Monon Bell Classic Special Section | Friday, November 9, 2012

The DePauw1

Friday, November 9, 2012 page design by Franki Abraham

119 Special

Edition

12-1-12

For the past 25 years, DePauw University and Wabash College have traded an equal amount of wins over the Monon Bell.

Monon Bell

Can the Tigers break their losing streak?

DePauw Wabash

50

Points

40 30 20 10 0

‘87

‘88

‘89

‘90

‘91

‘92

‘93

‘94

‘95

‘96

‘97

‘98

‘99

Year

‘00

‘01

‘02

‘03

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

2 | Monon special section

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

A little bit of everything makes DePauw’s 2-7 season

By MICHAEL APPELGATE sports@thedepauw.com

SEPT. 8 DEPAUW (0-0) AT ST. OLAF (0-0) LOSS: 31-10 The big question mark in preseason and the week before DePauw’s first game against St. Olaf College was who would start at quarterback. The season opener at Blackstock Stadium revealed the program turned to a freshman from Jonesboro, Ga., to revitalize an offense that saw instability all through the 2011 season. In his first ever collegiate game, Justin Murray couldn’t lead the Tigers to a win, but showed off his mobility and his powerful, but sometimes inaccurate, arm. He gained 17 yards on the ground and was 18-35 for 170 yards with one interception. DePauw’s defense surrendered 399 yards of offense to St. Olaf.

SEPT. 15 DEPAUW (0-1) AT WITTENBERG (1-0) LOSS: 52-14 In DePauw’s first NCAC match in the new conference, the opening kickoff went in no way as planned. Senior return-man Taylor Wagner fumbled the ball on the catch and Wittenberg University’s special team’s players pounced. Wittenberg then scored on their first offensive play — an 11yard touchdown run. By halftime, the Tigers found themselves in a 42-14 deficit and didn’t score for the rest of the game. The next day, Tigers’ head coach Robby Long was dismissed from his head coaching roll for failing to comply with “administrative expectations,” and defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was inserted in the interim role.

SEPT. 22 DEPAUW (0-2) AT CARNEGIE MELLON (3-0) LOSS: 51-28 After more than two decades of being an assistant coach, interim head coach Scott Srnka coached his first game as head of a football program. DePauw faced a tough battle at Carnegie Mellon University and lost in a shootout that totaled more than 1,000 yards of offense between both teams. For the second-straight week, DePauw’s opponent scored on its first offensive play of the game — an 83-yard screen pass. The host Tartans put 30 points on the scoreboard before freshman Murray orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by an eight-yard pass to senior tight end Bobby Coburn.

The Tartans held the edge in offensive yards, 534515.

SEPT. 29 DEPAUW (0-3) VS. WASHINGTON-ST.LOUIS (1-3) WON: 17-14 It was a nail-bitter at Blackstock Stadium as DePauw clung to a 17-14 lead over Washington University in St. Louis in the fourth quarter. Murray led the Tigers to 14 first-half points and was able to muster just three in the third quarter. But what the freshman did well in the fourth quarter was eat up clock.

He led a 17-play drive covering just 54 yards that lasted almost nine minutes. DePauw’s defense also stepped up in the final quarter, intercepting backup quarterback John O’Connor twice. The Tigers earned its first win of the season in its fifth game which continued a trend all season — slow, methodical drives downfield and a defense prone to giving up big plays.

OCT. 6 DEPAUW (1-3) VS. OHIO WESLEYAN (4-0) LOSS: 26-22 Murray finally had the prototypical freshman game — he threw four interceptions and never seemed to be in sync after throwing his first pick in the second quarter against Ohio Wesleyan University.

But it wasn’t just the freshman quarterback who made mistakes. The defensive secondary had two key mental breakdowns, which the Battling Bishops exploited. In the first quarter, Ohio Wesleyan’s quarterback, Mason Espinosa, found a wide-open Nick Ziegenbusch on a post route from the left sideline. Ziegenbusch ran straight up the middle of the field untouched for a 66-yard touchdown. With 18 seconds left in the second quarter, Espinosa, rolling out right with no pressure, found a wideopen Dave Mogilnicki in the middle of the field for a 46-yard touchdown. Murray ended the game 2146 for 164 yards.

OCT. 13 DEPAUW (1-4) AT ALLEGHENY (4-2) LOSS: 22-20 It came down to the fourth quarter again for the second straight week against Allegheny College.

This time, Murray, after a 10-play, 66-yard drive, ran the ball in himself for a 12-yard touchdown. With just 37 seconds left on the clock, DePauw down 22-20, interim head coach Scott Srnka called for a two-point conversion to force overtime. Murray’s pass was deflected by an Allegheny defender, and the game ended again with the Tigers counting the number of missed opportunities on offense.

The Gators netted just 173 yards of total offense to DePauw’s 253. The difference was where Allegheny started each of its scoring drives: DePauw’s 37 (field goal), DePauw’s 13 (touchdown), DePauw’s

Senior wide receiver Taylor Wagner evades two Ohio Wesleyan defenders during an Oct. 6 loss to the Battling Bishops. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES 49 (field goal) and DePauw’s eight on two occasions (touchdown and field goal).

OCT. 20 DEPAUW (1-5) VS. KENYON (3-3) LOSS: 21-19 For almost three years, opponents were guaranteed a win against Kenyon College. Before this season, the Lords lost 24 straight games. But with a new head coach, Kenyon is an improved team from seasons past. On Oct. 20, fans of DePauw football were shocked that the teams are now evenly matched, and the Lords pulled out a victory over the Old Gold, 21-19. In this game, the Tigers experienced a special teams nightmare, surrendering a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown off the opening punt. Senior kicker Eric Malm missed a PAT and a field goal during the game as well. On offense, however, DePauw used both Justin Murray and Drew Seaman under center, rotating them every other offensive series. The two combined to break a 12-year pass completions record with 45 receptions including a 39-54 performance by Seaman.

