The DePauw, Monon Bell Special Section, Nov. 14, 2014

LAST LAST CHANCE CHANCE

It’s their

Friday, November 14, 2014

DePauw football seniors. PHOTO COURTESY OF VISUAL SPORTS

The DePauw Special Edition

Monon 121

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Monon Special Section

Monon tailgating set to be similar to past seasons THE DEPAUW STAFF REPORTS

Tailgating expectations and regulations at Wabash College for the Monon Bell football game on Nov. 15 remain similar to recent years.

“There will be the same expectations as two, four, six years ago,” said Angela Nally, director of Public Safety at DePauw University.

Wabash administrators requested that DePauw students not to leave campus until 10 a.m. on game day. Small groups of students will be allowed to leave prior to 10 a.m. in order to claim a spot in the parking lot and set up in the parking lost reserved for DePauw fans. Space in the lot will be given at a first-come, first-serve basis. Parents and alumni will be allowed in on the evening of Friday, Nov. 14. Students will be restricted from the lot until the morning of Nov. 15.

Tailgaters will be allowed to put up tents, play music and serve alcohol, as is outlined in DePauw athletics tailgating guidelines. Stu-

dents will also be allowed to serve hard alcohol and beverages in glass bottles, as well as have shared containers such as kegs, which are acceptable under Wabash’s tailgating regulations.

Drinking games and bringing alcohol or coolers into Hollett Little Giant Stadium will be prohibited.

Nally advises students who are underage to be wary of drinking alcohol, saying, “If our students are under 21 years old and they’re drinking, it’s a calculated risk.”

Off-duty Crawfordsville police officers will be present through out the day.

Unlike home tailgates, the Monon tailgate at Wabash will not be shutdown at the kickoff, but students are encouraged to go to the game.

Everything you need to know about Monon Free buses to and from the game: Student Government has two buses leaving at 10 a.m. and one leaving at 11 a.m. from the Union Building for the game. Each bus holds 55 people. No alcohol is allowed. Seating will be on a first come, first serve basis. The buses will return immediately following the game.

Free t-shirts: Each year, student government sponsors free t-shirts for Monon. The last chance to get a shirt will be today from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the student organization space in the basement of the Union Building.

Free pancake breakfast: The night of the game, there will be a free pancake dinner starting at midnight and continuing until 2 a.m. If DePauw wins back the bell, students will have an opportunity to see the bell up close and personal. They can also ring the bell if they so choose.

How to get to the game 1. Go north on US-231 for 26.8 miles

Saturday’s Weather

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014 DePauw

Tiger Tweets Kevin Bugielski, ‘16 @kevin_bugielski

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

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Monon Special Section

Map of Wabash College Campus

6:38 a.m.- 10 November 2014

It’s time to get our Mon-on! #MononWeek #BringItHome

7:33 p.m. - 12 November 2014

Jack Leibovitz, ‘15

Senior year, it’s time to bring the Bell back to its rightful home at DePauw #WuckFabash

Molly Sender, DPU Alumna @SendinTweets

10:33 p.m. -11 November 2014

Every November it still suprises me that the #MononBell isn’t a national holiday. #ringitforoldepauw @DePauwU

INSTAGRAM PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

2. Turn left onto West Wabash Avenue, and your destination will be on the left.

3.

DePauw fans should use the northeast gate when entering the stadium.

High: 37 Low: 26 Mostly Cloudy

22. Brian P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium

MAP COURTSEY OF WABASH COLLEGE

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Monon Special Section

The Monon Bell Game: Then and Now

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

What Do they D Wear?

BY MEG MORROW

FACEMASK SHOULDER PADS

sports@thedepauw.com

00

JERSEY ARMBAND

GLOVES CUP HIP PADS

PANTS THIGH PADS

KNEE PADS

sports@thedepauw.com

The last time DePauw travelled to Wabash College, they were 2-7.

This year, the Tigers are coming into Monon at 7-2 overall, against an 8-1 overall, 17th ranked nationally Wabash team, and their chances to win back the bell look brighter than the past couple of seasons.

