116th Monon Bell Classic

[wab64]

Late in coming as we stayed in Greencastle last night...congratulations to Wabash on a job well done. Impressive win...good luck to you in the playoffs...

CLASS, DPUFan! Also, in the short highlight video, Spud Dick was across the field talking to Coach Raeburn after the game. I'd like to have been a mouse in someone's pocket for that conversation. Congratulations to you for the SCAC title at long last. Whitewater is real nice this time of year, winter weather advisories to the contrary not withstanding.

[Matt Gaunt]

Ahhh, the day always looks a little less bright when The Bell visits Crawfordsville...   

Roughly two hundred young men woke yesterday with an absolute conviction that they and their team would emerge victorious.   Only the men who've sacrificed and earned the privilege to strap on the armor and donned the Black and Old Gold or Scarlet and White know that feeling.   Unfortunately, Wabash won the day and to them goes the spoils.   If the D3 predictions hold true, I wish Wabash the very best of luck in the playoffs... only in the hope that fortune sees our two schools met once more in 2009.  And if not... 364 days until the next 117th battle in the war without weapons that, God willing, will never end.

[wally_wabash]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHb7DzlPlz0

4:38 of the linked clip is what I think we need to forever refer to as: The Sneak. 

[DPU3619]

Took me a while to gather myself enough to post my observations.  I left the field yesterday and went directly to Old Topper's Tavern.  Took me about this long to be in good enoguh shape to form a coherent thought....

For me, this game should have been 17-0 or 21-0, honestly.  DePauw was moving on that stupid tipped interception.  DePauw was probably going to score it if not for that botched snap.  And in doing so, Wabash probably only has a few seconds to work with at the end of the half.  That was set up to be a 2nd quarter where Wabash ran only 3 plays until that fumbled snap.

That second half was the worst I've seen DePauw play defense all year.  Seemed like there were several times I looked up and somebody just flat left their spot.  Do your job.  I didn't necessarily feel like Matt Hudson gave a great effort, but it's easy to throw to open receivers.  DePauw then followed all of that with shoddy tackling.  

The time of possession thing is important, as we talked about, unless you turn it over.  Then it doesn't matter.  There isn't a heck of a lot that matters when you turn it over and give up big plays.  You aren't beating Cloverdale High School when you do that.  The interception deep in their own end was a killer.  The game was over right then.  That, plus the 4th down that DePauw didn't get by a foot and the one that Wabash got by a foot sealed the deal.

I'll submit this theory for the group - Spud wasn't the same in that second half.  He took a really big shot right on his throwing shoulder on the fumbled snap play.  Didn't have the same zip on the ball after that play.  Certainly wasn't himself.  That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

Also, DePauw couldn't run it.  At all.  Just wasn't there yesterday.

[Schwami]

Took me about this long to be in good enoguh shape to form a coherent thought....

Close enoguh 

Wes, I actually agree with you that TOP is important, inasmuch as it helps keep your defense off the field and arguably able to make a bigger impact when on the field.  At least that was one of my concerns for Wabash at half time.  However, it did not seem that DPU's defense made any big plays in the second half, while Wabash made several.  Maybe Spud was not 100%, but Wabash did score TD's on five straight possessions.  Yes, the two picks hurt . . . I think the picks resulted more from the quality of Wabash's overall defensive play than what Spud was doing.

[Li'l Giant]

I'll submit this theory for the group - Spud wasn't the same in that second half.  He took a really big shot right on his throwing shoulder on the fumbled snap play.  Didn't have the same zip on the ball after that play.  Certainly wasn't himself.  That's my theory and I'm sticking to it

Dude threw for 380 yards. That wasn't all in the 1st half.

Also, DePauw couldn't run it.  At all.  Just wasn't there yesterday.

And our defense had nothing to do with that, right?

[wally_wabash]

DePauw was moving on that stupid tipped interception.

That "stupid tipped interception" was a great play by Matt Kraft.  Give some credit. 

I didn't necessarily feel like Matt Hudson gave a great effort, but it's easy to throw to open receivers.

Because Spud's laser rocket arm was firing the ball into and through double covered receivers all day.   
Wabash's pass game shredded that defense...QB, WRs, TEs...all of them.  Shredded.  Give some credit. 