OCT. 27 DEPAUW (16) AT WOOSTER (2-6)

WON: 27-16 This was a game for the running backs led by junior Armani Cato. The offensive line created holes, and Cato along with freshman Amen Galley put up 189 yards rushing to complement 175 yards passing to end a three-game skid. However, during some stretches, the offense struggled to sustain drives, and after an early first quarter touchdown, the Tigers didn’t score again till the third when they were down 9-6. DePauw’s defense then stopped the Wooster attack and allowed just one touchdown in the fourth quarter.

NOV. 3 DEPAUW (2-6) VS. DENISON (2-6) LOSS: 39-20 After DePauw’s most successful running game all season, it had possibly its worst performance against Denison. The running game went backward for negative 13 yards. The passing game led by Drew Seaman and Justin Murray combined for 245 yards. However, with the Tigers leading 12-6 in the second quarter, the Big Red went on a scoring run.

Denison scored 33 unanswered points until the fourth quarter when DePauw was in a hole, 39-12.

3 | Monon special section

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

Wabash haunted by two questionable losses for 7-2 second in the country, allowing just 28.5 yards per game. In overtime, Wabash was handed its first loss of the season by a 28-yard field goal. Belton had a sub-par performance, completing 14 of 32 passes of 137 yards. Belton and his offense converted just three of 16 third downs, and the defense didn’t tally a sack.

SEPT. 29 WABASH (2-1) VS. CARNEGIE (4-1) WON: 54-28 The Wabash offense snapped out of its onegame funk and erupted for more than 50 points a week after being shocked at home against Allegheny. Against Carnegie Mellon University Belton set a Little Giants school record for touchdowns responsible for with seven – three rushing and four throwing. Belton ran for a career-best 198 yards and was 13-23 through the air for 183 yards. After the weekend, he was named NCAC player of the week and was selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week. However, the victory didn’t come that easy.

After the first quarter, Carnegie Mellon led 21-14 because of a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown with three minutes remaining. More than 1,000 yards of offense was tallied between the two teams, with Wabash holding the edge 566-455.

Freshman running back Mason Zurek returns a kickoff past two Oberlin defenders during a loss last weekend to the Yeomen. PHOTO COURTESY OF WABASH COLLEGE

By MICHAEL APPELGATE sports@thedepauw.com

SEPT. 8 WABASH (0-0) AT HANOVER (0-2) WON: 33-12 It wasn’t a pretty win, but it was a season-opening win nonetheless said Wabash head coach Eric Raeburn after his team was penalized 15 times for 152 yards. Despite the penalties against Hanover College, a good mix of defense and offensive combined for a 15-6 halftime lead for the Little Giants on their way to a 33-12 win. Wabash’s offense came almost exclusively through the air – just 29 rushing yards on 31 carries compared to more than 300 yards passing by senior quarterback, Chase Belton. Belton was 2531 for 327 yards and three touchdowns.

SEPT. 15 WABASH (1-0) AT DENISON (0-1) WON: 35-2

Wabash surrendered just two points and got its second win of the season over Denison University by a wide margin. At halftime, the Little Giants led 14-2, and by the third quarter, the lead was doubled, 28-2.

While a bulk of Wabash’s offense came again from the air – 218 yards by Belton – three touchdowns were scored on the ground. CP Porter rushed seven times for 50 yards, Belton tallied 27 yards and one touchdown and Vann Hunt pitched in 26 yards and a touchdown. The Little Giants defense shined, and Cody Buresh earned NCAC player of the week honors with six solo tackles and assists on five others.

SEPT. 22 WABASH (2-0) VS. ALLEGHENY (1-1) LOSS: 20-17 In a game that sent ripples across the NCAC and the national scene, Wabash suffered its first home loss in 13 games and its first loss to Allegheny College since 2005 in an overtime loss. Coming in to the game, the Little Giants’ rushing defense was ranked

OCT. 6 WABASH (3-1) AT WITTENBERG (4-1) WON: 27-24 Junior tight end and defensive end, Charlie Kolisek, led Wabash against Wittenberg University and earned NCAC player of the week honors for his efforts. He caught the first touchdown pass from Belton and recorded the first interception of the day off the first Wittenberg offensive possession and recorded a sack on the Tigers’ second-to-last offensive drive of the game. However, there was another struggle on offense and defense for the Little Giants.

At halftime, the Little Giants led 13-3. In the third quarter, Wittenberg fought back with 14 points and was down just 20-17 into the fourth quarter. The teams exchanged touchdowns, and it was the Wabash offense who closed the game out, tallying a 16play, 48-yard drive to eat up more than nine minutes of clock.

OCT. 13 WABASH (4-1) AT WASHINGTON - ST.LOUIS (1-4) WON: 34-14 Struggles in the Little Giants rushing game early in the season looked worn off against Washington University in St. Louis in week six. Belton was once again the centerpiece of a dangerous rushing attack

by Wabash as he accounted for his team’s first two

touchdowns — both runs more than 55 yards. Belton led all rushers with 166 yards on the ground, more than half of the 345 yards netted for the Little Giants. In total, four touchdowns were scored on the ground, two more by CP Porter and Tyler Holmes.

