114th Annual Monon Bell Game

[BashDad]

especially considering the dude says about 17 words a year.

[bashbrother]

http://www.wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=5203

Good stuff from Amidon and Co. off the Wabash website.

[WAF78]

Yeah...I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have the podcast of the Bell chapel online...they said it will be available on Monday. Then, upon reflection, the things that were said there...well...we don't want to fan the flames for DPU's motivation anymore than we have to.

[DPULefty22]

It's about time to start making some predictions, is it not? I'm to the point where I can't really focus on anything but the game, so here's a prediction from the DePauw side.

IT'LL BE A LONG DRIVE BACK TO CRAWFORDSVILLE IF:
-DePauw controls time of possession. Third-down percentage is going to be MASSIVE for the Tiger offense in this game. DPU has converted 74% of their third-and-shorts this year (between 1-3 yards) but only 30% of all other third downs. If DPU can get into third and short and convert with regularity, they can really chew up some ground... and some clock.
-Alex Fitch and Michael McNelis get consistent pressure on Hudson. Judging by the numbers, it would appear that Hudson would just as soon not have to tuck the football and run. DPU has to get him out of rhythm. Fitch is just now hitting his stride after being hindered by injury early on, and McNelis is a high-motor rusher on the strong side.
-DPU's D figures it out on third down. 22-for-54. That's the opponent's success rate on third-and-10+ against the DPU defense this season. Three different teams have converted more than 50% of their third-and-10+ opportunities against the Tigers this season: Millsaps, Trinity, and Colorado College. Not surprisingly, the Tigers lost two of those and needed two OTs to win the third one. DPU's done a good job forcing third and long - they just need to get off the field when that happens.

I WILL LIGHT MYSELF ON FIRE IF:
-Wabash establishes a run. DPU will probably be looking pass-first. I don't know much about Sobiecki and Porter but their YPC averages aren't too shabby. If they can pick up a few intermediate gains, the field opens way up for the Wabash recievers, and Hudson will have more time to get the ball to them. Wabash went away from the run completely last year. If they manage to run successfully against a solid Tiger run D early, there could be trouble.
-Wabash forces DPU into third-and-long. Already explained above. Spud in a seven-step drop against a blitz isn't exactly the most appetizing scenario for the Tiger faithful.
-DPU can't finish drives. Brendan Smith has the leg to hit from 45 yards. He's just been pushing everything all year long - that's why he's 5-for-13 on FGs this year, and 1-for-8 from beyond 30 yards. Coach Walker doesn't have a whole lot of trust in Smith at this point, which means you could see the Tigers going for it on fourth downs in the red zone. There's a big difference between 3 and 0 points, especially in a game where the teams match up so well like this one.

FINALLY... THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS:
-BOLD: Marks - 31-132-3.
-BOLDER: Kennon - 0 sacks. (Kerry Pappas didn't get to be a four-year starter for no reason.)
-BOLDEST: Pruitt returns a punt for a TD. And that will be the difference.

THE PICK: DPU 28, WC 21.

I look forward to being told what an idiot I am! And hearing other predictions as well.

[BashBacker#16]

WAF78,

Haven't had time to post this yet but thought you'd enjoy...past Little Giants and their jersey numbers:  (random years, random order...)

Carl Hampton #60
Mike Worthington #99
David Broecker #11
Ed Broecker #24
Mike Haugh #32
Sean Lyons #79
Eric Schoettle #47
Chris Ings #12
Brett Butler #12
Mike Funk #1
Bill Kennedy #48
Tim Granson #1
Dave Vandergriff #34
Steve Hoffman #14
Jay Hermann #59
John Pope #46
Joe Bevelhimer #44
Tim Oliver #22
Chris Morris #2
Jake Knott #19
Ryan Short #88
Nate Boulais #41
Tom Jakubowski #41
Tim Parker #43
Killer Kilbane #45
Pete Wilson #87
Billy Kaiser #22
Marty Kaiser #5
Tony Altavilla #7
Jeff Barry #31
Josh Bronaugh #45 & #1
Curt Kasper #1
Darryl Johnson #17
Tim MacGuire #15
Nick Crnkovich #88
Nick Dawson #81
Stu Johnson #4
Bill Wheeler #77
Russ Harbaugh #3
Scott Lahr #74
Jay Olson #72
Chris Cochran #35
Dave Adich #56
Dave Dunlap #48
Bryan Anderson #2
Tim Pliske #2
Chris Wiesehan #1
Blair Hammer #54
BJ Hammer #91
Bill Kennedy #84
Bob Kennedy #24
Larry Hemingway #9
Brent Scheib #11
Jeff Relue #96

Adi's quote rocks!

Wabash Always Fights!

[BashBacker#16]

DPULefty22,

That's good stuff.  Nice info and interesting perspective thru your "hip" Dolce & Gabbana frames.  As Lee Corso will be saying tomorrow during ESPN's Gameday..."Not so fast my friend"

- if you think Coach Neathery will line Kennon up on Pappas all day long, you are crazy.  Also, the Bash D brings heat other then Big DK...watch #65 Lange, and the Senior group of #98 Sparks, #48 Gardiner, and #91 Anderson.  Hope Spud's sprained shoulder holds up...
- the Bash O-line has protected Hudson well all season...Fitch & McNelis don't wear #98 and aren't named Hertel...
- Sobecki & Porter are pretty good backs that get overshadowed with the Air Attack, watch CC work them in to the scheme...Sobecki is more of a bruiser North/South guy and CP is more of the slasher (remember Lafitte's Frosh game at DPU busting for about 150!)
- Jevon Pruitt is good but he cannot cover 5 guys out of the backfield...as mentioned all week, the Bash WR's are as good as advertised (sprint champions, 36" verticals, experience, hands, routes, playmakers)...they'll be too much for the DPU D to handle.

