115th Monon Bell Classic

[Breckenridgebear]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CszeIv00TkM

[Li'l Giant]

I have a tie for my personal favorites:

1986--Despite this game being played nearly a decade before I stepped on campus, it's just a great finish.

and

The Catch--yeah, it's an easy one to have as a favorite but I never get tired of seeing it.

I think as much as we, on both sides, love seeing our team win convincingly, what has made this rivalry so compelling is the close finishes.

[bashbrother]

3 -

Personally, my favorite single "moment" of all was in the 2005 game when it was 4th and goal from the 5 for Wabash in the closed end at Blackstock.....  You got under center - then raised up... and turned to the DePauw crowd and asked them to get loader.... you then got back under center and proceeded to run the option to Ogden for the TD.

That was bad arse!

First, because I never thought they'd ever let you run an option and secondly, because it was so wide open. ( I don't think DePauw thought they would let you either )

[wally_wabash]

Yikes...that's twice this week somebody has conjured up the 2004 game.  The 2004 game was easily the most forgettable Bell game that I've seen and I can't imagine that there are many others in the previous 114 games that could have been more of a snoozer than that particular game was.  And it's not even about the result of that game for me.  That game stunk like a foot regardless of the outcome.

I move that we never speak of that yawnfest ever again. 

[DPU3619]

Cosign. I never get tired of watching those, particularly the 2004 Monon Memory where, if you watch the sideline during Wiethoff's TD run, you'll see a young, inexperienced, overexuberant sideline reporter (some would say unprofessional, but hey, the guy learned from his mistakes ) getting his first taste of just how much beating Wabash means.

Sorry, wally.  Can't help it.  I like watching the '04 game just so I can do my Rob Blackmon impression - "Playaction to McMahon, Ahwiethoff is looking.  Says he'll keep it himself.  Has first down yardage AND THEN SOME.   HE'LL TURN IT UP THE RIGHT SIDE AND HE'LL TAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE HOUSE.  NO PENALTY MARKERS ON THE FIELD  DEPAUW DRAWS FIRST BLOOD.  AHROSS AHWEEETAWF!"

The guy just can't say Ross Wiethoff without some nature of emphasis on the first syllable of each word.  Hilarious.

[wally_wabash]

The crazy thing about The Catch is that The Catch probably wasn't even the best catch made in that game.  Obviously the timing of The Catch makes it legendary, but I believe it was Matt Piechocki who made a ridiculous snag on a ball intended for Kurt Casper that Kurt kept alive and off the ground just long enough for Matt to come in and snag it.  I think that was down by the goal line sometime in the first half.  That play was amazing (It looked a lot like the Nebraska catch against Colorado some years ago).

[wally_wabash]

It's a lot of game to watch for just one highlight.  That's all I'm saying.  There was exactly one play made in that entire game and DePauw made it.  Game, set, and match.  Aside from Weithoff's scramble for a TD, there isn't a single redeemable second of football to be watched in that game. 

[BashBacker#16]

BashBro - 2005 TD that you reference.........Speed Option...TOUCHDOWN #32 CHRIS OGDEN!!!  Wide open, untouched.  Clutch call by CC.

[DPU3619]

I dunno, Wally.  I thought that HB pass that LaFitte threw was a really nice play and an even better play call.  The effort from the Hard Hats in the second half was one of the best defensive halves I've ever seen by any team. 

I popped that game in the other day and watched Pynenberg make about 32 tackles as a freshman.

[D3_DPUFan]

That play was amazing (It looked a lot like the Nebraska catch against Colorado some years ago).

I thnk you mean the Nebraska-MISSOURI game? The one where the bill tipped off the Mizzou player's foot.

[wally_wabash]

We can agree to disagree here, Wes.  DPU had a "drive" in the fourth quarter of that game that was 12 plays, covered a distance of an entire 20 yards, and ate up over 7 minutes of game clock.  To this day, I have no idea how that is even possible even though I watched it happen.  Just not an enjoyable game from a viewer's standpoint...or at least this viewer's standpoint. 

That game was just the crappy culmination of a crappy back half of the 2004 season. 

And yes, DPUFan it was Nebraska-Missouri.  I tend not to focus too hard on any team that wears black and gold.  Prolonged exposure to that color combination does bad things for my otherwise pleasant demeanor.   

[wab64]

    2004!  DePauw was something like 2 for 9 passing; the legendary Jamarcus Shepard never got a kick-off out of the coffin corner; Josh Foster had an INT in his breadbasket with nothing but grass ahead and dropped it; Adi was out there calling defensive signals as a freshman; Adi put Weithoff down 1 on 1 with nobody behind him; and another freshman named Marks, I believe, ended up 2nd and short every time he touched the ball, which ruined the day. Even though it was the seventh consecutive lost Monon Bell  that I watched in person- it was the epitome of smashmouth football.

[DadofBashWarrior..]

With Zima out of production, we're scrambling for a substitute (as I'm sure all of you are as well, just in a more tangible manner).  I'm sure we'll be back on the weak malt liquor beverage of choice jokes in earnest next year.  

Hilarious

[bashbrother]

[Breckenridgebear]

Letter from President Casey and President White

November 11, 2008
Dear Members of the DePauw and Wabash Communities,
The Monon Bell game is a great rivalry between two great schools. We both look forward to a fiercely competitive game, and we know that all associated with Wabash and DePauw will have a wonderful time cheering on their teams.
At Byron P. Hollett Stadium, the Wabash community will extend a hearty and welcoming Little Giant hand of hospitality to the DePauw Tigers and DePauw students, alumni, faculty and staff, families and friends.

DePauw University in turn comes to Wabash as welcomed and respectful guests. The eyes of all of Wabash and DePauw will be on us as alumni of of both schools gather in 58 locations all over the country and beyond — and a national television audience will also be witness — as we celebrate the game and this storied rivalry.

The long history of this game makes the rivalry significant; the close win-loss record makes the rivalry intense. What makes this tradition truly great, however, is the deep respect DePauwUniversity and Wabash College have for one another.

Our two storied academic institutions, with our loyal alumni and students, meet each fall for the Monon Bell, and we together are proud of the history we share.
We join together, today, to ask all of you — students, alumni, and friends — to respect one another and each school. Please be safe, and please take care of one another.
We look forward to a great game and a great day for both DePauw and Wabash. We both know that our football teams will compete with passion and spirit and that all our fans will help make the day a time of pride and honor for our teams and both of our institutions.

We look forward to seeing you in Crawfordsville.

Go Tigers, Go Little Giants,

Brian Casey Pat White
President, DePauw University President, Wabash College