OCT. 20 WABASH (5-1) VS. WOOSTER (2-4) WON: 30-0 Chase Belton was held off the field after suffering a concussion against Washington, and junior Andy Walsh took the helm again against College of Wooster. Walsh accounted for two Wabash touchdowns: two through the air and one on the ground for a 30-0 win. The Little Giants offense was bolstered by a dynamic rushing game led by Tyler Holmes. Holmes carried the ball 25 times for 189 yards. CP Porter tallied 72 yards on nine carried, and the Wabash offense totaled 295 yards on the ground. The defense complemented the efficient offense, as Wooster gained just 195 yards. Wabash also tallied four sacks for 27 negative yards for the Fighting Scots.

OCT. 27 WABASH (6-1) AT OHIO WESLEYAN (7-0) WON: 28-0 For the second week in a row, Wabash blanked its opponent, the running game was excellent and Belton was efficient through the air. Despite Ohio Wesleyan’s 406 yards of total offense, the Little Giants’ defense stood up three red zone threats from the Battling Bishops. However, all of Wabash’s 28 points came in the second quarter. That’s when Belton found wide receiver, Houston Hodges, for 82 yards and Sean Hildebrand for 71 yards. Holmes gained 214 yards on the ground, and Belton had 235 yards through the air. The defense tallied five sacks and two interceptions.

NOV. 3 WABASH (7-1) AT OBERLIN (3-5) LOSS: 31-16 The Little Giants showed a chink in its armor against Oberlin: a shaky defensive secondary. The Yeomen’s Josh Mandel threw for 353 yards, four touchdowns and one interception to lead his team over Wabash at Crawfordsville, on senior day. The Little Giants scored midway in the first quarter, and then didn’t score again till the third. Belton threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. On the ground, Holmes tallied another productive weekend running for 152 yards. However, it was four passes more than 40 yards from Oberlin that downed Wabash.

4 | Monon special section

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

Splitting time Freshman Justin Murray (left) and sophomore Drew Seaman have split time this season as the quarterback for the DePauw Tigers football team. MICHAEL APPELGATE / THE DEPAUW

Quarterbacks Justin Murray and Drew Seaman are DePauw’s dual-threat

By MICHAEL APPELGATE sports@thedepauw.com

On some teams, two quarterbacks at the helm of an offense would incite rumors of controversy and indecisiveness.

On the DePauw football team, two are making an offense move.

Freshman Justin Murray and sophomore Drew Seaman have been sharing time as quarterback since Oct. 20 when the team played Kenyon College. Murray started the game, leading two offensive series, and then Seaman commanded the next two.

It’s a system that produced a school-record 45 completions against Kenyon, but overall, a system that has seen mixed results.

The Kenyon game resulted in a loss and featured more special teams mistakes than quarterback mis-

takes. The duo combined for 366 yards led by Seaman’s 322, but the longest pass for the DePauw offense was just 33 yards.

Regardless of the outcomes, Murray is using this year to get better acquainted with collegiate football.

“The biggest adjustment has been to make decisions quicker,” Murray said. “Knowing when to run was the biggest thing to help me.”

For Seaman, his second year at DePauw is one that was again derailed by a concussion. Though he said he improved greatly from the two starts his freshman year.

“Last year, I was just trying to grasp the offense,” Seaman said. “In the offseason, I put a lot of work into film study and meeting with coaches when I got back on campus. That’s made the biggest difference in my game: just knowing what the defense is going to do.”

He appeared in six games last season and threw

for 280 yards and five touchdowns. Seaman began his freshman year as the team’s third-string quarterback and impressed coaches with his accurate arm and confidence in the pocket. He was derailed by a concussion in the later part of the season.

Seaman was knocked out of the game this year in week three against Carnegie Mellon University and suffered a concussion that forced him to miss three weeks.

But back in the lineup now, Murray said the offense is more dangerous with Seaman.

“We have different talents and strengths,” Murray said. “We feed off of each other, and he would come to the sideline and let me know where the defense is moving, and I’d tell him from the sidelines what is open. It’s worked out so far.”

This season, Murray has racked up more than 1100 yards passing while Seaman has compiled more than 900. Seaman said Murray gives him a

more positive outlook on the game.

“He taught me how to have a little bit more fun out there on the field,” Seaman said. “At times we’ll be pushing really hard, and he’ll say something and crack a smile and loosen up a little bit. He’s a very talented young quarterback.”

The two-quarterback system has only produced one win in three games, a 27-16 decision against College of Wooster. In that game, the duo combined for 175 yards, but was aided by a strong running attack.

For the 119th Monon Bell Classic, Murray and Seaman will have to utilize the running game in order to avoid Little Giants’ defensive back, senior Austin Hodges, who has six interceptions this season.

“We’ll have to have a balanced attack,” Seaman said. “If you have one aspect, they’ll be able to shut that down.”

— Ryan Foutty contributed to this article.

5 | Monon special section

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

Freshman Paul Simon turns heads with booming kicks, bruising tackles

By GRANT WALTERS sports@thedepauw.com

Freshman Paul Simon is not only a free safety for DePauw, but also a punter. MICHAEL APPELGATE / THE DEPAUW

Freshman Paul Simon III emerged as a punter to the surprise of DePauw coaching staff after asking to try a punt the third day of training camp. “[Former head] coach Long looked at me like I was stupid for asking, but said ‘yeah, sure ok,’” Simon said.

Seems like that was a good choice on Long’s part; Simon has punted the ball 51 times for more than 2,000 yards during the season. He averages 39.4 yards, and Simon is looking to join four other punters who have averaged more than 40 yards per punt.

Against Washington University in St. Louis, he broke a DePauw record with a 75-yard punt in front of his family and home crowd at Blackstock Stadium.

That was DePauw’s first win of the season and a special moment for Simon.

