115th Monon Bell Classic

[wally_wabash]

Again, you won't get disagreement from this Wally, Lefty.  The result was disappointing last year, but the 114th edition of our game may have been the best all around game that I've seen in the rivalry (which for me goes back to 1996).  2005 is pretty close. 

[Fripp52]

Agree with last year's game being pretty damn good, win or lose.  I cannot comment on the others as I did not see them.  Just getting back into this rivalry as of last year.  I played in the 83 game which was pretty good.  Anyway, hope this game is just as good.  Good luck to both teams.  The key to this game is one thing - DePauw's defense.  If they cannot stop Wabash, it will be a shootout and I suggest Wabash wins.  DePauw goes into a lull offensively in the second quarter and sometimes parts of the third quarter.  By the time they wake up, if DePauw's defense cannot stop Wabash, it may be over.  Or coming from behind may be too hard.  DePauw will score.  Can their defense stop Wabash more often than not ?  Stop by our tailgate.  We will be parking on Friday night somewhere close.  Start serving between 8 and 9.

[DPU3619]

I really loved the 2004 game.  Although, I'm partial to defensive slugfests.  Just two teams hitting each other right in the mouth for 60 minutes.  I'm probably also partial to it because I had the honor of being a part of it.

2001 was of course a great one.  Yeah, the Short to Casper tip and all that, but that was a terrific second half leading up to that final play. 

I also vividly remember the Ice Bowl in 95.  Can't remember if it was on TV that year or not.  I was only a youngster, 11 or 12 at the time.  We might have left the house in that awful weather to try to find a place to watch it.  Do remember watching that one from somewhere, though.

[BashBacker#16]

Fripp52 - "overrated" - I love it.  We'll see won't we?  Please keep that up all week...please!

I'll go on record to say...this may be the best O-line we have ever had...
I'll go on record to say...this may be the best D-line we have ever had...

Key to the game...my opinion, CAN WABASH RUN THE BALL VS THE DEPAUW D?  Here's a clue, if we can, you are in for a long day brother.  If I were you, throw 8 in the box and see if you can stop us.

I know, I know......"but we play Millsaps so we are tougher then you think" - (like that matters?) even though we have NEVER beaten Trinity in something like 12 years....but, you are right, you play Millsaps.  That should help this Saturday.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS! 

5 P.M. Saturday night - overall series...November 15, 2008...Wabash 54, DePauw 52, 9 ties

[BashBacker#16]

WallyWabash sets the line on the official NCAC pick'em page at Wabash -13.5...

Hmmmm.

[bashbrother]

It just never gets old.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhKtrOYJcB0

This is a great revision from 2007.

Hearing the Bell ring is enough to get anyone interested up for the game .   Gonna be a long week.

[wally_wabash]

Here's a quick stats table comparing the two teams through 9 games...I've bolded the numbers where one team has a distinct advantage. 

		Wabash		Wabash Opp		DePauw		DePauw Opp
Points	|	411	|	107	|	278	|	246
Pointspergame	|	45.7	|	11.9	|	30.9	|	27.3
FirstDowns	|	215	|	125	|	183	|	182
RushYPG	|	208.1	|	79.9	|	102.8	|	144.9
RushYPC	|	5.0	|	2.7	|	2.9	|	3.9
TDsRushing	|	28	|	4	|	13	|	12
PassYards	|	2409	|	1474	|	2743	|	1976
Att-Comp-Int	|	243-165-6	|	291-144-15	|	327-216-12	|	307-175-10
TotalOffense	|	4282	|	2193	|	3668	|	3280
KickReturnAvg	|	27.8	|	19.0	|	17.7	|	21.5
PuntRetrunAvg	|	6.6	|	6.3	|	7.7	|	4.7
Fumbles-Lost	|	13-8	|	21-6	|	17-12	|	18-12
Penalties-Yards	|	71-578	|	56-498	|	69-627	|	60-563
Punts-Yards	|	23-805	|	56-2034	|	38-1327	|	39-1391
TOP	|	31:25	|	28:25	|	29:10	|	24:10
3rdDownPct.	|	51%	|	28%	|	42%	|	41%
4thDownPct.	|	54%	|	39%	|	57%	|	52%
Sacks-Yards	|	18-114	|	5-24	|	14-103	|	12-61
TDsScored	|	57	|	15	|	37	|	35
RedZone	|	45-52	|	16-23	|	28-36	|	21-38
1stQPoints	|	92	|	10	|	51	|	45
2ndQPoints	|	138	|	39	|	99	|	83
3rdQPoints	|	95	|	10	|	66	|	43
4thQPoints	|	86	|	48	|	59	|	75

Wow.  If you're a DePauw fan, it's a damn good thing that these games aren't played on paper. 