“These have been some rough years of DePauw football,” sophomore nose guard Peter Nolan said.

“We are finally starting to turn around. The growing support from alumni and the campus, as well as seven wins, has given us some confidence, and we are more than ready for the game this weekend.”

The Little Giants have housed the Bell at Wabash for five years in a row now. DePauw’s last victory over them came in 2008 at Wabash, where they won 36-14.

As for this year’s matchup, Wabash has only lost one game — to Wittenberg University — who also defeated DePauw in the second game of the season. The Tigers turned the ball over seven times in that game, eliminating any ability to pull off the victory.

“Wabash is without a doubt the best team on paper,” WGRE Broadcaster Robert Sherman said. “But there is something to be said for momentum — the game means more to DePauw because the seniors have never won the Bell. DePauw will play for their seniors; you'll see it on the field. Every cut, every sprint, every tackle will be a bit more than expected out of them.”

Wabash has yet to play in a close game this season, which could be an advantage for DePauw.

“Even taking the Wittenberg game into account,

sports@thedepauw.com

SOCKS

The Tigers look to theri coach durnig a time out during thier game against Sewanee: The University of the South earlier this season. SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW “They are on average beating each of their opponents by 30.3 points,” Sherman said. “I think [Wabash] is still shocked at their loss, especially considering they were considered an indubitable favorite to win the NCAC. Their performance was anything but infallible, and I think the deflating defeat will carry into this game.”

The Little Giants may not be prepared for a battle from the Tigers.

“Wabash will not be ready to play two tough games in a row, which gives DePauw an edge,” Sherman said.

A key to winning the game, according to Sher-

man, will come from the passing game of sophomore Matt Hunt.

“DePauw will more than likely only be able to move the ball through the air,” Sherman said. “Wabash's defense is that good.”

Hunt is ready for the challenge, surrounded by an offensive line that he trusts.

“The O line has proven they can block some of the best in the conference,” Hunt said. “I can't wait to see what they do on Saturday.”

DePauw Head Coach Bill Lynch stresses the fact that a good run game will lead to a strong pass game, which certainly worked against Hiram Col-

5

lege last week.

“The big plays we had in passing [last week] came off play action pass, and that’s a result of us running the ball well,” Lynch said.

On the receiver front, first-year Jake Hagan has the stage to start off his DePauw career with a bang.

“I'm not quite sure yet if any game we've played can measure up to the hype about this one,” Hagan said. “Being a freshman and hearing from everyone all year about this one game makes it seem like it's the only important one.”

While the big time spotlight may be on them, the Tiger’s won’t let the hype distract them.

“We're treating it like any other week of football so we don't get too distracted by the hype and come out with a victory,” Hagan said.

Getting behind against Wabash can quickly turn into a slippery slope, so the Tiger’s plan on getting out to a quick start.

“Doing what we can to get the lead from the beginning is certainly our goal. Playing from behind presents a challenge for any team,” sophomore kicker Marco Adams said.

No one on DePauw’s football team has ever been able to win the bell — they plan on changing that this year.

“I think we have learned that we can compete with any team,” first-year Peter Nelson said. “This game means so much to this school and is part of its history, and I think that excites us. That is what makes this game special.”

Kickoff for the 121st annual Monon Bell Classic is scheduled for 1:07 p.m. at Wabash’s Hollett Little Giant Stadium.

Division III playoff system not doing any favors for the Tigers postseason hopes

BY JACOB LYNN

SHOES A book by Tyler James, ‘11, about Monon Bell history. The book was first published by History Press in October 2013. James played football during his years at DePauw University. THE DEPAUW ARCHIVES

Monon Special Section

Monon Bell within grasp of Tigers this season

HELMET

BY ALEX WEILHAMMER

Tomorrow the DePauw Tigers and the Wabash College Little Giants will face off on the Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium for the 121st annual Monon Bell Game. The last time the Tigers took home the bell was Nov. 5, 2008. This year’s Bell game, however, may well be the most competitive the rivalry’s seen in the past five years.