“It was great to have my family there, this was their first game since I played in high school,” Simon said.

Not only has Simon’s foot been a gamechanger in many instances, but also his head and hands. Getting the start for half the season at safety, Simon is DePauw’s sixth-best tackler with 35.

“He’s come in to this year ready to play football,” middle linebacker Cody Crook said.

“He studied and worked hard and earned his way into a starting spot.”

An all-around athlete, Simon was second-string quarterback, wide receiver and backup kicker in high school. He also played four years of baseball and basketball in high school.

As well as Simon has done defensively, the secondary is generally young and has allowed eight touchdown passes more than 40 yards.

There was also an 80-yard run given up this year. Close scores have been the common

theme for the team – losing three games by four points or less.

“It’s been the taste in our mouths a lot this season, a couple of our fluke plays go our way and the scoreboard would’ve been different at the end,” Simon said. “Our coaches do stress to be perfect on every play. Some of those games have been heavy on the run, and we get too nose-down in that then get beat over the top.”

Simon battled a fever and concussion combination last weekend against Denison University, where he missed all of practice during the week. He’s hoping to get the start on Monon, after being taken out for the last punt for junior Eric Malm to try his foot.

“Consistency at practice is going to be crucial for me this week,” Simon said. “They will ultimately play the best player they feel for the job.”

— WGRE contributed to this article

Belton centerpiece of Wabash offensive attack

By MICHAEL APPELGATE sports@thedepauw.com

Tell Chase Belton he will be playing for his fourth win Saturday in the Monon Bell Classic, and you’d expect him to get excited.

The senior quarterback looks at you with an stoic face and describes how he’s played little role in privious wins. His nonchalant nature and humble response shouldn’t fool anyone – Belton has a desire to win his fourth Monon Bell Classic.

“The record doesn’t matter,” Belton said. “What you did the previous week doesn’t matter. We want to go out there and keep the Bell. DePauw wants to take it away. It’s bigger than yourself.”

If there’s one player the DePauw football team needs to focus on, it’s Belton.

The senior quarterback is the prime offensive threat for the Little Giants. This season, Belton is the third-best rusher on the team with 561 yards gained on the field and has thrown for more than 1,500 yards.

It’s been a progression to the lime light for Belton, who started just one

game at quarterback as a freshman. Out of Northmont High School in Dayton, Ohio, he developed a knack for combining his throwing acumen with his speed.

It was there he learned about reading defenses and coverages that benefitted him as soon as he came to Wabash.

“Freshman year, I knew I didn’t want to mess up,” Belton said. “I lucked out being young in the offense because everyone else was old, and they were veterans. It took a lot of pressure off me.”

In his sophomore year, Belton started seven games but spilt time with fellow quarterback, Tyler Burke. Belton was a large factor in the Little Giants’ 8-2 record and threw for more than 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Last season, with Belton solely at the helm, he threw for more than 2,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and averaged 168 yards per game through the air. Belton also ran for 652 yards – good for the second-highest rushing total on the team.

Wabash won two NCAA Div. III postseason games, but lost to eventual national champion, University of Mount Union.

Now, he is the veteran guiding his team to a 7-2 record.

Belton’s leadership was tested early in the season with a loss, 20-17, in week No. 3 to Allegheny College in overtime.

“It started with me,” he said. “I had a rough game, I didn’t play too well.

We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot every series. We took that loss and learned from that and ignited our fire a little bit.”

The Little Giants then rattled off fivestraight wins, scoring no less than 27 points in each game.

“Our defense from [Allegheny] played lights out,” Belton said. “As a quarterback, having a defense that plays lights-out is better than trying to force things on offense. It’s great to be able to lean on a defense like that.”

Senior defensive back Austin Hodges said the mid-season success was a combination of both Belton working the ball down the field and the defense resting.

“On longer drives he has, I can sit on the bench and relax,” Hodges said. “We knew if we gave him the ball, we think he’s going to score and come away with at least three points.”

Belton attributed the consistency to his steady progression in understanding a college defense.

Senior quarterback Chase Belton (No. 13) is a dynamic playmaker for Wabash College. COURTESY OF WABASH COLLEGE “I just try and take what the defense gives you,” he said. “Sometimes they are in the position where you can’t do anything. The time I can analyze and get the ball off has been quicker and my accuracy has gotten better over the years.”

Scott Srnka, DePauw’s interim head

coach, has his defensive plan focused on what Belton can do.

“He’s great with his feet, he’s got a strong arm and you have to watch him at both ends,” Srnka said. “He’s a running back there, and we have to contain him and keep him in the pocket.”

