 2007 TBA. Football at Sewanee 
Sep. 29 2007 TBA. Football vs. Millsaps at Blackstock Stadium (Family Weekend) 
Oct. 06 2007 TBA. Football at Birmingham-Southern
Oct. 13 2007 TBA. Football vs. Trinity at Blackstock Stadium
Oct. 20 2007 TBA. Football at Colorado College
Oct. 27 2007 TBA. Football vs. Austin at Blackstock Stadium (Old Gold Day) 
Nov. 03 2007 TBA. Football at Rhodes
Nov. 10 2007 TBA. Football vs. Wabash at Blackstock Stadium (Monon Bell game)

For the first time in a long time, there is no Hope College as the expanded SCAC leaves them with 2 non-conference games: Anderson to open the season and Wabash to end the season.

Quote from: frank_ezelle on October 30, 2006, 01:13:21 PM
Let me start by saying that this isn't intended to insult anyone so don't take it that way:

In hindsight, I don't know if the DePauw loss to Centre should have been much of a surprise to anyone.  It seems like this has been a mentally and physically difficult year for DePauw:
1)  The Centre game was their 8th game in 8 weeks and their 5th road game in 6 weeks.
2)  The Trinity game had to have taken a toll.  It was a long trip, the game got carried over to Sunday, and DePauw lost.  Right away in your first SCAC game of the season you lose control of your own destiny and past history would have justified a person thinking that no other SCAC team was going to beat Trinity.
3)  Two new head coaches in two seasons has to take a toll in a variety of ways.  New systems, new personalities, the coaches learning about the players and vice versa, etc., it usually adds obstacles to having a successful season.
4)  Just as the Trinity game tooks it toll, the loss to Millsaps must have been a huge blow.  It took away any hopes of an at-large berth, a SCAC co-championship, and it was such a huge turnaround from the results from the previous season.

Given all of the above and the fact that Centre is a good team that was playing at home, it certainly isn't surprising that DePauw lost the game.  I give them credit for fighting back and taking the lead on the road and I'm sure they'll use this down season in the SCAC as motivation during the off-season.

Frank, All truthful and accurate statements though it is actually the fourth head coach in four years.

Nevertheless, the players have a choice to make.  They realize they have plenty of excuses at their disposal for why this year has not been as good as the last couple of years.  So they can choose to play to the level of their own expectations or to the expectations of the fans and observers. 

I hope they have the mental toughness to play to the level of their own expectations and that their expectations are higher than where they are right now.

A lot can be overlooked during the regular season if they win in Crawfordsville.  That game will ultimately determine whether or not this season was a success.

Quote from: Li'l Giant on October 30, 2006, 11:11:02 AM

Quote from: depauwtigers1 on October 30, 2006, 07:16:05 AMThe QB mis-handled the center snap, started batting the ball around, C. Clark picks it up and is off to the races.  Ref called it dead ball.

I was watching that game at my house and I replayed it on my Tivo about 5 times and then said to my guests "we just got a gift".

Lil' Giant, I'd give you a Karma point if I could.  In close games like that it seems there are always 2-4 plays that change the game and that was certainly one of them.  We still had our opportunities, but couldn't pull it out.   

Frank,

That is a great article.  While facing a DuBose-coached Millsaps team will be a more of a challenge, it is great to have a coach of that quality in Division III and in the SCAC.  Ultimately, we will all be better for it.

Best of luck the rest of the season!

Quote from: wally_wabash on October 24, 2006, 04:48:08 PM
RE: knucklehead fans in general and specifically knucklehead fans from the '96 and '98 "incidents" at the Bell game....just want to be clear that I was in no way pointing the finger in anybody's direction.  Nobody is/was right in those situations.  Not even LG.  

Wally, You were clear.

I appreciate the SCAC posters allowing the rest of us to talk about what did and did not happen 10 years ago against our biggest rival.  I have a feeling we will be revisiting this for at least another 10 years so it will be interesting how much is remembered about what happened at that point!  As you can tell, we are able to be civil even though the sting of the memories (1994 and 1995 for me) are vivid enough to make me sick and the joy of the victories (1996 & 1997) are too good to describe.

We will move the discussion to another thread as the game gets closer.  This is just a little preview of what is about to happen in three weeks!

As far as Rogers, I will avoid judgement until all the facts are released.  However, I can't emphasize enough how important the seniors are to this team.  They have endured an experience that few others in any level of college football have experienced.  How well the team responds after being knocked out of contention for the playoffs and conference title will speak to their character and leadership.

