114th Annual Monon Bell Game

[wally_wabash]

By the numbers, Spud isn't much of a runner.  He's only got 35 rush attempts on the year...I'm guessing 10 or so of those are sacks, probably another 10 or so are pass plays that broke down and he scrambled, and the other 10 or so are by design.  By comparison, Wooster's qb (who is the guy that has everybody slamming the panic button) has run 98 times, most by design.  My guess here is that if Spud is running, that's not a good thing for DePauw. 

[DPU3619]

That's a good estimate, wally.  Spud's no Wiethoff.  They'll move him around a little back there, but he ain't tucking it.

I agree on Marks.  He's still the key.  DePauw is probably the most balanced offensive team I've seen in my six years following them.  The McMartin era was a pass happy group.  And then the Lynch & Rogers eras were both run, run, run.  This DPU team can run well, but they have tons of young talent on the outside.  However, they still have to run the football well.

The Hard Hat D has not been as good this year (still good, not as good) this year as they have been in the past couple of years against the run.  This is probably the year that DePauw REALLY needs Marks to get loose.  You asked how healthy he was, I think the Austin game was the first time he'd really been 100%.  He ran well last week, too.  He'll be good to go. 

Dunno anything about how healthy DPU is defensively.  That unit's been kinda patchwork most of the second half of the year. 

[smedindy]

I worry about Marks, but I often worried about Jamarcus Shephard too and he didn't do much in the Bell Game. Of course, that was mostly when Nick was coaching, so there's THAT then...

[wabndy]

What I'd really like to know is why Wabash and DePauw aren't back in the same conference after all this time.  It still just doesn't feel right when we aren't killing each other over a conference championship.  Does depauw really like flying to colorado and texas?  For all your sports?  I'll be the first to admit the old ICAC was a joke - and can't blame anyone for trying to find greener pastures.  At least neither of us have to schedule those alford-loving manchester crooks in basketball.

If the rivalry has changed - it is in the lack of a conference tie in.

[bashbrother]

He's coming....are you ready?

[gobash83]

If the rivalry has changed - it is in the lack of a conference tie in.

I have to disagree.  There were some "good old days" for the rivalry, such as the early 80s, when there was no conference championship on the line.  I think the rivalry is the strongest when both teams have good teams and there hasn't been a long run of dominance. 

While some of the "pranks" may have gone by the wayside, I think it is also fair to say that the civil authorities in both Crawfordsville and Greencastle have also become less understanding of such activities.  As I move closer and closer to being the parent of a college freshman, I guess I am more comfortable with the notion that the fights, property damage and thefts (all under the guise of pranks and school spirit) have diminished as well.

ln fact, recent history should be a reminder that a rivalry like this one can be fragile.  If it wasn't for those fences and gates (which I also despise), we may not be looking at a 114th Monon Bell Game this weekend.

I think it is a great rivalry and one that we should cherish and protect, even if it isn't as "fun" as we thought it was when we were students (though, it probably wasn't that fun back then, as much or 40 times, jump shots or girlfriends weren't as good we want to remember them being either).

[smedindy]

What I'd really like to know is why Wabash and DePauw aren't back in the same conference after all this time.  It still just doesn't feel right when we aren't killing each other over a conference championship.  Does depauw really like flying to colorado and texas?  For all your sports?  I'll be the first to admit the old ICAC was a joke - and can't blame anyone for trying to find greener pastures.  At least neither of us have to schedule those alford-loving manchester crooks in basketball.

If the rivalry has changed - it is in the lack of a conference tie in.

Bottoms and DPU are too proud to admit they made a mistake. Rose Hulman admitted their errors. I'd love to see DePauw and Washington & Jefferson as part of the NCAC. W & J has a PBK chapter, so they can fit in to the NCAC.

[DPU3619]

Bottoms and DPU are too proud to admit they made a mistake.

Perhaps. 

But, I think they're still fairly pleased with the level of competition they face in all sports in the SCAC.  That and they're pretty happy to be in that conference because of the academics.  Not that the NCAC is bad, I just dunno anything about them.

