119th Monon Bell Classic

[Wabash Hokie]

A little historical perspective:

If Wabash wins this year, it will mark the 10th time that a Wabash class has swept the four-year series and the 7th time  since the Bell series started that a Wabash class has retained the Bell for four straight years (including ties).  Depauw has had 6 senior classes complete a four-year sweep.  Since the Monon Bell came into the picture, Depauw has had 10 senior classes retain the Bell for four straight years (including ties). 

Before my son started, the five men in my family that attended Wabash had an overall class record of 9-9-2 and the three women in the family that attended Depauw had a class record of 5-5-2. We were dead even at 14-14-4 for a generation until the Class of 2013 arrived at Wabash.  If Wabash wins this year, the sixth member of the clan will have a class record of 4-0 and the family record will sit at 18-14-4 for Wabash.  Hoorahh.

[wally_wabash]

If I went to DPU, I would not want to miss what could be another (though highly unlikely) huge upset.

Aside from a few stragglers who are hanging around for a fifth year, there aren't any students left at DePauw that have seen DePauw win a Bell Game, let alone one in which they pulled off a wicked upset.  And not only have those kids not seen DePauw win, but the last two games have been two of the biggest, most thorough beatings in series history.  Think about that...half of DePauw's student body experience is limited to watching Wabash win 47-0 and 42-7.  That's all they know.  Factor in maybe some less than pleasant weather....would you be leaping at a chance to go live through that again?

Wally - Good points all.  I had not considered the impact of the winless streak.  The Class of 2013 at Wabash, knock on wood, will have run the table with a victory in November and the Dannies will have taken the golden sombrero. 

I think there is enough institutional momentum to keep attendance up, it nothing else it gives the Dannies a good reason to drink and maintain their party school ranking - gotta beat Wabash at something!!

If the season progresses with Wabash going into the game 8-1 and the Dannies sitting at a probable 2-7 or 3-6 at best, a poor weather forecast may keep attendance down on both sides of the field. I know a lot of wives and co-eds are going to bail if the weather is crappy and the game is supposed to be a blow-out.  Either way, the core Wabash faithful will far outnumber the Dannies, regardless of the conditions.

A lot of what I said, while factual, was meant to be tongue in cheek.  I doubt seriously that the bulk of the DePauw student body will blow off the game.  The event is too big to just skip it. 

In the last 12 years or so when the game has been a non-league game and one team or another has already secured a playoff spot (usually Wabash), I've had a suspicion that the team finishing their season has a bit of an advantage over the team moving on.  Something happens when seniors know they are playing their last game.  Wabash got bit in 2007 and 2009 by this.  DePauw got bit in 2010.  That's not to say that the teams that won were bad teams and heavy underdogs...all of those teams that won were good teams.  I digress...the point is that that won't be the case this year.  Wabash, having lost a league game already will need to beat DePauw to win the league outright or a share of the league and, in the event that a tiebreak doesn't fall in favor of Wabash, keep that 9-1 record for at-large consideration.  If Wabash can get to the Bell game with just one loss, they'll need that game to keep playing.  There will not be a guaranteed game for Wabash beyond week 11 unless they win. 

[sigma one]

We'll all get into this more as time passes and we get deeper into the schedule, but so far this year DePauw's  five opponents have a combined record of 20-7.  With all the turmoil of these first weeks for them (anyone remember Robbie Long?), and then the grinder of an early schedule, I expect the Dannies will rally somewhat in the second half of the season as the freshman QB matures (though starting a freshman in the Bell game is, well, challenging--ask Knott and Spud) and be slobbering for an upset.  By the way, Wabash's oponents so far are 17-9.  The two teams and #1 and #2 in the NCAC as far as opponents' records go.   

[Breckenridgebear]

Hit me up in October.

Topic unlocked. You guys are on the ball.

Thanks Pat.

[Breckenridgebear]

If I went to DPU, I would not want to miss what could be another (though highly unlikely) huge upset.

Aside from a few stragglers who are hanging around for a fifth year, there aren't any students left at DePauw that have seen DePauw win a Bell Game, let alone one in which they pulled off a wicked upset.  And not only have those kids not seen DePauw win, but the last two games have been two of the biggest, most thorough beatings in series history.  Think about that...half of DePauw's student body experience is limited to watching Wabash win 47-0 and 42-7.  That's all they know.  Factor in maybe some less than pleasant weather....would you be leaping at a chance to go live through that again?