Let’s take a quick look at a portion from “The Ballad of the Monon Bell.” It attempts to capture the glorious conflict of this legendary rivalry: Suddenly the boys of autumn had fire in their eyes Blood and spit, but never quit, fighting for the prize The medal to the victor, the symbol to the school Wabash and DePauw became a yearly duel.

The first Monon Bell game took place in 1890, sparking “the oldest college football rivalry west of the Alleghenies,” as the peculiar phrasing goes. The 300-pound bell first became the trophy for the rivalry game in 1932, as it was “a gift from the Monon railroad.” Wabash leads the all time series 58-53-9. Simply put, Wabash has spent more time with the Bell than DePauw has.

Since head coach Bill Lynch took over in 2013, the Tigers have been building Suddenly the boys of autumn had fire in their eyes off steady successes, keeping “their eyes” on “the prize.”

Blood and spit, but never quit, fighting for the prize After losing the first four The medal to the victor, the symbol to the school games of the season, the Tigers returned with three Wabash and DePauw became a yearly duel. straight wins. They conclud-From “The Ballad of the Monon Bell” ed the regular season with a 4-6 record, but they lost the Bell game at home 38-21.

Last year’s score shows great improvement from the 2012 showing, when the Tigers lost 23-0 in Crawfordsville.

The Little Giants have performed strongly this 2014 season, earning an overall record of 8-1 (7-1 NCAC). The Tigers, however, aren’t far behind, with their own 7-2 regular season (6-2 NCAC). With Bill Lynch settled into the helm, and with his recruits experienced and battle-tested, the Tigers have earned themselves not just a fighting chance, but a true shot at reclaiming the Bell. Having not won for the past five seasons, and having been shut out during their last appearance in Crawfordsville, DePauw is ready to play, and DePauw is ready to win.

I’ll leave you with the two slant couplets that form the much-repeated chorus of the ballad: Ring the Bell for Wabash, ring for old DePauw Ring the bell for victory in the last game ev’ry fall Ring the Bell for Wabash, ring for old DePauw Ring the bell for victory in the last game ev’ry fall.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

Besides the coveted Monon Bell, what are the Tigers playing for when they take the field against the Wabash College Little Giants tomorrow afternoon?

It’s a chance at a berth into the Division III playoffs. However, the postseason format created by the NCAA doesn’t do the Tigers any favors.

In order to receive a sure bid to the tournament, teams of the 24 qualifying conferences have to win their respective conference titles. For the Tigers, playing in the North Coast Athletic Conference, this is especially difficult because there is no conference championship game.

The only other route to the playoffs for teams without a division title is through an at-large bid

from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

This is a difficult way for teams to get in as an NCAA selection committee is tasked with determining the final six teams in the playoff bracket.

“With only six at-large bids in the country, I think it’ll be hard for us to get a bid with two losses already,” DePauw Head Coach Bill Lynch said.

According to D3football.com, the selection committee breaks its decisions down into a primary and secondary set of criteria. The first focuses on stats such as results against other Division III competition and strength of schedule. If those numbers aren’t enough to pick out the teams, the group moves to its second set of measures where they look at team records against competition from nonDivision III opponents.

For the Tigers this season, an NCAC title is out of the question. A Wittenberg University team that is undefeated in conference play and whose only

loss came against NCAA Division I Butler University clinched the title after their win against Wabash College last weekend.

After their blowout win over Hiram College last weekend, the Tigers sit at 7-2 with only the Monon Bell Classic left to play. While over half of the teams that qualified for the playoffs last season made it in with two defeats, only Franklin College made the tournament with three losses, and they had to win their conference to do so. This makes it almost imperative that the Tigers defeat Wabash and go in front of the selection committee with only two losses.

However, as Wabash knows all too well, the selection committee can do some odd things.

“With two loses, I believe we don’t have a chance at the playoffs,” Wabash Head Coach Erik Raeburn said. “With just one loss, we would have a chance, but last year we were 9-1 and were not

selected.”