And the University doesn't seem to have a problem with athletes missing 10 days of class every season so they can fly all over the South.  It's a good recruiting tool, if nothing else.

[old wabash]

waf78,

if i remember it was old cripple (old crow+ripple).
a real warmer for cold football days.

[wabndy]

Bottoms and DPU are too proud to admit they made a mistake.

Not that the NCAC is bad, I just dunno anything about them.

Uuh?  Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison?  Never heard of em?  OK. (silence)

No - I don't want to start a US News flame war - other than to submit that their rankings aren't entirely invalid to at least roughly gauge national reputation.  

National Liberal Arts Colleges
20. Oberlin College(OH)  
26. Colorado College  
32. Kenyon College(OH)  
40. Sewanee—University of the South(TN)  
44. Centre College(KY)  
49. DePauw University(IN)  
49. Rhodes College(TN)  
52. Wabash College(IN)  
52. Denison University(OH)  
71. College of Wooster(OH)
75. Austin College(TX)  
75. Birmingham - Southern College(AL)  
85. Allegheny College(PA)  
87. Millsaps College(MS)  
97. Ohio Wesleyan University  
118. Wittenberg University(OH)  

NR
Hiram
Trinity (TX)

I know that the big reason both of us left the ICAC was that it was a weak (pathetically weak) academic conference.  I think this empherical look shows both conferences stack up pretty equally with regard to academic reputation.  I guess its a matter of choice.  Is it worth the recruiting cost/time away from class/fatigue to go to colorado for regular season D3 sporting events?  Hey - its your daddy's money.

[wabco]

Hey Wes Anderson ....

You are going to get a chance to watch our Wes Anderson ... #91.  Now there is a Wes Anderson I like.  Putting licks on Dannies ... inside the DPU concertina wire.

I would be concerned about DPU trick plays.  As a team with nothing to lose (having already lost whatever they may have started the season to accomplish), I anticipate a spate of junior high like plays.  I recall the games where one team had something to lose and the other had essentially nothing left.  The something to lose team played "football strategy" , struggled and more often than not was defeated by the out of the box antics of the other.  I fear this.  I believe up and up ... Wabash has better personnel and better coaching.  However, beware the "we play 4 down football because God gave us 4 downs" in place of more conventional field position/time/football strategy think.

[bashbrother]

Why are we talking academics on the Bell Game board??

This has to do with a FOOTBALL game that is being played on Saturday.

[DPU3619]

Uuh?  Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison?  Never heard of em?  OK. (silence)

Hey, I told you I didn't know anything about them.  What else do you want from me?

And you know, if the school wants to spend all that money to send their students to San Antonio, Atlanta, Memphis, and Colorado Springs, that's fine by me.  Those are experiences I'm glad I saw.  I wouldn't trade those for 4 or 5 hour bus rides to Wooster, Glanville, and Springfield.  Don't get to see the Riverwalk, Graceland, Beale St. and the like on NCAC road trips.  And I happen to think it's pretty neat.

Hey Wes Anderson ....

You are going to get a chance to watch our Wes Anderson ... #91.  Now there is a Wes Anderson I like. 

I remember when I saw that they recruited that kid.  I'm glad he's finally getting PT.

[Ralph Turner]

Trinity was #1 in the West Region for Master's Universities.

[wally_wabash]

And you know, if the school wants to spend all that money to send their students to San Antonio, Atlanta, Memphis, and Colorado Springs, that's fine by me.  Those are experiences I'm glad I saw.  I wouldn't trade those for 4 or 5 hour bus rides to Wooster, Glanville, and Springfield.  Don't get to see the Riverwalk, Graceland, Beale St. and the like on NCAC road trips.  And I happen to think it's pretty neat.

Beale, Graceland, Riverwalk...sounds like one heck of a spring break road trip to me.  Football season isn't about tourist traps.   

Instead of traveling to tourist hot spots in the south in the fall, Wabash has elected instead to focus on winning championships every fall and taking summer trips overseas every few years.  Very enriching experiences for the team (both the championships and the trips) so I've been told.