Wally - Good points all.  I had not considered the impact of the winless streak.  The Class of 2013 at Wabash, knock on wood, will have run the table with a victory in November and the Dannies will have taken the golden sombrero. 

I think there is enough institutional momentum to keep attendance up, it nothing else it gives the Dannies a good reason to drink and maintain their party school ranking - gotta beat Wabash at something!!

If the season progresses with Wabash going into the game 8-1 and the Dannies sitting at a probable 2-7 or 3-6 at best, a poor weather forecast may keep attendance down on both sides of the field. I know a lot of wives and co-eds are going to bail if the weather is crappy and the game is supposed to be a blow-out.  Either way, the core Wabash faithful will far outnumber the Dannies, regardless of the conditions.

A lot of what I said, while factual, was meant to be tongue in cheek.  I doubt seriously that the bulk of the DePauw student body will blow off the game.  The event is too big to just skip it. 

In the last 12 years or so when the game has been a non-league game and one team or another has already secured a playoff spot (usually Wabash), I've had a suspicion that the team finishing their season has a bit of an advantage over the team moving on.  Something happens when seniors know they are playing their last game.  Wabash got bit in 2007 and 2009 by this.  DePauw got bit in 2010.  That's not to say that the teams that won were bad teams and heavy underdogs...all of those teams that won were good teams.  I digress...the point is that that won't be the case this year.  Wabash, having lost a league game already will need to beat DePauw to win the league outright or a share of the league and, in the event that a tiebreak doesn't fall in favor of Wabash, keep that 9-1 record for at-large consideration.  If Wabash can get to the Bell game with just one loss, they'll need that game to keep playing.  There will not be a guaranteed game for Wabash beyond week 11 unless they win.

Does Debash have some sort of looking glass that lets you guys already hang 9 wins? That type of confidence is what comes back to bite you, especially in a bell game.

As for fans showing up, I think you will always have a strong showing. The weather does impact the number marginally, but I think most of the Depauw students attend because this is really the only time any of them tailgate at, or travel to, an away game while in college.

As for us alumni, we love traveling up to Crawfordsdingle. As soon as we get on what you call a campus, it lifts all of our spirits to know that we made the right choices in life. It makes us more appreciative of what we have in life. It really is the best time of the year. 

[wally_wabash]

If I went to DPU, I would not want to miss what could be another (though highly unlikely) huge upset.

Aside from a few stragglers who are hanging around for a fifth year, there aren't any students left at DePauw that have seen DePauw win a Bell Game, let alone one in which they pulled off a wicked upset.  And not only have those kids not seen DePauw win, but the last two games have been two of the biggest, most thorough beatings in series history.  Think about that...half of DePauw's student body experience is limited to watching Wabash win 47-0 and 42-7.  That's all they know.  Factor in maybe some less than pleasant weather....would you be leaping at a chance to go live through that again?

Wally - Good points all.  I had not considered the impact of the winless streak.  The Class of 2013 at Wabash, knock on wood, will have run the table with a victory in November and the Dannies will have taken the golden sombrero. 

I think there is enough institutional momentum to keep attendance up, it nothing else it gives the Dannies a good reason to drink and maintain their party school ranking - gotta beat Wabash at something!!

If the season progresses with Wabash going into the game 8-1 and the Dannies sitting at a probable 2-7 or 3-6 at best, a poor weather forecast may keep attendance down on both sides of the field. I know a lot of wives and co-eds are going to bail if the weather is crappy and the game is supposed to be a blow-out.  Either way, the core Wabash faithful will far outnumber the Dannies, regardless of the conditions.

A lot of what I said, while factual, was meant to be tongue in cheek.  I doubt seriously that the bulk of the DePauw student body will blow off the game.  The event is too big to just skip it. 

In the last 12 years or so when the game has been a non-league game and one team or another has already secured a playoff spot (usually Wabash), I've had a suspicion that the team finishing their season has a bit of an advantage over the team moving on.  Something happens when seniors know they are playing their last game.  Wabash got bit in 2007 and 2009 by this.  DePauw got bit in 2010.  That's not to say that the teams that won were bad teams and heavy underdogs...all of those teams that won were good teams.  I digress...the point is that that won't be the case this year.  Wabash, having lost a league game already will need to beat DePauw to win the league outright or a share of the league and, in the event that a tiebreak doesn't fall in favor of Wabash, keep that 9-1 record for at-large consideration.  If Wabash can get to the Bell game with just one loss, they'll need that game to keep playing.  There will not be a guaranteed game for Wabash beyond week 11 unless they win.