offense

40 30 20 10

DEPAUW

6 & 7 | Monon special section

KODY BONTREGER #50 Freshman Left Gaurd

CHRIS LAMPING #75 Senior Left Tackle

JACKSON KIRTLEY #11 Junior Wide Receiver

JUSTIN MURRAY #11 Freshman Quarterback

CRAIG NEECE #58 Sophomore Right Guard

ARMANI CATO #25 Junior Tailback

BOBBY COBURN #7 Senior Tight End

TAYLOR SHELLMAN #56 Freshman Center

D.J. STEWARD #8 Sophomore Wide Receiver

JIMMY VANN #66 Senior Right Tackle

TAYLOR WAGNER #3 Senior Wide Receiver

defense

CODY CROOK #8 Senior Middle Linebacker

PATRICK KELLER #54 Junior Defensive Tackle

ROBBY SCHULER #21 Senior Free Safety

JAKE KONOVSKY #10 Senior Defensive End

J.D. ROBINSON #45 Sophomore Strongside Linebacker

INDI LAVARIAS #92 Junior Defensive End

10 20 30 40 5 MYRON BURR #33 Senior Cornerback

DENNIS CALLICUTT JACK QUINN #13 #57 Senior Junior Weakside Linebacker Cornerback

GARRETT RICE #27 Sophomore Strong Safety

ERIC MALM #17 Junior Kicker

MICHAEL MCMANIS #64 Junior Nose Guard

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

10 20 30 40 5 CHASE BELTON #13 Senior Quarterback

DARREN BOST #86 Freshman Tight End

ANDREW GIBSON #21 Junior Wide Receiver

MICHAEL DEL BUSTO #55 Junior Right Tackle

SEAN HILDEBRAND #23 Junior Wide Receiver

WESTON KITLEY #61 Senior Left Tackle

JON LAIRD #7 Junior Wide Receiver

MARK RIFFLE #62 Junior Left Guard

PATRICK SINGLETON #73 Junior Left Guard

TRE TAYLOR #76 Freshman Center

TYLER HOLMES #25 Junior Runningback

defense

AJ AKINRIBADE #44 Sophomore Strongside Linebacker

ZACH BREUCKMAN #98 Junior Defensive Tackle

AUSTIN HODGES #2 Senior Cornerback

HOUSTON HODGES #1 Sophomore Cornerback

CODY BURESH #39 Sophomore Weakside Linebacker

PAT CLEGG #66 Senior Defensive Tackle

TYLER MCCULLEN #45 Freshman Defensive End

NATE SCOLA #42 Junior Middle Linebacker

JORGE DIAZ-AGUILAR #40 Junior Defensive End

JUSTIN WOODS #9 Freshman Safety

50 40 30 20 10 DENZEL WILKINS #32 Sophomore Safety

IAN MACDOUGALL #5 Sophomore Kicker

WABASH

offense

8 | Monon special section

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

Interim head coach Scott Srnka. MICHAEL APPELGATE / THE DEPAUW

Srnka’s passion contagious to Tigers Head coach Erik Raeburn. PHOTO COURTESY OF WASBASH COLLEGE

He needs a few minutes . . .

Wabash head coach, Erik Raeburn, has odd pre-game ritual

By MICHAEL APPELGATE sports@thedepauw.com

It started when he was player at University of Mount Union. When Erik Raeburn walked onto the field as a special teams player, he took out his mouthguard and found the nearest trash can.

He thought it would stop once he quit being a player, but it’s followed him into coaching.

The head football coach at Wabash College vomits before every game.

“Certainly it’s a nerve deal,” he said. “When I was an assistant, too, I would just get uptight that my guys weren’t going to play well.”

You can count on Raeburn being unavailable for a few minutes before the start of the 119th Monon Bell Classic on Saturday. After more than two decades of football at the collegiate level, Raeburn now has it on a “tight schedule.”

“I wish it didn’t happen,” he said.

“It’s nervous energy or just the excitement of the game, unfortunately it happens nearly every week. There

have been a couple weeks where I’ve made it through. [Players] come off the field after warm-ups, and I go to the restroom, and couple of minutes later I’m okay.”

Raeburn is finishing his fifth season as the Little Giants’ head coach, and 19th season of coaching collegiately after playing for four years at Mount Union. The 41-year-old coach played in the defensive secondary for the Purple Raiders and mostly played on the special teams units.

In his last season as a player, Raeburn decided he wanted to stay in football.

“I loved being on the team when I was a player,” he said. “I loved practice, getting on the bus and riding to the games and back.”

After graduating in 1994, he became an assistant coach at his alma mater under head coach Larry Kehres — Raeburn’s uncle.

There, he helped guide the Purple Raiders to three Div. III national titles, and after six seasons, he took a head coaching job at Coe College. In eight seasons at Coe, Raeburn tallied a 57-26 record and the school’s first ever conference title and first ever NCAA Div. III playoff appearance.

He came to Wabash in 2008 and quickly developed a love for the school that mirrors his personality.

“That’s the thing I like most about Wabash is that it takes a really driven, mentally tough guy to be willing to

come here and be successful here,” Raeburn said. “I like being around those types of guys.”

His values — having a hard work ethic and having accountability — rubbed off on his players. Chase Belton, senior quarterback for the Little Giants, attributes his success to Raeburn’s leadership.

“Coach knows my strengths,” Belton said. “I just try and go out every day and get better.”

Raeburn, now in his 19th season of coaching, can’t see a life outside of it. He’s grateful he’s consistently been at institutions that attract highquality student athletes.

“I’ve never felt like I’ve been a part of a team that didn’t work hard,” Raeburn said. “I’ve been blessed with guys who have really been committed.

“Probably the thing I like the most is watching the players from the time they first come join the team, then all of a sudden they’re seniors, and they’re fantastic. I love watching them develop and get better and better each year.”

Raeburn is 3-1 in Monon Bell Classics and is hoping to send his senior class away with a perfect record.

“I learned that it’s really difficult to win the game,” he said. “It’s a great atmosphere — the best I’ve ever been involved in. It seems like each year, the team who takes care of the ball the best, takes the game.”

By CHASE HALL sports@thedepauw.com

DePauw football interim head coach Scott Srnka sees players’ faces on each “X” and “O” he draws in the playbook.

To him, football is all about the skills and the relationships the game builds.

“If my guys have a good experience — and that experience isn’t just on the football field — I did my part,” Srnka said.

Srnka was hired as defensive coordinator last season and assumed the interim head coach position mid-September after Robby Long’s dismissal two games into the season.

Players get better through dedication, habits and competition, he said. His transition to head playmaker meant lots of teambuilding, competitive drills and less playrunning during practice. He said the team he inherited needed to the help to stay positive and improve through the drama.