Quote from: wally_wabash on October 24, 2006, 03:28:19 PM

Quote from: Werner99 on October 24, 2006, 03:22:20 PM

Quote from: wally_wabash on October 24, 2006, 03:14:10 PM

Quote from: frank_ezelle on October 24, 2006, 02:34:39 PM
Also heard that the loss by DePauw Saturday was their worst since 2002.  In a way that surprised me but then it made me think about just how good DePauw has been over that stretch of time and it makes sense that they hadn't lost by that much in several years. 

And what a fun, fun day that was in November '02.  

Though not near as fun as that November day in 1998!   

Perhaps...of course, 2002 wasn't marred by game controversy, riot police, and knucklehead students destroying anything they could get their hands on.   All in all, a better day for everybody involved. 

There was plenty of blame to go around for both sides regarding the riot police and knucklehead students that day.  All in all, it is good to see the violence settled in the field of play today.

In all seriousness, you don't have a leg to stand on regarding the so-called "game controversy" 

1. The NCAA agreed with DPU that since they were no longer part of a conference, they should not be forced to follow conference rules.
2. Every team with any sense either sends an offensive play into the huddle with a player or uses two people giving hand signals on the sideline so that the other team can not figure out the signals.
3. If the DPU defense is continuously calling out the plays before the snap, then you would think the smart guys at Wabash might figure out a different way to get the plays into the huddle.  Even the Wabash students working the chains realized what was going on yet the play calling method was never adjusted.
4. Finally, I don't think DPU knew any of your defensive plays yet the DPU offense scored 35 points in the first half alone.

I was able to get my tickets yesterday.  Be sure to have our Bell shined up with a fresh coat of polish so she looks good when we bring her home.

Quote from: wally_wabash on October 24, 2006, 03:14:10 PM

Quote from: frank_ezelle on October 24, 2006, 02:34:39 PM
Also heard that the loss by DePauw Saturday was their worst since 2002.  In a way that surprised me but then it made me think about just how good DePauw has been over that stretch of time and it makes sense that they hadn't lost by that much in several years. 

And what a fun, fun day that was in November '02.  

Though not near as fun as that November day in 1998!   

Quote from: Ron Boerger (BfB) on October 24, 2006, 02:48:20 PM
Frank, IMO most of the interceptions came as a result of DPU getting down and having to abandon the best part of their offensive game, which is Jeremiah Marks.   Spud had to go to the air, the Majors knew it and were lying in wait.  Spud's a youngun and isn't experienced enough yet to deal with that kind of a situation. 

In other words, Millsaps put itself in position for those turnovers.  They weren't gifts. 

According to the summary of the game on DPU's web site:

PASSING  Cmp-Att-Int  Yds  TD  Long  Sack 
Abe Winkle   12-20-4  68  0  14  1 
Spud Dick   13-20-1  123  1  31  1

Given that this is the only information I have and assuming it is accurate, then I don't know how badly he handled the situation.  Obviously, a loss is still a loss, but Spud threw only one of the five interceptions.

I know I shouldn't be looking this far into the schedule with a critical game against a tough Rhodes team this weekend, but DePauw announced that tickets to the Monon Bell game against Wabash will go on sale 10/23/06. 

http://www.depauw.edu/ath/football/index.asp?id=18255

It seems they are running the sales through the bookstore rather than the athletic office, which hopefully will make it easier to get through on the phone.

This game is something you need to experience to understand.  I'd enjoy having any SCAC fans stop by the tailgate if you do make it.  I know Crawfordsville is a bit off your radar, but I just had to throw that out there!

I wish everyone a hard-fought and injury-free weekend of play.

Quote from: wally_wabash on September 25, 2006, 01:31:09 PM
Completely different circumstances, Werner.  Wabash came from behind to force OT vs. Franklin.  Closing out a game implies that you've got a lead sometime late in the game. Wabash had no such lead.  Depauw, on the other hand, blew a 4th quarter lead.  Again. 

Make sure you bring some of those 5 big game turnovers up to Hollett this November.  Turnovers always get the crowd pumped up. 

I interpret "closing out" to mean that a team was able to make the plays at the end of the game to win a closely contested game.  Neither Wabash nor DePauw was able to do that.  Wabash had a chance to close out the game in OT and didn't do it.  DePauw had chances to close out the game in the fourth quarter and didn't do it.

With all due respect, you don't get medals for coming from behind only to lose at the end.

I didn't think it was a "completely different circumstance".