Even if DePauw does defeat Wabash, the quality of their losses is in question as well. A 17-point loss on the road at eventual conference champion Wittenberg in week two won’t look too bad, but their 23-16 loss to 5-4 Ohio Wesleyan University at home could be a red flag for the selection committee.

“Unfortunately our loss to Ohio Wesleyan kind of forfeited our playoff chances,” junior Taylor Shellman said.

Then again, a win on the road against 8-1 Wabash could look pretty nice in the eyes of the NCAA. At the end of the day, every Division III team looks to win their conference title and receive an automatic bid to the tournament. Leaving it up to the selection committee still leaves teams a chance, but it takes the power to control their destiny out of their hands.

Monon Special Section

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

offense

offense

10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 JAKE HAGAN #7 Freshman Wide Receiver

KODY BONTREGER #50 Junior Right Tackle

CRAIG NEECE #58 Senior Defensive End

JAY D. ROBINSON #45 Senior Tight End

PETER NELSON #66 Sophomore Nose Guard

HUNTER LOGAN #74 Junior Left Tackle

CODY CAMBELL #63 Sophomore Left Guard

TAYLOR SHELLMAN #56 Junior Center

ERIC BROOKS #64 Sophomore Right Guard

ERIC DOWNING #31 Senior Tight End

WES BROWN #51 Junior Left Tackle

TRE TAYLOR #76 Junior Left Guard

JAKE NORLEY #79 Junior Center

KYLE STUCKER #63 Sophomore Right Guard

MATT HUNT #10 Sophomore Quarterback

AMEN GALLEY #28 Junior Tailback

ZACHARY ALLEMAN #87 Sophomore Wide Receiver

CONNOR JEFFERS #9 Junior Wide Receiver

DERYION STURDIVANT #72 Sophomore Right Tackle

HOUSTON HODGES #1 Senior Wide Receiver

DRAKE CHRISTEN #8 Sophomore Wide Receiver

SAMMY ADAMS #80 Sophomore Wide Receiver

MICHAEL PUTKO #10 Junior Quarterback

CLARK CASTILLO #23 Senior Defensive End

WILL LONGTHORNE #24 Sophomore Outside Linebacker

THOMAS GRAY #33 Sophomore Middle Linebacker

TYLER MCCULLEN #45 Junior Defensive End

defense

MICHAEL MITSCH #94 Sophomore Defensive Tackle

EVAN RUTTER #34 Senior Nose Guard

defense

CODY BURESH #39 Senior Defensive End

ETHAN BURESH #28 Sophomore Outside Linebacker

A.J. AKINRIBADE #44 Senior Inside Linebacker

TYLER HOLMES #25 Senior Runningback

CONNOR KARNS #49 Sophomore Inside Linebacker

10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 GARRETT RICE #27 Senior Outside Linebacker

HAMM HOOPER #17 Junior Cornerback

PAUL SIMON #11 Junior Safety

ADAM FOLTA #7 Junior Safety

CODY BAKER #16 Sophomore Cornerback

DENZEL WILKINS #32 Senior Outside Linebacker

DELON PETTIFORD #5 Sophomore Cornerback

JUSTIN WOODS #9 Junior Cornerback

EDDIE CMEHIL #13 Junior Safety

AUSTIN BROWN #18 Sophomore Safety

WABASH

DEPAUW

6&7

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Monon Special Section

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

The DePauw Sports Editor:

The Bachelor Sports Editor:

Get ready to ring the Bell, Old DePauw

Expect Wabash to make it six straight Bell wins

game rushing and nearly 200 yards per game by way of an aerial attack.

Senior Tyler Holmes leads the attack, needing only 95 yards on Saturday to break the 1,000 yard mark on the season.

Meanwhile, junior quarterback Michael Putko’s greatest strength has been his ball security. Starting all nine games so far for the Little Giants, Putko has a completion percentage over 60 and has only thrown three interceptions.