“My main goal has been keep them engaged and to keep them fighting and pushing through,” he said.

That’s reflective of his “how can I help you” attitude, one that shows through even in a short conversation. His student athletes noticed that too, and feed off of it.

"We are fully behind coach Srnka 100 percent," senior linebacker Cody Crook said. "He's done an excellent job so far. ... I can't say enough about how good of a man he is, and good that he is the head of this program."

The 119th Monon Bell will be Srnka’s sixth game as a head coach after decades as an assistant coach and vast experience as a defensive coordinator.

He played football at Rhodes College and graduated in 1987 with an art major.

Srnka continued to Ohio University to earn

his master of science in health promotion and disease prevention. There, he served as a football graduate assistant coach.

Next, he went to Urbana University as the defensive coordinator for one year. He then moved to Baldwin-Wallace College for four seasons where he coached quarterbacks, running backs and kickers. He also was an assistant softball coach.

He then served 17 years at his alma mater, Rhodes, as defensive coordinator but also as head strength and conditioning coach, head men’s golf coach and was an assistant track and field coach.

Srnka is known for a personal, interactive coaching style and can be spotted running with his players between drills. Each hardship or loss is treated as a life lesson, one that helps the player grow as both a person and an athlete.

“Through the years, I’ve just tried and be myself,” Srnka said. “I haven’t ever really been a teacher, but that’s kind of what I’m trying to do. Helping them with the little things like being on time, taking notes and doing the right thing, translate into being a better football player.”

He feels ready for Saturday’s game, which puts him under serious pressure to break the three-time losing streak after a rocky season. That’s despite a dressing down from an alumnus after last year’s home field 45-7 loss.

“When I really sat back and thought about it, I thought you know what, it’s really cool there’s all these people who care that much about it,” Srnka said. “I want to win it for those guys, the alum. And because it would mean the world to these seniors who a have lost over the past three years, what they’ve had to endure.”

— WGRE contributed to this article.

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

9 | Monon special section

2009

Farewell to the Bell Date Location Score

2010

November 14, 2009 DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. 32-19, Wabash

Longest Bell streaks in Monon history

By LEAH FREESTONE sports@thedepauw.com

After an uneventful first half, the Tigers led 7-6 after Wabash’s extra point was blocked. The Little Giants wasted little time in taking the lead for good in the second half, earning a 51-yard touchdown and then a another after an interception on DePauw’s 14. Overall, DePauw outgained Wabash 450-418 and held a 30-20 advantage in first downs, but committed three turnovers, while the LIttle Giants had none. The Tigers sadly said goodbye to the bell as Wabash tied up the all-time record since the Monon Bell was introduced as the victor’s prize.

Another Rainy Day

Date Location Score

November 13, 2010 Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. 47-0, Wabash

LONGEST WINNING STREAK Wabash holds the longest winning streak in the history of the Monon Classic. The Little Giants won seven straight games, from 1921-1927. The first six games were shutouts in which the combined scores totaled, 121-0.

The Little Giants dominated the Monon Bell game from start to finish, ending the Tiger’s undefeated record of 9-0 and keeping the Bell in Crawfordsville. Wabash made the score 19-0 by the half. The score blew up in the 21-point third quarter, which made it difficult for the DePauw fans to expect a comeback, especially with DePauw’s 95 total offensive yards. DePauw gained only 11 yards on the ground, and totaled just seven first downs. The Little Giants closed the game with a 43-yard touchdown and sent DePauw off without the Bell, again.

LONGEST POSSESSION OF THE BELL

2011

Insult to Injury Date Location Score

November 12, 2011 DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. 45-7, Wabash

DePauw lost the Monon Bell for the third year in a row making a combined point margin of 144-26 in favor of the Little Giants over the three games. Wabash entered the competition 10-0 and took a commanding 31-0 lead at halftime. The Tiger’s lone touchdown was scored in the third quarter, adding to the low total of 150 offensive yards for a team led by fourth- and fifth-string quarterbacks because of injuries to others. At worst, DePauw fumbled the ball in their own end-zone which Wabash capitalized on for a touchdown.

Prior to the introduction of overtime to college football, DePauw held onto the bell for 10 consecutive years from 1955-1964. With the games in 1956 and 1959 resulting in ties, the rule of that time stated that the winner from the previous year kept custody of the bell.

THE LITTLE GIANTS’ DOMINATING TRIFECTA The latter half of Wabash’s six-game winning streak from 1949-1954 consisted of three shutouts. The 1952, 1953 and 1954 games combined for a 116-0 Wabash triumph.

DEPAUW’S GOLDEN ERA From 1955-1975, DePauw defeated Wabash in all but four of the Monon Bell Games (1965, 1967, 1971, 1972). This Tiger-dominated 20-year stretch began and ended with games that were decided in the last few seconds. In 1955, Fred Williams kicked an 18-yard field goal as time expired to give DePauw a 23-20 victory. In the 1974 game, with 18 seconds left on the clock, a Wabash receiver dropped the ball in the end zone, giving the Tigers a 15-12 victory.

10 | Monon special section

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

SPORTS EDITOR’S PREDICTIONS

DePauw can learn from Oberlin Wabash will prevail in close battle MICHAEL APPELGATE

L

ast weekend, I was ready to become what some believed to be the first sports editor for The DePauw to predict a Wabash College win in the Monon Bell Classic.

In the Blackstock Stadium press box Saturday, however, I experienced a metanoia. I witnessed Oberlin College assaulting the Little Giants’ secondary. The Yeomen offense, led by quarterback Josh Mandel, threw five touchdown passes — four of which were more than 45 yards. If there is anything the DePauw offense can take advantage of, it’s the Wabash secondary.