[DPU3619]

Been quite a few years since DePauw entered this game with a more potent passing attack than the LG's.  Probably back to the Jeff McMartin era.  It is a considerably more balanced LG offense from years past, though.

Offenses are pretty close.  You're talking about 60 yards per game difference or so.  Defenses aren't close, but I think the DePauw D, like last year, has improved some over the past couple of weeks.  Lot of folks threw that unit under the bus before last year's game and they held strong.

I think DePauw's offense is the best group that the LG's will see in the regular season.  No other NCAC team is in the Top 50 in scoring, with DePauw coming in somewhere in the mid 40's.  I still give the LG's a pretty big checkmark on the defensive side.

[BashBacker#16]

Wes - did you look at the numbers Wally posted?  Bro, dunk your head in a bucket of ice water, emerge, then re-group....are you serious...try it 1 more time!

I think DPU is in serious trouble............

WAF!

[cave2bens]

Been quite a few years since DePauw entered this game with a more potent passing attack than the LG's...

May want to rethink the wording of "more potent," Wes.  Granted, as a simple science type, I haven't adequate command of language, but 84 more attempts and 51 more completions for 332 yds (both below the 8.4 yds per attempt and 12.7 yds per completion) to yield 6 more interceptions and 2 fewer touchdowns doesn't equate to 1) physically powerful, 2) having great authority, or 3) capable of influencing greatly; very convincing according to my "Funk and Wagnalls".

Granted Spud, Mulligan, and company are extremely competent and GOK tough competitors, but don't believe them to be more potent, much less lethal than the Men in Red in that department. Now, back in my era of Don van Duerson and Max Urick - maybe so... 

BTW, WAF! and DePauw Swallows 

[DPU3619]

Chill out, dude.  It's only Sunday.  Save that crap for at least Thursday.  Going to be a LONG week if you're going to talk me like that for the next 5 days.

I do think it's going to be an uphill battle.  No doubt about it.  The best counter for the good Wabash offense is DePauw's own offense.  This system is so West Coast-y (for lack of a better term) that they can put together 10 and 11 play drives that chew up 5 and 6 minutes.  I posted about the system in the SCAC thread on Saturday night.  They've got to stay on the field.  Wabash is probably going to get theirs, DePauw just has to match 'em enough to keep it close until late.

DePauw HAS to win the TOP by a wide margin on Saturday.  They just have to.  If Hudson is on the field, that ain't good news.  This DePauw offense can and will score points on the Hard Hats on Saturday.  They have had a great year, but the best offense they've faced is the 69th ranked Wittenberg offense.  I do think DePauw can move the fooball.  That's not the issue for me.  Hasn't been for that group on 8 of the 9 Saturday's so far this season.  Particularly on Saturday against an exceptional Rhodes defense.  Question is whether or not that DPU defense can keep the team within earshot.

I think it's got to be last year for DePauw to win.  Keep it close until late and hope you get a break or two to go DePauw's way.  Hudson hasn't made a lot of mistakes this year, but maybe they can coax one out of him. 

Don't think there's much of a chance of DePauw winning this thing going away.  Wabash is probably going to score more than 17, but DePauw can score more than 20.  Ideally, I think it can't get much more than 30 or so for DePauw to have a real good shot at it.

[DPU3619]

Been quite a few years since DePauw entered this game with a more potent passing attack than the LG's...

May want to rethink the wording of "more potent," Wes. 

It's been a quite a few years since DePauw entered this passing game WITH MORE TOTAL PASSING YARDS THAN WABASH. 

You knew what I meant.  You guys know me well enough to know that I'm far from an English major.  In fact, Putnam County is a language of it's own.  Give me a break, will ya?

[DPU3619]

Can't even say that right.

Screw you guys.  I'm going home. 

[bashbrother]

DePauw

[wally_wabash]

I was actually a little bit surprised to see that DPU had more passing yards on the year than Wabash does.  But then again, Wabash, in this new bizarro era of Wabash offensive football, runs the ball to the tune of 200+ yards per game.  The LGs have been running like crazy all year (save the Witt game) and in 2 months of watching I'm still not quite used to it.