In my opinion, the Tigers have got to move the ball consistently on offense. They need to be able to run the ball inside and wear out Wabash’s strong front seven.

As far as weight goes, Gruber is the biggest running back the Tigers will bring into Saturday’s Monon Bell Classic, listed at 181 pounds. He needs to be able to use that size and run downhill through holes created by the offensive line and junior fullback Jake Miller.

If the Tigers can dictate the pace of the game, something hard to do against the Little Giants who average just under five minutes of possession more than their opponents, they stand a chance. The offense can’t turn over the ball and must win the field position battle as well.

All of this aside, it’s the Monon Bell Classic and anything can happen. Wabash will come in motivated after their undefeated season was taken away

by Wittenberg University last week and DePauw’s seniors will be motivated by their desire to ring the Bell for the first time.

If I had to venture a guess, I’d say this year’s game will be the closest since DePauw’s 24-21 win back in 2007. I would also say it’ll be a low scoring affair with both offenses focusing on the run and the level of skill on both defenses.

In the spirit of passion over statistics, I’ll stick with my gut and say it’ll be the Bell will head back to Greencastle for the for the first time since 2008.

But hey, it’s Monon and anything is possible.

Prediction: DePauw 21, Wabash 17

sports@thedepauw.com

D E R E K ANDRE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BACHELOR

Fresh off their first loss of the season, a 21-15 defeat against Wittenberg University, the Little Giants are angry.

For the third straight year, the Little Giants are behind the eight ball when it comes to an National College Athletic Association at-large bid with one game to go. For the third straight year, they’ll likely need to dominate and possibly even humiliate the dreaded Tigers of DePauw University to get a sniff at an at-large bid. Lucky for us as fans, the chances of a Wabash win look pretty good.

Let’s start with the offense. It’s not much of a secret that Wabash has been a run first team all year, and neither is how good they’ve been on the ground. The platoon of senior Tyler Holmes and junior Mason Zurek have combined to rush for 1,560 yards on 245 attempts for an average of 6.4 yards per carry.

Holmes and Zurek are first and fourth in the conference in yards per game, respectively and Wabash leads the North Coast Athletic Conference in rushing yards per game as a team. Both backs are also tied for the conference lead in touchdowns, with each having nine. If the Tigers want to have any chance on Saturday, they’re going to have to figure out how to slow down Wabash’s backfield dynamic duo. Notice I said slow down, because they’re both too good to be outright stopped.

While the Little Giant rushing attack is the strength of the offense, the aerial attack is no slouch either. Starting quarterback junior Michael Putko is tied for the conference lead in touchdowns, second in completion percentage and first in yards per attempt among qualifiers. Combine Putko with two NCAC top-ten receivers in sophomore Drake Christen and senior Houston Hodges and you have a passing game to compliment the Little Giant’s dangerous running game.

So, it’s pretty much a fact, Wabash has a good

offense. But the defense is really the strength of this Little Giant team. Nationally, Wabash's defense is ranked second in total defense, fourth in rushing defense, first in team sacks, 12th in scoring defense and 14th in third down defense.

Need I say more? The Little Giants are ridiculously good on defense. Senior Cody Buresh is ranked top 20 in the country in tackles for loss.

His brother, sophomore Ethan Buresh, is ranked top 20 in sacks. Like I said, Wabash is great on the defensive side of the ball. So far this year, DePauw has been a run first team, something that plays right into the hands of the Little Giants. Unless DePauw can break a Wabash defense that has stymied the opposition all season, expect more of the same.

You can’t dispute that DePauw is better this season. They’re 6-2 in the conference and 7-2 overall, up from 4-5 a year ago. I really do expect the game to be closer this year. DePauw is a quality team with some quality pieces. They’ve got steady running backs, a young quarterback and a stable defense. In their two losses, one was a heartbreaker against Ohio Wesleyan University and the other came against Wittenberg University.

Again, DePauw has improved, but that doesn’t mean that the result of the Bell Game will be any different this year as opposed to the last five.