This wouldn’t take a fundamental change from what the Tigers’ offense typically displays. Sophomore quarterback Drew Seaman and freshman Justin Murray are adept at making quick passes to the sidelines and occasionally downfield to their tight ends.

What they don’t do well — and part of this is the fault of undersized wide receivers — is make throws for a big plays. DePauw’s longest passing play of the year came in week No. 3 against Carnegie Mellon University. Murray found junior Nikko Sansone for 55 yards, but no touchdown. The longest touchdown strike belongs to Seaman — a 34-yard pass to junior Jackson Kirtley against College of Wooster in week No. 8.

Time after time at Blackstock, I witnessed long

passes to the sidelines soaring out of bounds far out of reach of any wide receiver in the vicinity. Balls thrown down the middle of the field were often times thrown ahead of receivers as well.

But it’s not as though Murray and Seaman are inaccurate. On the contrary, the duo set a DePauw record for pass completions (45) against Kenyon College. The longest of those was a 33-yard pass from Seaman as he and Murray combined for 366 yards through the air. That’s an average of about eight yards per catch.

DePauw ended up losing the contest, 21-19, in a game where special teams gave up a 90-yard opening kickoff touchdown, missed an extra point attempt and a field goal.

Wabash’s game against Oberlin wasn’t the first time a Little Giants quarterback slung the ball around the field at will. Against Ohio Wesleyan University, quarterback Mason Espinosa completed 52 passes for 428 yards. In one of the most bizarre box scores one will ever see, the longest pass Espinosa completed was for 25 yards, and the Battling Bishops were shutout, 28-0.

Ohio Wesleyan proves how short passes don’t work against Wabash, and Oberlin shows how long passes do.

This is the key for the Tigers, and what I believe coaches and players will stress this week in practice.

It’s their only chance. DePauw was beaten by Kenyon, Denison and almost by Washington University in St. Louis. It can’t get any worse, why not lay it all on the table?

I predict a 21-17 win for the Tigers.

— Appelgate is a senior from Kent, Wash., majoring in communication. He is sports editor of The DePauw.

RYAN LUTZ

M

onon Bell Week is upon us again. Saturday, Wabash and DePauw will square off in one of the nation’s oldest and most storied rivalries. Despite how the game looks on paper, this year’s Monon Bell Classic has the potential to be closer than people expect.

For the first time in recent memory, neither team will be continuing onto the playoffs. With this being the last game of the season for both teams, nothing will be held back. We all know how it works with the Monon Game, winning streaks, records and statistics don’t matter. All that matters is which team shows up willing to fight their heart out for that bell, make the sacrifice for their team.

Last year, Wabash was concerned with being too confident and avoiding an upset by a DePauw team that was coming off of a shut out the year before. Saturday, both teams will try to validate their seasons in just four short quarters, and anything could happen. Especially considering Wabash’s play in last week’s shocking loss to Oberlin, Wabash will right the ship and come out on top. With the return of key starters and nothing left to lose, the Little Giants will win their last game in front of a home crowd.

Offensively, the Little Giants have progressed

throughout the year. But the outcome of the Bell Game will be determined by which offensive unit shows up. If the Little Giants come out and perform like they did against Wittenberg University and Carnegie Mellon University there will be nothing to worry about. On the flipside, things could be close if the Little Giants don’t pull away early or fail to keep the Tigers out of the end zone in the first half. The last few games have shown that a quick start is essential for Wabash’s chances at winning, and tomorrow will be no exception.

Our secondary was also a glaring weakness against Oberlin College. What had been, up until that point, a sound defensive unit gave up more than 400 yards through the air. It was arguably one of the worst defensive games of the year, but the return of senior safety Jonathan Koop will help remedy that problem. And with the secondary back at full strength, DePauw quarterbacks Drew Seamen and Justin Murray won’t rack up as many yards as Oberlin College did.

Perhaps the biggest story for this year is Wabash’s class of 2013 going for a 4-0 record in the Bell Game. If the seniors pull out the win, it will be the first time that either school has won four Bell Games in a row since 2000. That’s something worth fighting for.

I don’t see either team going down without a fight, but Wabash will come out on top for its first sweep of DePauw since 1979. Wabash 30, DePauw 14.

— Lutz is the sports editor for The Bachelor, Wabash College’s student newspaper. rllutz@wabash.edu

sports@thedepauw.com

Monon from the field: a player’s perspective CHRISTOPHER LAMPING

I

t’s that time again. DePauw is gearing up for one of the most exciting traditions in Div. III sports with the 119th Monon Classic meeting between DePauw and Wabash’s football teams in the fight for the Monon Bell. But for me, as a player, this is much more than a football game. While people can hype up the game by talking about the history of

the rivalry, the importance of the Bell or the fact that Wabash leads the series 56-53-9, to me this is simply an opportunity. It is an opportunity to right the ship on my senior season and be remembered as the class who brought back the bell to Greencastle.

It’s true, the 2012 season is one full of adversity for DePauw. From losing our head coach mid-season, to losing close games and, quite frankly, a loss of campus support for my team, the DePauw Tigers have come together and fought through every obstacle placed before us. Once again, we are not expected to perform well on Saturday, having been labeled as a lost cause or having hit ‘rock bottom,’ but come Monon, the records and stats go out the window. The Monon Classic is decided by the team

who plays with fire and with heart, not the team with the best record or the home-field advantage.