Final score:
Wabash 34
DePauw 17

Chris Creighton vs. Matt Walker???

[wally_wabash]

Nice take Lefty.  Your notes about 3rd downs are good.  Wabash is converting an obscenen 52.7% of their 3rd downs this year. The flip side is that Wabash opponents are converting 43.6% of their 3rd downs...Wabash's D has gotten better on 3rd downs lately, but with DePauw the issue is going to be whether or not Spud has to pick up those 3rd downs or if they'll be close enough to let Marks do it. 

I don't know if Kennon will get any sacks, but he will be a headache.  Kennon's advantage is that he gets to line up against whoever he wants so if he doesn't want to line up over Pappas, he doesn't have to.  Looking at the 2-deep, I'd guess that you'll see Kennon on the edge over the undersized RT a lot.

Time of possession has been mentioned a lot here...I think the importance of TOP might be a little overstated.  Wabash is dead last in TOP in the NCAC and that hasn't really seemed to matter much.  Clearly DePauw will need to limit Wabash's possessions, but ultimately both teams are going to get the same number of possessions and the onus is going to be on DePauw's defense to keep Wabash off the board on most of those possessions. 

Alright, prediction time...Creighton has his players ready.  Amped up but confident and under control.  Hudson will settle in and make the easy short throws and let his receivers work (eventually somebody will bust a big one running after the catch).  Marks will get his, but DePauw's methodical offense won't be able to keep up and will be chasing most of the day.  Final score: Wabash 27, DePauw 13. 

[DadofBashWarrior..]

That quote from Adi is strong!  Makes me want to throw on some pads and hit somebody! 

Who needs pads....I am ready to go.....

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS

[joepieters]

Great list, Bash Backer.  And some tremendous names.

One glaring omission though, and I must admit that I don't recall his number myself. You forgot the big red-head, Pete Metzelaars.  I'd saye he had a decent football career.

[bashbrother]

IT'LL BE A LONG DRIVE BACK TO CRAWFORDSVILLE IF:

Because after the Wabash win, too many Depauw women will want to come back to C-Ville and we didn't have enough vehicles for all of them. 

I WILL LIGHT MYSELF ON FIRE IF:

I pass out after too much beverage with a celebratory cigar in my mouth on the good ole' Lazyboy. 

FINALLY... THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS:

-BOLD: Marks - gets some yards, but pressure on Spud too much to sustain drives.
-BOLDER: Hudson - Finds open receivers all day as it is impossible to cover all of them.
-BOLDEST:  CP Porter pulls a Lafitte and has two 40 + yard runs, one for a touchdown.

Prediction:

Wabash 28
Depauw 10

[DPU3619]

Time of possession has been mentioned a lot here...I think the importance of TOP might be a little overstated.  Wabash is dead last in TOP in the NCAC and that hasn't really seemed to matter much.  Clearly DePauw will need to limit Wabash's possessions, but ultimately both teams are going to get the same number of possessions and the onus is going to be on DePauw's defense to keep Wabash off the board on most of those possessions. 

Perhaps you are on to something.

But, this series has not been known for many 5 play 70 yard 2:00 drives (2002 excluded).  I think that is why Wabash is last in TOP.  Their offense is too good to hold on to the football that long.  They are going to get it and they are going to go score it.  Fast.

However, I don't expect one of those style games on Saturday, so maybe TOP will play a part.  It always does for DePauw.  They need to win that to beat a team that wants to spread it out.

On the other hand, more important than TOP for me is the number of offensive snaps Wabash gets.  DPU allowed an average of 62 snaps per game in the six games the defense played well (Anderson, Centre, Sewanee, BSC, Austin, Rhodes). 

In the OTHER three games (Millsaps, Trinity, Colorado) they allowed an average of 83 snaps per game.  Sure, one of those was in 2OT, but I don't think that skews my data that greatly.  They've got to get off the field.  Plain and simple.  They have the athletes to run with the Wabash WR, but that hasn't been the problem.  Millsaps and Trinity had guys open running down field all day long.  If DPU has fixed those, they have a shot.  If they haven't, Hudson/Huff are going to have a day.

[firstdown]

BB16 - Great list - so many great guys and memories of seasons past.

K-Mack - No worries about Wabash looking past DePauw to the playoffs.  That just isn't going to happen.

I remember seeing the catch in 2001 - what a great feeling - the atmosphere at the Chapel later that evening when the brought in the Bell was electric. 

I remember in 2005 walking into the stadium at C'Ville for the first round of the playoffs against Albion and the Bell (having been won the week before at DePauw) was ringing loud and clear.  It sent shivvers up my spine.

I look forward to having those feelings again this week and  next week. 

[firstdown]

One last memory - the taste of the quaff poured from the Monon Bell that Saturday night after the Monon Miracle.  I can tell you what victory tastes like and it is sweet.  Go Wabash!

[wally_wabash]

One last memory - the taste of the quaff poured from the Monon Bell that Saturday night after the Monon Miracle.  I can tell you what victory tastes like and it is sweet.  Go Wabash!

Amen. 

Best.  Beer.  Ever. 

[WAF78]

Remembering my first Monon Bell as a player...I had never been in a game where the hitting was so ferocious. Hard Hat D has to bring it tomorrow. Go Wabash D, make Marx Grouchy (or is that Groucho?) and plant Spud...over and over again.
Prediction:
Wabash 35
DePauw 28