Wabash is fresh off their first loss of the year and knows that the only route to the NCAA tournament includes a win in the Bell Game. They’re angry, they’re hungry, and, unfortunately for DePauw, they’re not about to lose the Bell. While anything can happen, the smart bet is on Wabash this weekend.

Prediction: Wabash 38, DePauw 14

Monon Special Section

Scouting the enemy: Little Giants’ defense makes them tick

BY JACOB LYNN

JACOB LYNN For DePauw University’s seniors, this is their last shot: one final chance to defeat the Wabash College Little Giants, one last opportunity to win the bell that has eluded them their first three years at the university.

And now there’s a chance. It’s not a great one, but there is one.

In order to turn this possibility into a reality, the Tigers are going to have to be able to run the ball.

In a way, this running key will come as a form of defense for the Tigers. The Wabash offense is loaded with weapons, and to keep them off the field, DePauw is going to have to run the ball consistently and eat the clock.

After the exit of Nikko Sansone last year, the Tigers had question marks coming into the season in the backfield. As the season has gone on, we’ve seen the emergence of a three-pronged rushing attack.

Leading the way for the Tigers is junior Amen Galley with 342 yards and six touchdowns. When Galley needs a breather, DePauw Head Coach Bill Lynch has turned to first-year surprise Jack Gruber as replacement. Through nine games, Gruber leads the team with eight rushing touchdowns. Rounding out the DePauw backfield is sophomore Jason Kirchoff, who has just over 300 yards rushing, four touchdowns and leads the team with 5.9 yards per rush.

The three have combined for over 1,200 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, and as a whole, the Tigers are averaging over 200 yards on the ground per game.

However, the Wabash defense will, in my opinion, be the best defense the Tigers will face this year.

The Little Giants are giving up a miniscule 55 yards on the ground per game this season and holding opponents to an average 1.6 yards per rush.

Leading the way for the Wabash run-defense is 221 pound outside linebacker Cody Buresh, who has 80 tackles for loss this season and is third on the team in tackling.

The Wabash offense doesn’t have many holes either. The Little Giants average over 250 yards per

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

It’s pretty much pick your poison when it comes to facing the Wabash College Little Giants this season.

Whether it’s their offense or defense, statistically speaking, the Little Giants are one of the North Coast Athletic Conference’s best teams.

“They are pretty solid all around,” DePauw’s sophomore quarterback Matt Hunt said. “I don’t think they have one specific weakness.”

On the offensive front, Wabash is led by their strong running game featuring a two-headed monster in the backfield. Senior Tyler Holmes leads the team with 150 rushes for 931 yards and when he needs a breather, Wabash head coach sends in junior Mason Zurek who has amassed 618 yards on the season. The pair has combined for 18 touchdowns already.

“It’s a double-edge sword,” DePauw senior defensive end Craig Neece said. “When one of them’s gone, you get the next one.”

Last Monon Bell Classic, the Tigers faced the Little Giants without the power pair.

“Last year we lost them both for the season with injuries, so it has been a huge boost to our running game to have them return,” Wabash Head Coach Erik Raeburn said. “Obviously, our offensive line deserves some of the credit and our tight end Eric Downing has blocked very well all season.”

Leading the air attack for the Little Giants is junior Michael Putko whose greatest strength comes from his impressive ball security.

With only three interceptions on 168 attempts, Putko is being picked off only 2 percent of his throws.

“We emphasize ball security and drill it all the time in practice

and fortunately our players recognize the importance,” Raeburn said.

“The last several years, the only games we have played poorly have been the games we turned the ball over.”

However, it’s the Wabash defense that really makes the team click.

The Little Giants will come into the Monon Bell Classic holding opponents under 13 points per game. They are also giving up, on average, 55 rushing yards per game and only 160 passing yards per game.

“They’re just very aggressive players,” junior center Taylor Shellman said. “They’re not the biggest people, they’re not the strongest, but they’re very quick and they’re very tactical players.”

Their redzone defense is also impressive. Opposing teams have come away with points on only 12 of their 18 possessions inside the Wabash 20 yard line and have found paydirt on only eight occasions.

