115th Monon Bell Classic

[BayernFan]

Well, I thought it would be a blowout and over by halftime.

I was right. 

Just had the wrong team doing the blowout. 

Congrats to DPU who came in like men, and kicked the crap out of a Top Five team on the road.

I ate my crow at the New Ross Steakhouse, so my day wasn't totally ruined.

Perhaps Wabash should consider turning down the automatic bid out of dignified pride..... as badly as they performed today.  I am not sure they deserve to be in the playoffs, period.

But if they do play in them, I'll be there.

[BayernFan]

By the way, DPU has won the last FOUR leap year Bell Games.  Last leap year Wabash won was in 1984.

[BashDad]

Perhaps Wabash should consider turning down the automatic bid out of dignified pride..... as badly as they performed today. 

I said this to my bro as we walked from the game, steaming.

[BayernFan]

Perhaps Wabash should adopt this as their own rule....... only go to the playoffs if they win the Bell.

I spoke with a player from the 70s at halftime.  He thought the playoffs were part of the problem, in that the players, once they qualify for them, don't have their head in the Bell Game as they should.  He said that he thinks the Bell Game is much more important than the playoffs.  I heard that sentiment a LOT today.

So maybe the rule I propose would solve the problem.  As in the Athletic Department making clear to the coaching staffs and teams (now and in the future) that we at Wabash don't give a rat's fart about the playoffs.  The Bell is more important.  Win the Bell FIRST.  If the NCAA says you qualify after that.... fine.

[DPU92]

 "But actually that's one of the many pleasures I do take from DPU winning the Bell - it completely robs your lives as Wallies of all but the scarcest meaning..."



Well said Lefty...well said...

[BashDad]

Nah. I don't buy that whole argument. The bell is the bell and getting beat is just getting beat. More heart in today's game wouldn't have changed the outcome.

I will say that it'd be nice if both schools were in the same conference. We'd solve both problems, that way. But as it is, jokes aside, i think it's hard to tell a team that has done all it should up to this point, to pack it in and call it a year. They've earned a spot in the tournament and they should take it. It just ain't as sweet.

[DPU3619]

I disagree with that, too.  There should be 2 priorities for both these football teams every season:

1. Win the National Championship
2. Win the Monon Bell

They should go in that order.  Period.  I love this football game more than anything else in the world.  It's been part of my life since I was old enough to understand it.  But, if you aren't playing Division III football to win the Stagg, then you aren't playing for the right reasons.  You have to go to the playoffs to win the whole thing.  Playoffs shouldn't be the ultimate goal.  The trophy at the end of that road should be.

Now, I'd rather have the Bell than a first round playoff loss.  I'd rather have the Bell than a loss in the round of 8.  I'd rather have the Bell than a loss in the National Championship game.  I firmly believe that.  Call me crazy if you want.  That's fine.  If I can't have the Walnut & Bronze, I want that 300 pound Bell in the Raymond "Gaumey" Neal Fieldhouse.  Gauging by today's response of you folks in red, I don't think I'm that far off.  DePauw can't win the National Championship this year, like past years, so this trophy works just fine for me. 

[D3_DPUFan]

Dick: 13-32 147 0 tds 3ints
Hudson: 12-20 245 2tds 0ints

BashDad...

You were VERY perceptive...but perhaps you flipped the QB's....by a LONG SHOT....

[BashDad]

tell me about it...

[bashbrother]

Congrats to Depauw for beating our butts.  .

Kind of like Whitewater last year, by the time we got our balance we were down 30+.

It was brutal.   

Spud is a special player.

[Jonny Utah]

Perhaps Wabash should adopt this as their own rule....... only go to the playoffs if they win the Bell.

I spoke with a player from the 70s at halftime.  He thought the playoffs were part of the problem, in that the players, once they qualify for them, don't have their head in the Bell Game as they should.  He said that he thinks the Bell Game is much more important than the playoffs.  I heard that sentiment a LOT today.

So maybe the rule I propose would solve the problem.  As in the Athletic Department making clear to the coaching staffs and teams (now and in the future) that we at Wabash don't give a rat's fart about the playoffs.  The Bell is more important.  Win the Bell FIRST.  If the NCAA says you qualify after that.... fine.

Sound like this game went the same way the IC/Cortland game went.  Maybe the game should be played as the 3rd or 4th last game of the year?

[wabndy]

I got a chance to run into Greg Carlson in Crawfordsville Saturday night.  He was in town for his induction into Wabash Athletic HOF induction ceremony.  I confirmed it was his first bell game since 2000. 

I told him that this year's game was eerily familiar with the 98 squad.  No I suggesting any sign stealing business this time around.  In both 98 and this year - we were thoroughly outplayed.  We agreed how unfortunate it was that the very good 98 team didn't have the opportunity to experience the playoffs.  Anybody who watched the 98 game against Hanover couldn't disagree.  I don't care who says otherwise - GC was and is a class act.

I guess my last comment will be to wish the Tigers the very best.  I hope they have a great offseason and lick their demons - Trinity and Millsaps - and roll into the bell game next year with a conference championship - or as they call it in the bell game - a disadvantage.  That thought leads to one other - the only thing that could top a bell game for D3 intensity - Wabash v. DePauw in a playoff game.  That would be cool.

[DPU3619]

That thought leads to one other - the only thing that could top a bell game for D3 intensity - Wabash v. DePauw in a playoff game.  That would be cool.

I immediately thought that when I saw Wheaton in the NCC bracket.  I kinda knew at that point that DePauw was probably out, and had it been the Old Gold instead, how about that potential second round match-up?

[old wabash]

congrats to the tigers on keeping the bell.
i agree withn the consensus... we got monkey-stomped.
and i was wrong... as i thought if it was a ms it would be in favor of the ranked team!

my question (with absolutely no sarcasm) if you can play like that at bell time, why not trinity/ millsaps?
i just can not make sense of yesterday's game

[bashbrother]

my question (with absolutely no sarcasm) if you can play like that at bell time, why not trinity/ millsaps?
i just can not make sense of yesterday's game

The answer may be as easy as what many of us Wabash fans immediately thought upon looking in the mirror and reflecting Saturday evening; Possibly, Wabash is not as good as the rankings, record, points scored etc.........it may not have anything to do with Depauw vs. Millsaps or Trinity.

WAF...... Beat Case!!