Does Debash have some sort of looking glass that lets you guys already hang 9 wins? That type of confidence is what comes back to bite you, especially in a bell game.

As for fans showing up, I think you will always have a strong showing. The weather does impact the number marginally, but I think most of the Depauw students attend because this is really the only time any of them tailgate at, or travel to, an away game while in college.

As for us alumni, we love traveling up to Crawfordsdingle. As soon as we get on what you call a campus, it lifts all of our spirits to know that we made the right choices in life. It makes us more appreciative of what we have in life. It really is the best time of the year.

If it's your sorry club team standing in the way between Wabash and that ninth win, then I'm feeling pretty good about hitting that mark. 

[Ryan Tipps]

If I went to DPU, I would not want to miss what could be another (though highly unlikely) huge upset.

Aside from a few stragglers who are hanging around for a fifth year, there aren't any students left at DePauw that have seen DePauw win a Bell Game, let alone one in which they pulled off a wicked upset.  And not only have those kids not seen DePauw win, but the last two games have been two of the biggest, most thorough beatings in series history.  Think about that...half of DePauw's student body experience is limited to watching Wabash win 47-0 and 42-7.  That's all they know.  Factor in maybe some less than pleasant weather....would you be leaping at a chance to go live through that again?

I sure hope the answer is a huge yes. I know you said some of this was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, but the willingness to come back year after year -- no matter the prior season's outcome -- makes this rivalry great! Wally, you and I both know the hardship of years of straight losses, and a couple of big ones at that. While I'm sure as heck not pulling for a Dannie upset any time soon, I do know that if I hadn't had faith in my team each and every season (despite seeing my first five Bell games end in losses), I might have missed something remarkable.....like one of the greatest finishes in D-III history.

[Wabash Hokie]

[/quote]

Does Debash have some sort of looking glass that lets you guys already hang 9 wins? That type of confidence is what comes back to bite you, especially in a bell game.

As for fans showing up, I think you will always have a strong showing. The weather does impact the number marginally, but I think most of the Depauw students attend because this is really the only time any of them tailgate at, or travel to, an away game while in college.

As for us alumni, we love traveling up to Crawfordsdingle. As soon as we get on what you call a campus, it lifts all of our spirits to know that we made the right choices in life. It makes us more appreciative of what we have in life. It really is the best time of the year.
[/quote]

Welcome back from your hibernation Bear.

Regarding the nine-win mirror, we alumni can play the looking glass game.  Now that we are past Witt, I think we will see a focused Little Giant team the next several weeks. They cannot afford another game like Allegheny where they were flat. With the Depauw game now a conference game as well, there is zero chance of a let down.

Get out the broooms for the Class of 2013.

[bashbrother]

The great thing about this rivalry is that it is a survivor.......   You don't go 100+ years being a few games off in the win-loss column if it is not.   The "anything can happen" "Records don't matter" factor is still alive and well.   Sure, the past few years have been rough for the Dannies,  but they have run into some exceptional Wabash squads.   History tells us that things will even out.  Hopefully, not this year, next or even the year after that or infinity..   

1921 thru 1927  Wabash won 7 straight.

1955 thru 1964 -  Depauw had 10 years without a loss in the Bell Game (8 wins and 2 ties)  Better known as the "Dark Ages" 

Question -  What happened to the Bell in the case of a tie?

[Ryan Tipps]

Question -  What happened to the Bell in the case of a tie?

It stayed with the team that won it the previous year.

[smedindy]

Of course, the first game that was officially a Monon Bell game ended in a tie. Don't know what they did for that one.

[Ryan Tipps]

One thing that DPU really does do well is maintain an awesome Monon Bell history section on their athletics website.

On there, it says regarding that first game: "The first Monon Bell game in 1932 ended in a 0-0 tie, but since neither team had possession, it remained in hiding for the entire year."

It also notes that the earliest rules indicated that, in the case of a tie, the teams shared the Bell, each getting it for six months. Those rules were replaced later on with ones that said the previous year's winner got to keep the prize.

[Breckenridgebear]

Does Debash have some sort of looking glass that lets you guys already hang 9 wins? That type of confidence is what comes back to bite you, especially in a bell game.

As for fans showing up, I think you will always have a strong showing. The weather does impact the number marginally, but I think most of the Depauw students attend because this is really the only time any of them tailgate at, or travel to, an away game while in college.

