118th Monon Bell Classic

[Breckenridgebear]

listen, I was simply saying 1 thing - Carlson had issues in the big game.  Something I believe Long has had issues with as well.  Bell and playoffs.....that's the ONLY comparison....the last thing I'm going to do is go back and track week by week performance of their early years at each prospective school. 

as for the razzing - Danny's point of a year without "DePauw Swallows" is legit.  It's senseless fun that makes the weeks leading up to the game more exciting.  no need to get the panties in a bunch.  I'm all for the Monon Stagg....we discussed, briefly, about attending this year, but it won't work out....but something I'd like to see, eventually.  We have a pretty good tradition going as well.

One thing I'd be very much in favor for is some kind of regulated football alumni game - the friday before in the town where the game is played.  I do understand what I'm saying here - that's why some kind of regulation would have to be involved....otherwise, the entire idea should be scrapped.  But, I'm intrigued, Bear, how the groups in Denver put it together.....but wouldn't want to do it at the expense of not being in attendace at the game.

An Alumni game the night before the Bell game in the Town or Burg where the game is played would be awesome. I think it would also lead to more players from the past coming back. There could even be two games, one for the old guys (before the forward pass) and the younger guys (say classes of last five or ten years). It could lead to player class reunions and another Monon tradition. I think it is a great idea.

As far as the game here in Denver, I can only tell you what I have heard, as I travel back for Monon every year.  The game is Depauw v. Wabash flag. I believe they went with flag as touch could lead to some situations. I think it is two halfs, seven on seven. Standard.

As for where we "stooped to the offensive hate speech you guys keep putting down on this board" I am sorry your feelings got hurt. Truly, I spend my days feeling sorry for the caveboyzz feelings. But you do have to recognize that you caveboyzz have the same "schtick" that we have. Nothing changes. Part of the Monon tradition is what is taking place on this board, good old fashioned s@#t talking. You can be sure that before the days of the internet the same conversations were had across the country. There was even a time when Depauw University published a mock dabachelor with many of the same "offensive hate speech" that seems to hurt your feelings. If you don't like it, don't bring it, and don't participate.

There's "good old fashioned s@#t talking" and then there's the unending stream of offensive crap that you put out on this board as if it were funny (it isn't).  There was indeed a time when your newspaper put out a mock issue of The Bachelor. It stopped, sometime around '98 or '99 as I recall, because the only thing the creative minds in that news office could come up with to print is the same three jokes about homosexuality for 12 or 16 pages with varying degrees of hatefulness.  It was seriously deplorable.  After that issue, your university had to step in, force apologies, and shut that tradition down because you all couldn't pull it off without being offensive.  All I'm trying to say here is that you guys can make fun of Wabash without that nonsense.  I've seen it happen.  Do a little better. 

Dawally dabash, you really are hung up on this homosexuality thing. It might be a problem you should talk with someone about. Could you please tell me the "same three jokes about homosexuality" so that I can make sure they are not used again?

[wally_wabash]

Better yet, why don't you just can all of that stuff and that way nobody has to worry about it.

[smedindy]

Wally_dabash, lets keep Tebow out of this. I know he is no Curtis Painter, but I am sure he is going to have a wonderful career.

Well, he'll have a wonderful career after football. Just not as a QB.

As for the homophobic and beastialic hate speech, society really has moved beyond that puerile stuff. Get creative dudes. Bring on the creative smack, not the recycled, trite gunk.

[smedindy]

BTW, coach Nick was just 11-11-1 in Bell games.

[DPUIrish1]

BTW, coach Nick was just 11-11-1 in Bell games.

i was waiting for that.....11-11-1 makes sense for a rivalry that isn't one sided in either way.  Love Coach Nick....impossible not to.

I was thinking....if you had to sell me on why anyone would choose Debash...what would it be??

[smedindy]

The entire experience is life changing. I can do anything because of how I learned how to learn and to pursue knowledge throughout life.

[DPUIrish1]

The entire experience is life changing. I can do anything because of how I learned how to learn and to pursue knowledge throughout life.

I could say literally the exact same thing.......throw a sprinkle of some women in there, and that sums it up

[D3_DPUFan]

Re: Monon Bell Week events...The Monon Stag in Indy every year is a tremendous event.  Plenty of fun, both sides get a chance to do a little roasting, tempered with respect and recognition of some truly special individuals from our alumni bases.  If you haven't gone, you should.  Some of you Dannies might actually learn something about how to freshen up your schtick instead of going right back to the offensive trash that you constantly post here.  This year Thomas Bambrey W'68 and Brad Stevens D'99 are being honored with the Spirit of the Monon Awards.  Should be a fun night. 

To me, the Monon Stag is a great example of why this rivalry is so special...so incredibly unique after all these years. The Stag is an old school event that remains very cool. I think is really great that in recent years there has been a push from both schools to generate more interest, especially from young former players and alums. I may be wrong but it seems to me attendance last year was 225-250? Really a fun event. If anyone has not been to one, do yourself a favor and buy a ticket. if you are a fan of DePauw or Wabash or simply enjoy the traditions of college fotball...you will enjoy it.

[D3_DPUFan]

I don't know of one DPU alum that's a Long fan, but that's the card we've been dealt.  I'm more curious to know what parents of current players think of the program.  Some of our guys came to DePauw thinking they'd be playing for Walker and then Long was handed the reins.  Long did well until the Bell game last season, but was that a residual effect of Walker's recruiting?  How is our recruiting now?  Is it too early to tell whether Long will be successful in big games?

With all due respect, there are plent of alums, including former players, who like and respect Robby. Really respect him as a coach and person. Parents, too. Not a lot of guys could have handled the hand HE was dealt getting the head job in 2009 a couple of weeks before the start of camp, then going 7-3 with wins over Trinity and Millsaps (not Wabash). At the risk of stating the obvious, last year's Bell game was horrific. This season has been very ugly, even with the substantial losses to graduation. Still, IMHO, it is FAR too early to write him off as a head coach. FAR too early. He's played the game at a high level, has good football instincts and, I think, can coach and relate to players. I can't answer the recruiting question, but I do know he led recruiting efforts when Matt was there as well. If Robby suffers from anything, I think it might be the fact that it's much different (and tougher) to be a head coach than a coordinator. Kevin Wilson (the latest stupid hire at IU) is finding that out in Bloomington. One thing I would like to see is more support from the university for the football program.  Brian Casey is a good guy, a good leader and a former student-athlete who needs to pay the football program a bit more attention. DePauw has lots of good athletic teams (men's and women's) and that's a good thing. I think a bit more attention to the football program could go a long way in fixing this temporary bump off the tracks.

[BashDad]

.... and, as I recall a 36-14 win on the road at an undefeated Wabash....

Um. No.

[D3_DPUFan]

Man you are quick...it just hit me. Well, the Trinity and Millsaps wins anyway

[D3_DPUFan]

One last comment I'll make regarding this season is the impact of losing OC Dustin Ward. Don't know that the record would necessarily be dramatically different, but the play on the offensive side of the ball would be. 

[DPUIrish1]

One last comment I'll make regarding this season is the impact of losing OC Dustin Ward. Don't know that the record would necessarily be dramatically different, but the play on the offensive side of the ball would be. 

I don't know of one DPU alum that's a Long fan, but that's the card we've been dealt.  I'm more curious to know what parents of current players think of the program.  Some of our guys came to DePauw thinking they'd be playing for Walker and then Long was handed the reins.  Long did well until the Bell game last season, but was that a residual effect of Walker's recruiting?  How is our recruiting now?  Is it too early to tell whether Long will be successful in big games?

If Robby suffers from anything, I think it might be the fact that it's much different (and tougher) to be a head coach than a coordinator. Kevin Wilson (the latest stupid hire at IU) is finding that out in Bloomington. One thing I would like to see is more support from the university for the football program.  Brian Casey is a good guy, a good leader and a former student-athlete who needs to pay the football program a bit more attention. DePauw has lots of good athletic teams (men's and women's) and that's a good thing. I think a bit more attention to the football program could go a long way in fixing this temporary bump off the tracks.

First off - the Ward thing - I agree with you.  I liked him as our OC and offensively we flourished with him.  Another note about Ward....he could lure in recruits...he was good at it...which brings me to the next quote.  I'm not saying anything about the kind of guy Robby is or the tough situation he was dealt.  Not many, if any, could've done a better job.  But, I do believe he's more suited in the coordinator role.  I'm not bashing Long as a terrible person...if he was, he surely wouldn't be at DPU.  President Casey wouldn't put up with that.  I agree, more attention must be paid on the program.  I think Casey is an advocate of making sure athletics is a bigger part of the University.  I've had conversations with him.  He's definitely more committed than Bottoms ever was.

[Breckenridgebear]

One last comment I'll make regarding this season is the impact of losing OC Dustin Ward. Don't know that the record would necessarily be dramatically different, but the play on the offensive side of the ball would be. 

I don't know of one DPU alum that's a Long fan, but that's the card we've been dealt.  I'm more curious to know what parents of current players think of the program.  Some of our guys came to DePauw thinking they'd be playing for Walker and then Long was handed the reins.  Long did well until the Bell game last season, but was that a residual effect of Walker's recruiting?  How is our recruiting now?  Is it too early to tell whether Long will be successful in big games?

If Robby suffers from anything, I think it might be the fact that it's much different (and tougher) to be a head coach than a coordinator. Kevin Wilson (the latest stupid hire at IU) is finding that out in Bloomington. One thing I would like to see is more support from the university for the football program.  Brian Casey is a good guy, a good leader and a former student-athlete who needs to pay the football program a bit more attention. DePauw has lots of good athletic teams (men's and women's) and that's a good thing. I think a bit more attention to the football program could go a long way in fixing this temporary bump off the tracks.

First off - the Ward thing - I agree with you.  I liked him as our OC and offensively we flourished with him.  Another note about Ward....he could lure in recruits...he was good at it...which brings me to the next quote.  I'm not saying anything about the kind of guy Robby is or the tough situation he was dealt.  Not many, if any, could've done a better job.  But, I do believe he's more suited in the coordinator role.  I'm not bashing Long as a terrible person...if he was, he surely wouldn't be at DPU.  President Casey wouldn't put up with that.  I agree, more attention must be paid on the program.  I think Casey is an advocate of making sure athletics is a bigger part of the University.  I've had conversations with him.  He's definitely more committed than Bottoms ever was.

I hear that after the game at Sewanee, Depauw didn't even sing the fight song. I don't care if you lose by 100, you still have to sing the song. I believe that this shows a lot about the leaders (including the coaching staff and Long), and the program. You better believe Nick and Walker would have had a conniption if there was no fight song.

It might be that Long has yet to get his feet under him. He was thrown into the roll with little time to implement his plan, and is just now truly getting to select and recruit the guys he wants. Only time can tell if he will be a good fit. As of now, he has a long hill to climb.

As for Bottoms supporting Depauw football . . . HAHAHAHAHA. I think the only time he knew we had a program was during Monon week. Even then he would show up late and leave late, at home, and sit in his private area in the stands. I don't think he even went to the Dabash for the games. From what I have seen so far, Casey has done a better job of supporting the team. I still think Depauw needs to support all of its Athletics a little more.

[smedindy]

Bear,

DPU has had a lot of success and tradition in many of its sports and trips to the NCAAs in several of them in recent years. It's not making athletics a priority. From an outsider, it seems there was undue meddling in the football program - meddling that I don't think happened in the other sports.

Just last year the DPU softball team was in the NCAA finals. Their field hockey team is dominating the NCAC this year. DPU is adding lacrosse (something I think Wabash should add). The basketball squads are contenders to make the NCAA field every year.

Yet the one sport that makes DPU a known entity (thanks to this very special game) has been unsettled ever since Nick left the sidelines.

And whatever happened to the DPU football psyche during the 47-0 game has seemingly carried over. I know of a great sports psychologist you Dannies could use to try and get whatever mojo you had back, but I think he'll be booked until late November!