The real strength of the Wabash defense is their defensive line, however.

“Their whole team is the defensive line,” Shellman said. “That’s their spark.”

The defense as a whole has combined for an incredible 46 sacks this year and has forced 13 turnovers. Leading the Wabash defensive unit are the Buresh brothers, senior Cody and sophomore Ethan.

The linebackers have combined for 17 sacks.

“I think we are going to see a lot more blitzes than we did this last week which will have an effect on our passing game but could give us some opportunities to gash them in the run game,” Hunt said.

“They create turnovers off of their pressures,” DePauw Head Coach Bill Lynch said. “So to be competitive with them you’ve got to do a great job at the line of scrimmage and keep them from getting negative yardage.”

9 STAFF

PREDICTIONS JACOB LYNN

21-17 DEPAUW

WABASH

AUSTIN CANDOR

27-24 DEPAUW

WABASH

MEG MORROW

20-17 DEPAUW

WABASH

NOT GOING TO THE GAME? ERIC ST. BERNARD

DEPAUW STUDENTS CAN WATCH THE GAME ON CHANNEL 3 ON DEPAUW’S CAMPUS CABLE SYSTEM STARTING AT 1 P.M.

34-27 DEPAUW

WABASH

ABBY MARGULIS

27-14 DEPAUW

WABASH

10

Monon Special Section

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

DePauw defense ready to make a stand for the bell

BY ERIC ST. BERNARD

BY AUSTIN CANDOR

Two years ago, Bill Lynch returned to the football program as head coach with a lot of work to do. The DePauw University Tigers were coming off one of their worst years in school history, having gone 2-8 in the 2012 season. Although faced with a difficult task, Lynch knew he had to build for the future and recruit.

“We definitely had a philosophy and an approach we wanted to take,” Lynch said.

But Lynch and the rest of the coaching staff had to overcome multiple obstacles in the recruitment process as well. By the time the staff was fully put together, it was already late in the recruiting season.

“We really were working off of those who had been recruited by the previous staff, and who were already in the system,” Lynch said. “[But] we were able to go out and find some new [recruits] too who ended up being really good football players…

The Tigers have been preparing all season for the annual rival game against Wabash. SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW

Monon Special Section

Lynch’s first recruits making their presence felt already sports@thedepauw.com

sports@thedepauw.com

Plastered on the depauwtigers.com football page few days before the 121st annual Monon Bell game sits a medium close-up photo of 5’-11” sophomore linebacker Thomas Gray in action that strikes the eye so clear it can be mistaken as pose. Under the picture reads the hyperlinked caption, “Gray Earns NCAC Defensive Honor.”

The standout linebacker’s North Coast Athletic Conference honor, the first of any DePauw player thus far in their 7-2 season, is befitting of the role the Tiger defense has had on the team’s success. With only the Monon game left in their 2014 season, the Tigers are on pace to average 15.1 points allowed per game, the least since giving up 12.7 points per game in their 2005 season.

To put in perspective, the last time a DePauw Tiger defense gave up fewer points than this season’s unit, Gray was only 11 years old.

“I cannot thank my coach and coaches enough for the continued practice repetition and emphasis on film,” Gray said. “The time they have spent with each player has provided me with a solid understanding of what to do and the confidence needed to succeed.”

From starting linebacker down to a third string player on the offensive side of the ball, the entire Tigers program has benefitted from defensive coordinator Jay Hood’s efforts this season. Hood, who has served as a defensive coordinator at all three levels of National Colelge Athletic Association football, is in charge of a unit that has forced 14 interceptions and recovered seven fumbles thus far on the season. The Tigers are tied with Hiram College, who they trounced at home last weekend by a 45-12 score, for first in the NCAC in defensive interceptions. Combined, the defense has gifted sophomore standout Matt Hunt and the rest of his Tigers offense 21 extra possessions for the season, leading to 35 points per game and 401 total offensive yards averaged. And a seven win season, their most since 2010.