As for us alumni, we love traveling up to Crawfordsdingle. As soon as we get on what you call a campus, it lifts all of our spirits to know that we made the right choices in life. It makes us more appreciative of what we have in life. It really is the best time of the year.
[/quote]

Welcome back from your hibernation Bear.

Regarding the nine-win mirror, we alumni can play the looking glass game.  Now that we are past Witt, I think we will see a focused Little Giant team the next several weeks. They cannot afford another game like Allegheny where they were flat. With the Depauw game now a conference game as well, there is zero chance of a let down.

Get out the broooms for the Class of 2013.
[/quote]

Don't call it a hibernation, I've been here for years, I'm rocking my peers, Puttin' suckers in fear, Makin' the tears rain down like a monsoon, listen to the bass go boom, Explosions, overpowerin'

It is sad that Debash has such a cupcake schedule that you can already hang 9. I bet that really helps when the playoffs roll around. At least down in Greencastle we have a little enthusiasm and eagerness this year because anything can actually happen. We can only go up, which is exciting.

If I went to DPU, I would not want to miss what could be another (though highly unlikely) huge upset.

Aside from a few stragglers who are hanging around for a fifth year, there aren't any students left at DePauw that have seen DePauw win a Bell Game, let alone one in which they pulled off a wicked upset.  And not only have those kids not seen DePauw win, but the last two games have been two of the biggest, most thorough beatings in series history.  Think about that...half of DePauw's student body experience is limited to watching Wabash win 47-0 and 42-7.  That's all they know.  Factor in maybe some less than pleasant weather....would you be leaping at a chance to go live through that again?

Wally - Good points all.  I had not considered the impact of the winless streak.  The Class of 2013 at Wabash, knock on wood, will have run the table with a victory in November and the Dannies will have taken the golden sombrero. 

I think there is enough institutional momentum to keep attendance up, it nothing else it gives the Dannies a good reason to drink and maintain their party school ranking - gotta beat Wabash at something!!

If the season progresses with Wabash going into the game 8-1 and the Dannies sitting at a probable 2-7 or 3-6 at best, a poor weather forecast may keep attendance down on both sides of the field. I know a lot of wives and co-eds are going to bail if the weather is crappy and the game is supposed to be a blow-out.  Either way, the core Wabash faithful will far outnumber the Dannies, regardless of the conditions.

A lot of what I said, while factual, was meant to be tongue in cheek.  I doubt seriously that the bulk of the DePauw student body will blow off the game.  The event is too big to just skip it. 

In the last 12 years or so when the game has been a non-league game and one team or another has already secured a playoff spot (usually Wabash), I've had a suspicion that the team finishing their season has a bit of an advantage over the team moving on.  Something happens when seniors know they are playing their last game.  Wabash got bit in 2007 and 2009 by this.  DePauw got bit in 2010.  That's not to say that the teams that won were bad teams and heavy underdogs...all of those teams that won were good teams.  I digress...the point is that that won't be the case this year.  Wabash, having lost a league game already will need to beat DePauw to win the league outright or a share of the league and, in the event that a tiebreak doesn't fall in favor of Wabash, keep that 9-1 record for at-large consideration.  If Wabash can get to the Bell game with just one loss, they'll need that game to keep playing.  There will not be a guaranteed game for Wabash beyond week 11 unless they win.

Does Debash have some sort of looking glass that lets you guys already hang 9 wins? That type of confidence is what comes back to bite you, especially in a bell game.

As for fans showing up, I think you will always have a strong showing. The weather does impact the number marginally, but I think most of the Depauw students attend because this is really the only time any of them tailgate at, or travel to, an away game while in college.

As for us alumni, we love traveling up to Crawfordsdingle. As soon as we get on what you call a campus, it lifts all of our spirits to know that we made the right choices in life. It makes us more appreciative of what we have in life. It really is the best time of the year.

If it's your sorry club team standing in the way between Wabash and that ninth win, then I'm feeling pretty good about hitting that mark. 

Good one Dawally-Debash! You sure got me! Glad to know the NCAC lets club teams in. That must be the reason for Debashs great record over the years.

[smedindy]

Ah, yes, and the massive powers that are Austin, Sewanee and Colorado College are world beaters.

[wally_wabash]

Good one Dawally-Debash! You sure got me! Glad to know the NCAC lets club teams in. That must be the reason for Debashs great record over the years.

Stop name calling and defend your team.  Stop ripping the league because, after all, it's YOUR league now also.  Offer something constructive one time.  Tell the world what chance DePauw has on 11/10 and why.