[D3_DPUFan]

We just needed to make a stop or two in the second half and flat didn't do it. As several have mentioned, the game turned on a handful of plays, none bigger than the snap at the end of the first half. I like DePauw's chances if they go up 14-0 there. To Wabash's credit, they not only caught a break, they made Depauw pay big time with that last minute drive before the half...HUGE turnaround. Also, on the same drive that ended inches short of a first down, Mulligan didn't come up with a catch in the end zone that he makes 99% of the time...in part because of a nice play by the Wabash safety. And on the interception deep in DePauw territory, Spud was hit as he threw...again, credit to Wabash for making a play...

[old wabash]

wes,
maybe you need a few more moments to compose yourself.
you are usually more fair.
dpu did not give the game/bell away!
bash came and took it away!
that 3rd quarter could happen even if halftime score was 14-0. or 21-0!
do you think bash (WAF) was gonna give up at halftime?
how many bell games have you seen where either side gave up at halftime?
as much as "i hate them stinkin' dannies",
i could say in the 25 (or so) bell games i have seen i could never even accuse them of that!!
many bell games turn on a play (or several), do you want haverkamp's kick back?!?

[D3_DPUFan]

CLASS, DPUFan! Also, in the short highlight video, Spud Dick was across the field talking to Coach Raeburn after the game. I'd like to have been a mouse in someone's pocket for that conversation. Congratulations to you for the SCAC title at long last. Whitewater is real nice this time of year, winter weather advisories to the contrary not withstanding. 

Thank you...and good luck in the playoffs...would like to see you guys to win next week then shock the world the following week. 

[cave2bens]

CLASS, DPUFan! Also, in the short highlight video, Spud Dick was across the field talking to Coach Raeburn after the game. I'd like to have been a mouse in someone's pocket for that conversation. Congratulations to you for the SCAC title at long last. Whitewater is real nice this time of year, winter weather advisories to the contrary not withstanding. 

Thank you...and good luck in the playoffs...would like to see you guys to win next week then shock the world the following week. 

DePauw has a real opportunity to get a couple of wins with their bracket in your initial, playoff foray, and wish y'all the best in Crestview.    

[bashbrother]

+1k D3_DPU Fan...... total class in winning is hard..... total class in losing....even harder.

Your class.

Good luck to the Tigers in their playoff run.   Spud is a very special signal caller and your receivers catch everything.  That should serve you well in the coming weeks.

[altor]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the possibility of a Monon Bell rematch in Salem.   

[wally_wabash]

I had noticed that the teams are on opposite sides of the bracket.  The series of events that has to happen for there to be a Monon Stagg Bowl are staggering.  If the teams are still alive in a couple of weeks, let's revisit this.   

[DPU3619]

That "stupid tipped interception" was a great play by Matt Kraft.  Give some credit. 

The play to tip it was exceptional.  The fact that it landed right in his breadbasket is just bad luck.

Because Spud's laser rocket arm was firing the ball into and through double covered receivers all day.   
Wabash's pass game shredded that defense...QB, WRs, TEs...all of them.  Shredded.  Give some credit. 

Because DePauw's defense couldn't figure out what the heck their responsibilities were.  Hudson made some good throws yesterday, particularly the fade to Chamblee in the 3rd.  But when you're outscheming the guy on the other side, that makes it a heck of a lot easier.

The first half was the way I envisioned that game going.  That's the defensive unit we've seen most of the year.  The second half was not.  Missed assignments and missed tackles.  The front 4 couldn't get off blocks.  The linebackers weren't in their spot. The secondary ran with Chamblee in the first half.  Couldn't do it in the 3rd and 4th for whatever reason.  The second half of yesterday's game was an absolute embarassment.  Wabash ran faster, hit harder, and coached better than our guys did.  That's it.  You played well enough to win.  DePauw did not.  Period.

Dude threw for 380 yards. That wasn't all in the 1st half.

That's not what I said.  I don't think he was right after that hit.  I just don't.  That obviously had nothing to with that interception inside their own 20.  That's a freshman throw right there and he'd probably be the first to tell you that.