The Monon Bell Goes Back to Wabash

One of the Division III rivalries I mentioned in a previous post took place over the weekend. After two years at DePauw, the Monon Bell returned to Wabash as the Little Giants beat the Tigers 32-19.
Matt Hudson, Wabash’s quarterback completed 19 of 30 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. By winning this game, Wabash ended a two-year losing streak, and also broke the tie between the schools for this annual rivalry game.

Despite the Wabash win, the Tigers were the team that had already clinched a spot in tournament play, being the teams’ first playoff game in school history. The Little Giant’s on the other hand had to wait until this afternoon to hear whether they would advance to the playoffs. They received news that they too will have the opportunity to play in the D3 NCAA playoffs.

For the students, a lot of the week/weekend is focused on parties and their “hatred” for the other school. But, President Casey of DePauw and President White of Wabash issued a joint letter about the rivalry game. They urged the students and fans to focus on the traditions and history of the game. In it they wrote, “Today and throughout the year, we can all celebrate the fact that DePauw and Wabash are two great schools that share this tremendous tradition alongside a tremendous mutual respect and admiration.”

Troy Montigney, a first-year alum of DePauw, seems to understand both the Presidents’ views as well as the students. He wrote an article for “The DePauw” about the tradition of the Monon Bell Game. In it he admitted that as a DePauw student (which I’m sure is also true for Wabash students) a lot of the Monon tradition is about parties and hatred for Wabash (or DePauw), but he also admitted that the best part about the rivalry is being part of the tradition. “Odds are Spud Dick will not join Peyton Manning and Drew Brees in racking up 300-yard games on Sundays in the NFL, and Bryan Mulligan will not make everyone forget about Jerry Rice and Randy Moss. Adam Vinatieri's pair of Super Bowl-winning boots will not be replicated by Jordan Havercamp, despite the latter's NFL-worthy performance two years ago. But the trio and their teammates will never forget their Monon triumphs”.

So even though I know simply being part of the tradition doesn’t erase DePauw’s pain over losing the bell, in the end, being a part of this historic rivalry game is an honor... win or lose.

little schools, BIG GAMES

One of the best parts about college athletics is when not only a team, but also an entire school comes together for a rivalry game. For the biggest rivalries, these feelings aren’t limited to game day. Fans, students, professors, players and coaches recognize the competition between the two schools that is always present. Just the mention of the opposing team’s name sets emotions on high.

The word rivalry often brings specific matchups into peoples’ minds.
Ohio State vs. Michigan. Arguably the number one sports rivalry of all time. Woody Hayes even refused to buy gas in the state of Michigan.
Duke vs. UNC. Puts up a good fight for number one rivalry of all time. Fans don’t get much louder than the Cameron Crazies, and they are always at their best when Carolina is in the house.
Auburn vs. Alabama. The Iron Bowl. 60 minutes of football determine bragging rights in the state of Alabama for 364 days.

But these rivalries are all between Division I schools, and while they may be more well known than the D3 rivalries, that doesn’t make them greater.
Hope vs. Calvin. ESPN rated it the top D3 college basketball rivalry, and 4th in ALL of collegiate hoops. Hope’s student section, the Dew Crew, is Division III’s premiere student section and has been featured on ESPN’s Greatest College Rivalries.
DePauw vs. Wabash. The Monon Bell Game. Currently Indiana’s best football rivalry according to an ESPN poll. After the 2008 season, the all time series stands at a tie of 53-53-9. The Bell has been stolen at least nine times, with the most famous theft being known as “Operation Frijoles”, one of five greatest all time rivalry pranks according to Sports Illustrated.
Amherst vs. Williams. “The Biggest Little Game in America”. Among the best academic institutes in the nation. When Williams beats Amherst at home, the whole team marches across town to a barbershop where they shave their heads and smoke cigars.

And these are just some of many. So while Division III rivalries may often be under-the-radar and overshadowed by big league face offs, they are no less intense.