114th Annual Monon Bell Game

[gobash]

Let the epithets flow free, it's Monon Bell week!  Discuss the game below...do the Dannies have a chance at knocking off an undefeated playoff bound Wabash team?  Will Wabash tie up the series at 35 since the introduction of the Bell?  How many Smirnoff Ices can a single Danny guy drink in a sitting?

Wabash Always Fights

[cave2bens]

How many Smirnoff Ices can a single Danny guy drink in a sitting?

Wabash Always Fights

It...Depends  

DePauw Swallows.

[bashbrother]

http://www.depauw.edu/av/fball/monon-ballad.mp3

I just love dusting this one off every year........

[WAF78]

Do the Dannies have a chance?...of course they do...that's why you play the game. They have a good running game and a good QB...he's such a Dick though....
And...for them to be the spoiler for Wabash's undefeated season...quite the motivation. I think Wabash's passing attack with be too much for them...but our D has been suspect all year...so we'll see.

[gobash]

I want to see Pynenberg one-bite-eat the entirety of the DPU o-line, and then promptly belch up their cleats TIED TOGETHER.  Note I didn't say I wanted him to eat their QB...that would just invite some of those one-note "Wabash guys are gay" jokes that are the only refuge of the sparkling wits of DePauw.

But yeah, the temptation of playing spoiler is going to be awfully strong.  We're definitely going to have to bring our A+ game.  Bell games are hard enough, now they have a reason to get off their heated stadium seats and cheer.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make out with like 20 guys.  (Oh no!  The jokes that will be made!)

Go Wabash!

[wabashcpa]

As if the Bell itself isn't enough motivation, the possibility of two home playoff games should give the good guys additional motivation to finish the season the right way, and allow the Bell to complete the round trip back to the Allen Center.

[billrt66]

I've seen Wabash play in person the last two years against Franklin, both games going to the home team, last year Franklin, this year Wabash and its clear to me Wabash will punish Depauw.  The Bell is safe in Wabash's talented hands.  In Indiana, the Franklin-Wabash game is quickly becoming the most competitive and excitng game each season.....I for one hope it continues for years to come!

[Ron Boerger]

In Indiana, the Franklin-Wabash game is quickly becoming the most competitive and excitng game each season.....I for one hope it continues for years to come!

Dude, would you PLEASE take off the homervision goggles.   Read the title:

114th Annual Monon Bell Game

Just because Franklin has played Wabash close for two years doesn't make it a rivalry.   

[wally_wabash]

Franklin/Wabash have played great games the last two seasons.  But those games don't even get close to Monon Bell games.  Not even close.  I hope Wabash and Franklin can get their rubber match in the playoffs this year, but please....they aren't Monon Bell games.  Bell games are different from any other game.  They're different from our Wittenberg games (which are the biggest non-Bell games of the year) and they're different from playoff games.  It's just a completely different kind of game.  Tivo the Monon Bell on Saturday...you may start to get an idea.

[DPU3619]

Agreed, wally. 

That's borderline blasphemy, there.

[cawcdad]

I work with a DePauw football alum out here in California. He commentd that for the Bell game, throw all the records out the window, they don't mean a thing. That's the kind of game I would love to see. Have fun all.

[smedindy]

Yes, throw the records OUT of the window, onto the street. DPU will bring it, but I don't think it will be enough, thank goodness.

Oh, and the Wabash / Franklin rivalry ends now. Next year, 'Bash plays in the NCAC / UAA and has non conference games against Chicago and Wash U. Depending on how successful it is - that may stick around for a while. Three of the four UAA teams have been pretty decent recently. 

[bashbrother]

CC and the boys need to keep this a few more years.

One of the keys for the Game is for Marks to be contained by the Hard Hats.   I am sure Depauw will try to get a hold of the Wooster game film.   Also, pressure on Spud will be important.   

[wally_wabash]

I saw a dude decked out in DPU gear at the Wooster game...I can't imagine he just happened to be in the area.  They'll at the very least have detailed notes from our yawner over in Wooster.  But I'm really not concerned about it.  As I detailed last week, Wooster got massive chunks of yards on two plays (one a meaningless qb scramble at the end of the first half) and were pretty much contained for the rest of the game.  It really wasn't as bad as it seemed at the time. 

You can definitely scrap the records.  DePauw hasn't had anything else to play for since the Trinity game and have no doubt used the interim to focus on Wabash and to get healthy.  I'm guessing DePauw will come into this game about as healthy as they've been all year and will give Wabash all they can handle. 

[wabndy]

 - I am sure Depauw will try to get a hold of the Wooster game film.

Or live scout the games.  Any Wally who was at the 98 drubbing (also a 9-0 team) knows better than to be too overconfident going into a Bell game.  The sad reality of D3 football is there is far too little crossover to really get a gauge on what level of competition someone in a different region is playing at.  The dannies have losses to Millsaps and Trinity.  The latter is playoff bound - the former probably should be.  Much as I would be (and probably will be) somewhat nervous playing a "number seven seed in name only" team like Capital in the first round, I would never underestimate the Dannies; in wine cooler chugging, kicking fat girls out of sororities, misspelling the word 'sheep,' or having daddy pay off the officials. 

On that last note - are we getting a SCAC crew for next saturday's game?

P.S. - The dannies did put up a nice retrospective of the rivalry in video form.  Operation Frijoles is still my all time favorite though. 
Click here for the story: http://www.depauw.edu/av/mononmems/1965.mov