FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

I agree that the solution that makes the most sense from a weather standpoint is reversing home field and playing the game at DePauw. I'm sure, however, that that wasn't even possible logistically or financially.

[smedindy]

Could you imagine playing for the Bell, then on Selection Sunday the NCAA schedules Wabash and DePauw as a first round game. And you know the NCAA would do something wacky like that.

[Pat Coleman]

Actually, yeah, they would.

The NCAA has shown no hesitation to schedule a rematch of regular-season non-conference opponents. However, those were early-season games, like most non-conference matchups.

[Ron Boerger]

I agree that the solution that makes the most sense from a weather standpoint is reversing home field and playing the game at DePauw. I'm sure, however, that that wasn't even possible logistically or financially.

IMO the danger involved here was in the travel, not in playing the game.  By the time the game was called off, it was pretty obvious there wasn't going to be any weather in SA on Saturday.  If it was unsafe for DU to fly to SA and back, the opposite is equally true.   And the cost would be horrendous - requiring a decent chunk of the $80M TU has already raised towards their $200M goal.     Same thing for trying to find a safe neutral site.  Colorado College?  Abilene?? Eeek ...

The conference fathers (and mothers) are considering their options.  It is possible to rework the schedule, though it would help if a rich SCAC grad (there has to be one somewhere who played sports and made a killing in the market) would come forth to pick up the tab on travel costs.   Not to say the conf IS doing that, just one of the options being considered with all the rest. 

[wally_wabash]

I wouldn't think money would be an issue in moving the game to Greencastle.  Both DPU and and TU are fairly affluent institutions and I think they could justify spending a little extra money given the circumstance.  Logistically it would be tough...but then again, if you've got the money you can make pretty much anything happen.  

smeds, I remember in 2002 there was some chatter about how Wabash would come out in the first round of the playoffs after the Bell game...there was some concern that there would be a let down of sorts.  Fortunately there wasn't...but if they did schedule a Wabash-Depauw first round game, you probably wouldn't have to worry about any let downs!  

[Pat Coleman]

A little extra money? I guess Wabash doesn't fly much. You must have no idea of the logistics of flying and housing 60-70 people at the last minute.

[Li'l Giant]

What would be the worst side effect would be the possiblity that the team that won the playoff game would not be the one that goes home with the Bell. How odd would that be?

[gil68]

A source from DePauw that I have heard from said that the game between DePauw and Trinity most likely will not be played.  Also, a scheduling change this year for DePauw put the Rhodes game on October 15th (a date Trinity has open) instead of being at the beginning of the year.  This week has previously been DePauw's bye week for a few years before this one.

[wally_wabash]

Wabash doesn't fly much, no.  In fact, I can't think of the last time Wabash would have had to fly for a game....most likely would have been for the Stagg Bowl in 1977 (played in Alabama I believe).  I'm sure it costs a small fortune to do what I'm suggesting, but both of these schools sit on enormous fortunes (endowments in or around the half billion dollar area).  The point being that money really isn't an object here...the flying would be tricky...the housing not so much.  Greencastle isn't exactly a hotbed of tourism.  

Do you think the playoff game would be a non-Bell affair?  I think the Bell should be at stake whenever the two teams square off.  

[gil68]

Wally,

I agree that any time DePauw and Wabash play the Bell should be at stake.
I was looking at DePauw's all time scores section on the football homepgae in the archives and saw that there was at least one season where DePauw and Wabash played more than one time in a year, but the example I found (1900) was pre-Bell.

[Li'l Giant]

so, would that make a potential 2005 playoff game the 113th Monon Bell Classic? If the Bell is at stake, then it should be.

[Pat Coleman]

The point being that money really isn't an object here

I really think you have a misguided sense of reality on this (or none at all). The AD can't just walk into the president's office and ask for money like that. It just doesn't happen.

[etg]

Bonzo,
Yes, you are "still crazy after all these years"...but you are also still very analytical when it comes to scheduling! Your post #1977 (or something like it) is right on target. Hopefully you can talk to/work with the SCAC office to help set up such a schedule rearrangement.  All airlines have been announcing that they would "work with" individuals to help with any grossly increased costs of tickets due to Rita. Maybe they would be willing to work with athletic teams as well (some teams can be very good customers).

Bonzo, if possible this would need to be done early next week as the first rearrangement would probably be required next weekend. This is a much better alternative than not playing the game.

[wally_wabash]

And that's fair enough, Pat.  I have no idea how money works amongst the higher levels of wealthy academic institutions.  I do know that both of these schools are sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars...how accessible that money is is beyond me.

Maybe they could pass a hat around at the game to help offset the cost.   

[Ron Boerger]

[...] Hopefully you can talk to/work with the SCAC office to help set up such a schedule rearrangement. 

The SCAC office has acknowledged that as one of a number of possibilities they are considering.  Timing makes it difficult, as is having to change all those schools' travel schedules on such short notice (and getting everyone involved to buy off on it).

That said, anyone thinking I have pull with any conference office is sadly mistaken.