For sophomore linebacker Will Longthorne, who leads the team in tackles with 72, the reason for the defense’s success may not be as complex as one may think.

“Forcing turnovers has been a result of a better understanding of our defense,” Longthorne said. “We aren't thinking as much as last year which has allowed us to play fast and force turnovers.”

In fact, the themes of defensive prowess and the Tigers’ highest winning percentage since 2010 are such parallels, DePauw has third place in both NCAC overall standings and overall defense. The trend is repeated among the number one and two teams in the conference, Wittenberg University and Wabash College, respectively.

The Tigers’ 15.1 points allowed per game is only topped by the Little Giants’ 11.5 points allowed and Wittenberg’s 10.6 points allowed per game. Last season, the Tigers finished 4-6 after allowing 24.2 points per game. An incumbent coach, Bill Lynch, lost the Bell game at Blackstock Stadium 38-21.

The season prior, the Tigers allowed 29.5 points a game and lost the Monon Bell Classic by a score of 23-0. Much has changed for the surging Tigers since their shutout loss two seasons ago . They are 7-2, sitting at third place in the NCAC. The team’s sophomore quarterback is more confident and poised than ever. Their defense has gone from one of the program’s weakest links, to one of its most dominating facets.

If there was a time for senior captain linebacker Garret Rice to take home the Bell for his first time in four years, it would be now.

“It would mean the world to end my football career with the ultimate rivalry win on the road and to bring the Bell back home to DePauw,” Rice said.

The 121st annual Monon Bell game is set to kick off at 1:07 p.m. at the Hollett Little Giant Stadium in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

We felt very fortunate with the group we were able to bring in.”

Along with this, the program faced another problem in having to “get their numbers back”, according to Lynch.

“There were numbers in the program total, but by positions, they just didn’t match up,” Lynch said.

“For example … that first day of practice in 2013, I think we had 14 quarterbacks and eight offensive lineman.”

For the recruits themselves, last season served as an adjustment period. While the team only went 4-6, first-years such as quarterback Matt Hunt were slowly making the transition to college football and to DePauw’s program as a whole.

“We were kind of thrown to the wolves … we had a bunch of different guys playing together,” Hunt, who became the Tiger’s starting QB in the midst of last season, said. “Now, we have all gone through an off-season together and are playing much more as a team.”

Current sophomore linebacker Thomas Gray thought the actual games made the most difference in the players’ development.

“It’s hard to compare the level of practice preparation to the actual speed and intensity of the game,” said Gray, who was named North Coast Athletic Conference Football Defensive Player of the Week after the Tigers’ win against Hiram College on Saturday. “I think this year has provided in-game experience for many of the players.”

This season, the patience and gained experience of the sophomore class has paid off for the Tigers, as they head into Saturday’s game looking to defeat Wabash for the first time since 2008.

“All the seniors have talked about [how] this is the best they’ve felt about DePauw football for a while,” Hunt said. “Team morale is high right now, and I think that will carry over to Saturday.”

While the sophomores already have a whole season under their belts, this year’s first-years are looking towards something more.

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“This being my first year with the program, I can honestly say our success comes directly from our coaching staff and is followed by the leadership of our seniors,” first-year wider receiver Jake Hagan, who leads the team with 29 receptions for 337 yards this season, said. “When you have great leaders, it’s easier for the younger classes to follow and fit into their roles that help the team get W's.”

In the final week of the regular season, the team is relying on the experience and knowledge of the coaching staff more than ever.

“The coaches have emphasized from the beginning of the week the importance of playing with confidence and also the team’s overall execution of assignments,” Gray said. “I think the team is extremely excited and well prepared for the game come Saturday.”

While all attention will be drawn towards this weekend’s Monon Bell Classic, it will be exciting to watch the impact of Lynch’s recruits for the years to come.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Hunt runs down the field with the ball during the Tigers’ last win over Hiram College. CHRISTA SCHROEDEL / THE DEPAUW

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Monon Special Section

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

GOOD GOOD LUCK! LUCK! SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW