118th Monon Bell Classic

[Schwami]

Thanks Pat.

Guys, responsible posting is not about political correctness.  Sure, the line can be hard to define, but instead of trying to one-up each other on crude vulgarities and sexual insults, we are all certainly clever and creative enough to do better.  Maybe being the father of a 14 year old son has skewed my perspective, but I really don't think so.

Getting off the soap box now . . .

DePauw to Hell, we're keeping the Bell.

[1837Tigers]

11 yrs ago today --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMW2o7TNSwA&feature=share

[gobash83]

Thanks Pat.

Guys, responsible posting is not about political correctness.  Sure, the line can be hard to define, but instead of trying to one-up each other on crude vulgarities and sexual insults, we are all certainly clever and creative enough to do better.  Maybe being the father of a 14 year old son has skewed my perspective, but I really don't think so.

Getting off the soap box now . . .

DePauw to Hell, we're keeping the Bell.

Well said.

[Breckenridgebear]

Thanks Pat.

Guys, responsible posting is not about political correctness.  Sure, the line can be hard to define, but instead of trying to one-up each other on crude vulgarities and sexual insults, we are all certainly clever and creative enough to do better.  Maybe being the father of a 14 year old son has skewed my perspective, but I really don't think so.

Getting off the soap box now . . .

DePauw to Hell, we're keeping the Bell.

I still hate Dabash.

[BashDad]

Well. Can't say I enjoyed watching as the board decided to eat itself these past couple days.

With the hope of moving on, here are some predictions as we cross the 23-hour threshold.

Ready? Here goes:

1.) Wabash will go out of its way to be aggressive early. A 4th-down attempt, several deep throws, a fake punt, something like this will happen early. An announcement. A declaration of intent. I imagine they'll want to send the message that, no, Depauw isn't the only team that wants this very, very badly. I promise you Raeburn is doing the Upper-Dog (Is this a thing? I'm saying it's a thing) chant of "bury them early" or "don't let them stick around." Which begs the question...

Does Robby Long have a better weapon in this fight than Eminem's LOSE YOURSELF? I mean, "no", the answer is "no." He should play that song non-stop in every hallway of the athletic complex from now until kick-off. Matter of fact, he should've been playing it all week. He should've canceled practice and played that song over highlights from last year's game. Every day he should've done that. And you know what? I'll say it: Wabash should've done the same thing. There might be songs as good in the big-football-game-context, but there ain't not a one better.

Where were we?

2.) Depauw will have a big play in the first couple of series. Every big game has a version of this; the under-dog doing something that seems representative of "coming to play." They'll get their fans riled up, the sideline will start hopping around, Kenny Rice will read his blog post on the air while Paul Maguire "yessirs" every variant of "throw out the records" or "here we go again...!". We'll talk about this play tomorrow night and how it was scary at the time and if Wabash hadn't picked off the next throw it really would've turned into a game.

3.) Wabash will pick off the following throw, or some version thereof, leveling the mo and returning that ugly-feeling to the pit of DPU's collective stomach. It will stay there, that feeling, and it will declare a messy internal war against hope as the game gets further and further out of hand.

When I root for underdogs, I hate big plays early like that-- I know it just means I'll hurt more later.

4.) Robby Long is embarrassed. Robby Long is humiliated. Robby Long has something to prove. And while Robby Long strikes me as someone who wants to stubbornly plow ahead with the same-ol-thing and not go all Mike Leach or Chris Peterson out there, something tells me that he and his Mike Leonard protege OC have 5-6 tricks up their sleeve. One of them goes for big yardage (see prediction #2), though they'll also screw up another at a critical point. Mark this last point down with ink. It'll happen. Some drive will be slaughtered by a mistake on a trick-play.

5.) Does Depauw kick to Chamblee? I have no clue. No prediction here. They're screwed either way.

6.) After loosening up the DPU defense, Wabash will run speed plays all day. They'll run sweeps, bubble-screens, options. They'll throw on 2nd and short or 3rd down, always with a single read for Belton. Speed kills and we're faster. Get a lead, eat up clock, throw to kill.... I think our OC is one of the best in the country right now. He's on fire.

7.) Robby Long will replace Will King for Seaman at some point. Will King is going to get humiliated. They won't have a choice. Seaman will then also get humiliated. What's the over/under on throws by DPU tomorrow?

8.) I say 25.

9.) "You all heard of WorldCom?" Stringer Bell knew what was up. As did Coach Bombay when he unveiled those sick new jerseys and added Adam Banks to the championship game roster of the Mighty Ducks. Remember that? Anyway, DPU should try to augment their identity somehow; A team-wide psychological rebranding. If they want to win, they've got to think of themselves as a fresh, new team. I wonder if we'll see something indicative of this. Maybe they'll all wear new socks.

10.) Stats:

Belton 15-21 165 yards 3 TDs 1 INT; Rushes for 75
King    5-19 31 yards 3 INTS

Wabash Rushing: 265
Depauw Rushing: -3

Wabash Turnovers: 2
Depauw Turnovers: 5

11.) Wabash wins. 35-3

[BashBacker#16]

BashDad,

Wow.

Wow.

Bb16

[smedindy]

Thanks Pat.

Guys, responsible posting is not about political correctness.  Sure, the line can be hard to define, but instead of trying to one-up each other on crude vulgarities and sexual insults, we are all certainly clever and creative enough to do better.  Maybe being the father of a 14 year old son has skewed my perspective, but I really don't think so.

Getting off the soap box now . . .

DePauw to Hell, we're keeping the Bell.

I still hate Dabash.

I can't say I hate DPU, because I have loved DPU women.

Oops, is that TMI?? 

[BashDad]

Today, the Banner-Graphic published this photo above the headline "Tigers will host 118th Monon Bell Classic Saturday":



It's a preview of tomorrow's game. That's a picture of Will King fumbling.

In a preview of what to expect in tomorrow's game, the hometown rag chose a picture of Will King fumbling.

[Schwami]

I like the 3[3] on the defensive player's practice jersey . . . a foretaste of what's to come

Maybe it's my eyes, but from the photo, it appears that DPU practices with toy footballs

[wabashcpa]

That looks like actual game footage.  The empty stands are representative of what DePauw stands will resemble by the 4th quarter tomorrow.

Wabash 54, DePauw 0 (same as last year's score had Miracle's TD counted).

[Breckenridgebear]

In Crawfordsdingle right now (trying to get to Greencastle as fast as possible). It is mighty quiet here. It also smells like poop.

DPU Irish and Danny Boy send wet kisses.

[BroOfBash70]

Just so all the Depauw fans know.... this has been sent to all of Wabash

Yeah Dannies, we have a chance but it's about as slim as CJ Gum's employment prospects (unless he wants a role on Dog the Bounty Hunter). 

Time for CJ Gum to wreck an entire city

[D3_DPUFan]

Kudos to organizers on both sides for a great Monon Bell Stag last night...an incredible tradition that is coming back in a big way. If you care about this rivalry, do yourself a favor and go next year...you will not be disappointed.

[bashbrother]

So I got a phone call about an hour ago, while I was out......   

I said hello and all I heard through the phone was the Monon Bell ringing loudly and proudly...

Bashbacker16 -  You rock bro, thank you for that.   We will all be back up there next year.

WAF!!!  Depauw to Hell... We keep the Bell!

http://youtu.be/UNX083Sy0vg

[bashbrother]

With the hope of moving on, here are some predictions as we cross the 23-hour threshold.

Great Post #3

WAF!