115th Monon Bell Classic

[D3_DPUFan]

And I watched the NFL all day yesterday...that stupid saved by zero jingle has been embedded in my brain for well over 24 hours now. 

You too?

[Li'l Giant]

And I watched the NFL all day yesterday...that stupid saved by zero jingle has been embedded in my brain for well over 24 hours now. 

You too?

It's an epidemic!

Save us from 'Saved by Zero,' TV watchers complain

[DPU3619]

I think it's on DePauw's defense.  There's only so much Dick can do.  The Tiger defense will need to play a very good game.  Stop the run, force some turnovers...that's the key.

I agree.  Should have clarified that by saying "offensively".  Ellis isn't Marks and I think that front 5 is really hurting from the loss of Joeckel.  Running game just hasn't been there very much this year.  Kinda ironic, seems like these two teams have flipped offensive systems to a degree.  Wabash is now incredibly balanced and DePauw is leaning on the pass.

Spud's got to be great.  Not that much of a reach, because he's been great all season.  So has Hudson - they're both in the Top 25 in efficiency.  Spud broke the career passing record this week and he's only a junior.  

I'm not sure how much the weather is going to impact DePauw's passing, honestly.  A very, very high percentage of it is short dink-and-dunk stuff.  Have to be some really nasty weather to cause a problem with those.

[WAF78]

Well..what's nice about the Little Giants this year is...if we have trouble on the ground...we WILL put it up...and for big yards. So...if that's DPU's weakness...then we'll look to exploit it. But...before the Wooster game...everyone told us how we couldn't run on them...and we ran all over them. So...we'll see.

[wally_wabash]

I think the weather tends to be an overrated topic when it comes to football.  In 2006 Wabash was able to throw effectively against DePauw in bad weather and on an absolutely awful surface.  Wind more than anything else effects a passing game with respect to elements.  We'll have to wait until we get closer to gameday to know if we can expect high winds.  Wind played a HUGE factor in the 2005 game (remember CC burning timeouts at the end of the first quarter to force DPU to kick a field goal against the wind...which they missed....in a game that ended up being decided by 3 points). 

And speaking of the surface at Hollett...no need to worry about a repeat of the nonsense that happened in 2006.  Wabash's turf has looked as good as I can remember it looking this year.  And then when the game returns to C'ville in 2010 an artificial surface will be down so good sod vs. bad sod will never be an issue again. 

[DPU3619]

But...before the Wooster game...everyone told us how we couldn't run on them...and we ran all over them. So...we'll see.

That is true.  Not sure I can recall Wabash rushing for more yards in a game in recent times.  But, then the Wittenberg game happened.  So, I ask, as a legitimate question, which is it?  Those two teams are fairly close in rushing defense (Witt 77 per, Woo 94 per).  Why do the LG's run for 240 on 50 carries against one, but only 33 on 20 in the other?  What was the magic solution that let them leave cleat marks on the backside of the Scots?

That point aside, I think that if Wabash is going to have success, it's going to be through the air.  That's been the problem for DePauw this year.  Millsaps threw it for 388.  Trinity threw it for 295.  Hasn't really been anybody that torched DePauw on the ground except Austin's stupid modified wing-t thingymajigger.  Maybe it's that doggoned weird formation, or maybe it's because that's the only team in our conference that will line up and run it right at you.  Millsaps and Trinity and everyone else are running the football from the spread.  Maybe that's a factor.  I just don't know, I guess.

[wally_wabash]

Wittenberg was awesome on that particular Saturday.  They have very good players on defense, particularly their MLB Brad McKinley who is the best defensive player (probably by far) that Wabash will see in the regular season.  They absolutely brought it that day and Wabash really didn't.  Since that game Wabash is running for just over 289 yards per game.  I think the OL got their wake up call. 

[BashBacker#16]

Witt's front is very good and their LB's are nasty led by Brad McKinley (Zach Hurtt was really impressive too) who is an All American caliber of player.  Its been well documented that it was Witt's best D performance of the season.  At least that is my take on why we struggled to run the ball at Witt.

