115th Monon Bell Classic

[wally_wabash]

Speaking for myself and my good friend gobash, we didn't leave early.  We stood there in the bleachers in the west end zone for every agonizing second of it.  All I'm saying is that the vast majority of that game was like standing there watching Ray Lewis have his way with your girlfriend.  It was awful.  I can understand if people wanted to look away or stop looking all together.  I don't like it, but I can understand it.  There are worse sins to commit than cutting short one of the worst three hour experiences of your life. 

The Ray Lewis analogy...now that is descriptive!

Accurate...and funny.  Humor helps me cope.   

[Werner99]

Fortunately Depauw won by playing hard, and without having to rely on stealing signals as occurred in 1998 which made  the time upon the ash heap all the more unbearable.

When will the references to the sign "stealing" end?  First, DPU wasn't part of the conference so they were free to scout games in person.  Second, Wabash could have done what nearly any football team with an ounce of sense would have done and use two people to send in the signals or run a player into the huddle with the play.  DePauw was using four people to signal the offensive plays at the game on Saturday.  Third, it was evident to the Wabash students on the chain gang, the Wabash offense and anyone else on the field that DPU's defense was calling out the plays before they were run and Wabash never changed their method.  Fourth, the DPU offense rolled up close to 35 points in the first half without knowing any of the defense's signals.  Finally, the NCAA investigated it and found DPU not guilty. 

Good luck in the playoffs.

[BayernFan]

There is no question that DPU came out totally focused and driven.  For the entire game, it was clear that they, to use the old cliche, wanted it more.  By far.

This leads many Wabash fans to wonder how this could be?  How could Wabash appear so unfocused and out of it for the Bell Game, for crying out loud?  Add to this the way Wabash totally dominated its opposition all season long, and not a few Wabash fans left the game (and are still) scratching their heads.

A friend of mine who also went to the game picked up a copy of the Bachelor while he was there.  Of course, most of issue was devoted to the Delts.  He suggested that judging from the tenor and content of the articles about the Delt house, the students have been and are deeply affected by what happened on November 6th.   The College's terminating the Delt house so suddenly has thrown the campus for a loop.  Most of the guys are wondering whether their house will be next.  There is a lot of confusion and anger at the College for the way it was done.  Other student publications that I read question whether the College is using the students as a scapegoat for problems the College now has with regard to this issue. 

The death of the freshman at the Delt house and the College's sudden closing of the Delt house, followed by a week of wondering what will happen next, my friend suggests, may well have affected the team, its members (many of whom are probably Delts), and has so preoccupied them that it is no wonder that they appeared to mail it in for the first half.

What may have been inexplicable may have an explanation after all.  We adults who are removed from day to day campus life don't understand at first what drives young men who are there.  We show up for the Big Game, expecting our guys to perform well, without thinking about what problems they may be having in class, in their frats, with their girlfriend, or at home.  A team can cover for a guy having a down week, but when a whole team is having problems.... the same huge problem......  covering is not the issue anymore.  Can't be done.

Anyway, I just wanted to throw this out there.  After having read the Bachelor and the two other publications, I think the issue with the Delt house has affected the guys there a LOT more than we realize.  And it is no small leap from that to understanding that this may explain what the heck happened out there on the field this past Saturday.

DPU came to play, and it played well and deserved the Bell.  No question there.

But maybe our motto of WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS did not desert the team on Saturday.  For the team, and the campus, perhaps there is a more important fight going on than the Bell game.

The campus, and the team as it prepares for Case, have my best wishes and prayers that they all get through this huge mess.

Just a thought.

[D3_DPUFan]

After having read the Bachelor and the two other publications, I think the issue with the Delt house has affected the guys there a LOT more than we realize.  And it is no small leap from that to understanding that this may explain what the heck happened out there on the field this past Saturday.

Well, there you have it.

This leads many Wabash fans to wonder how this could be?  How could Wabash appear so unfocused and out of it for the Bell Game, for crying out loud?  Add to this the way Wabash totally dominated its opposition all season long, and not a few Wabash fans left the game (and are still) scratching their heads.

Are you serious? Do you really want answers to those questions?

[BashBacker#16]

Congrats to DPU on a great game on Saturday.  The 4 INT's were large, the blocked kick on Wabash's first possession was big, Ellis was better then expected, and Spud and his WR's were as good as advertised.  With that said, I don't know if I can sit and say DPU won the battle in the trenches...I think the DPU O-line did a nice job of protection but most times Spud dropped back and the ball was off.  When the Bash O was on the field, I wasn't sitting there thinking...someone needs to block someone.  I was disappointed Bash got away from Sobecki (and the run game) so early but we were down quick - and it continued to widen.  I was also surprised the Bash D didn't do more adjustments to try to make something happen...press the corners and force DPU WRs in, send a corner, send a safety....due to DPU's game plan, the Bash front just couldn't get pressure before the ball was gone.  It just seemed Bash's D backs and LB's were a step slow all afternoon...I am not sure why.

I would have never predicted this outcome but again congrats to DPU on a great win and great game plan.  It helps to know that Spud is a great kid with a bright future...from a great family - I just wished he would have picked Wabash.

Last, it does help to know that Spud was on a radio interview today on 1260 AM in Indy (JMV's) between 4-5 pm...while he was on his interview...Hudson was walking out to the practice field for another game in the NCAA playoffs.  Luckily, as Firstdown said, a playoff run (just like last year!) will go a long way and we have to turn the page...no other choice.

Wabash Always Fights!  Beat Case!

[Breckenridgebear]

Da'Bash does play another game next week, but those seniors will never know what it feels like to ring the bell one last time in Da'Bash Red.

[D3_DPUFan]

With that said, I don't know if I can sit and say DPU won the battle in the trenches...I think the DPU O-line did a nice job of protection but most times Spud dropped back and the ball was off.  When the Bash O was on the field, I wasn't sitting there thinking...someone needs to block someone.

I liked the way DPU played up front...but I wouldn't disagree with your take on it...

[Breckenridgebear]

No Bell? No National Championship? Sounds like a failure of a season to me.

[D3_DPUFan]

I received notification that the Monon Bell DVD's have been mailed. This year's package is a 2-disc set that includes all of the "Monon Memories" as well as additional vintage Bell stuff...should be pretty cool...also look forward to taking a more critical look at the game...