Bet you we see balance on Saturday for the Bash O and one will set up the other.  Sobecki, Kimp, and Yoder are running really hard and downhill and behind one of the better O-lines we have had in a long time.

[BashBacker#16]

Call Jon (see below) if interested...Thursday night is the Annual Monon Bell Stag, it is a great event and a lot of fun to see roasters from both schools take shots at one another. I would encourage you to attend...alums, former players, current parents, etc. Here is the invite:

The Indianapolis Association of Wabash Men
And
The Men of the DePauw Indianapolis Alumni
Invite You To The
Annual Monon Bell Stag
"The Traditional Celebration of the Monon Bell Experience"

Celebrating Our Schools' Shared Tradition In
The Best Small College Football Rivalry In The Galaxy

Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Marriott Hotel
350 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis

Cocktails at 5:45 P.M. and Dinner at 6:45 P.M.

Entertaining and Edifying Speakers (i.e., the Wabash speakers)

Greetings From Wabash President Pat White
Pregame Report by Jim Amidon '87
"Spirit of the Monon Bell" Awards Presented To Chris Braun W'81
And Mark Dinwiddie D'71
Wabash Roaster, David Timmerman, Professor of Rhetoric
DePauw Roaster, Mark Ford '71
Cost: $50.00 per person
$40.00 for Classes of 2004-2008

Make your reservation NOW. Please no walk-ins.
But please no later than November 10, 2008!
Questions? Contact Jon Pactor '71. See contact information below.

Please encourage others to attend.

Jon Pactor
One Indiana Square, Suite 2410
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Tel.: (317) 636-0686
e-mail: pactorlaw@iquest.net

[fijidoc]

This is just a hunch but look for Wabash to throw early to set up the run late.

All year we have been balanced and used the run to set up the pass.  I would not be surprised to see coach Raeburn mix it up this week knowing that Depauw is going to come out and try to shut down the run early.

Look for Wabash to loosen up the Defense with the pass probably some deep ones early to back the safties up and back up the linebackers then come back to the run to finish off the game.

[wally_wabash]

Raeburn definitely has plenty of options.  I wouldn't be surprised to see what you're talking about.  I also wouldn't be surprised if ER comes out and runs 8 straight times right into the endzone not unlike the Wooster game.  Want to set a tone that you are not and will not be as physical as we are?  That's how you do it...Wooster got shoved around all game by the Wabash OL and it started from the first snap. 

[D3_DPUFan]

I think the weather tends to be an overrated topic when it comes to football.  In 2006 Wabash was able to throw effectively against DePauw in bad weather and on an absolutely awful surface.  Wind more than anything else effects a passing game with respect to elements. 

Absolutely...wind is a much bigger factor than rain in the passing game. Hopefully we'll have neither Saturday ...

And speaking of the surface at Hollett...no need to worry about a repeat of the nonsense that happened in 2006.  Wabash's turf has looked as good as I can remember it looking this year.  And then when the game returns to C'ville in 2010 an artificial surface will be down so good sod vs. bad sod will never be an issue again.

Good! As you suggest the field was ridiculous two years ago.

[D3_DPUFan]

Anyone have a read on ticket sales?

[WAF78]

If you have a minute or two...go over to the East Region board and read the posts for the 2008 Cortaca Jug. Funny stuff.

D3...have no idea on the ticket sales....but it'll be a good crowd for sure. The biggest hazard of the day for many Wabash fans will be the last minute rush from the tailgate area into the stadium right at 1:05.

[D3_DPUFan]

D3...have no idea on the ticket sales....but it'll be a good crowd for sure. The biggest hazard of the day for many Wabash fans will be the last minute rush from the tailgate area into the stadium right at 1:05.

yep...i hope it's packed...was a great crowd at wabash two years ago, but a few empty areas...perhaps because of the crappy weather...