It’s bittersweet that this is my last Monon Bell game. While I get another chance to play in the greatest rivalry in all of Div. III sports, I know it is also the last time I will be able to play football for DePauw. As a player on the 2012 team and a member of the class of 2013, I have never experienced the feeling of rushing onto the field after beating Wabash and ringing the bell for DePauw. Three times I have watched the Little Giants rushing to our bell after the game and ringing it as a reminder that they played harder that day. While this is unfortunate and disheartening, it also fuels our team’s hunger for the bell. This hunger has led us through an intense week of practice in preparation for the

battle to come on Saturday.

The DePauw Tigers may not have the record of the Little Giants, but we do have heart. At any point in this season, __we could have called it quits as a result of the challenges we faced, but we have persevered. We have pulled together as a family and refused to quit. This Saturday will be no different; we will gear up one last time and go to war for Old DePauw.

So get your black and gold gear together, let your Tiger pride shine and be ready to invade Crawfordsville because, as always, DePauw never quits.

— Lamping is a senior from Fort Wayne, Ind., majoring in history and French. sports@thedepauw.com

3 | Monon special section

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

Continuing the rivalry across the country

By ISABELLE CHAPMAN sports@thedepauw.com

Katie and Scott Purucker smile in front of their DePauw-Wabash tailgate last year. PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE PURUCKER

Loyalty-split family opts for united tailgate

By MARGARET DISTLER sports@thedepauw.com

In the hours before Saturday’s annual football rivalry game, fans usually make an easy decision between tailgating in the DePauw or the Wabash section. Jim Purucker has already made his choice to tailgate in a neutral location.

With the help of eight to ten other families, Jim and his wife, Kim, will be co-hosting a “bi-partisan” Monon tailgate.

“All of us that are hosting this tailgate have connections with either one or both of the schools, so it’s not so much all about one school or the other,” Jim said.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re cheering for.”

Jim was introduced to the Monon game by his daughter, junior Katie Purucker, during the fall of her freshman year. Since Katie cheerleading during the game, her dad organized a tailgate. This weekend will mark his third consecutive Monon tailgate.

Scott Purucker has spent the past two Monon games tailgating with his family and watching his older sister, Katie. But this weekend will be Scott’s first time cheering for his own team — Wabash.

In the past two years, the Puruckers have attended Monon to support Ka-

tie as a DePauw cheerleader. This year, they have a new connection to the game.

Their son, Scott, is now a freshman at Wabash.

“I’m sure that I will have a little more pride in it with the tailgate being bi-partisan and open to both schools — it’s just a friendly environment,” Scott said. “But I feel like I’m going to have more pride in the game itself.”

“It’s not as competitive as it would be between the two Wabash and DePauw sides.

It’s more of trying to bring both sides together.”

— Katie Purucker, junior

Even though Scott will be cheering for the other team, he said “nothing drastic” will change now that he’s a Wabash student. His father, Jim, also said that having family connections to both schools only makes the Purucker’s Monon tradition “extra special.”

Regardless of who wins the game, Jim

wants the tailgate to be fun, welcoming and entertaining After roughly a month of planning, the Puruckers and their co-hosts have decided on a two-course menu for their tailgate, which includes both breakfast and lunch. Breakfast items will include biscuits and gravy, eggs, and corn beef hash. During lunch, traditional tailgate foods like hamburgers, bratwursts and hot dogs will be served in addition to grilled shishito peppers, cheese, fruit and salads.

Since Jim plans to do most of the grilling, a bartender will be serving both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. A police officer will also be there checking IDs. Due to limitations on food, the tailgate is by invitation only.

“I kind of wish that as a cheerleader, I would be able to go and hang out [at the tailgate] because it’s a really fun part,” Katie said. “But [I] can’t really do that.”

Katie will be spending more of game day with the cheerleaders than with her family at the tailgate, which she said will have a “relaxed” DePauw-Wabash environment.

“It’s not as competitive as it would be between the two Wabash and DePauw sides,” Katie said. “It’s more of trying to bring both sides together.”

After graduation, DePauw University and Wabash College students often move their tailgates from the parking lot to bars across the country by way of the annual Monon Bell Classic viewing parties.

“Half of the bar was decorated in black and gold and half of it was red and white,” said senior Kaitlin Klose.

Klose attended a viewing party last year located outside Los Angeles during her semester offcampus. “You could see the divide where people stood.”

This Saturday, alumni from Wabash College and DePauw will flock to Crawfordsville to watch the annual Monon Bell Classic. But with 64 parties in 29 states — stretching as far as Los Angeles, and as close as Indianapolis — many alumni will gather elsewhere to cheer for their alma mater. Last year, nearly 1,000 DePauw alumni watched in bars and homes across the country, and this year DePauw University alumni relations expects similar numbers.

The viewing parties are important to alumni from both schools, providing a way for former students to participate in the Monon Bell tradition. Klose said that many of the attendees were much older

than she was.

“I was probably the youngest by about ten years, some of them had kids who were my age. But they were all friendly, and interested in what I was doing.”

DePauw graduate Warren Cangany ’10 plans to attend his viewing party in Chicago and is interested to meet DePauw and Wabash alum.

“I think it will be tense, but I don’t think [the rivalry] will be as passionate as it is at the tailgates,” Cangany said.

However, Klose said that the competition was still fierce between DePauw and Wabash alumni at the viewing party she attended.

“The rivalry was similar as to how it is here,” she said. “The forty-year-old men from Wabash were still devoted to beating DePauw, and they weren’t afraid to show it.”

Brent Harris, director of sports information and marketing for Wabash College, thinks that for former students, coming together to watch the game is a way to be a part of the Wabash alumni community, and the same goes for DePauw.

“These schools are producing very similar students, very similar people,” Harris said. “The viewing parties are a common experience for alumni from both schools. It’s something other schools try to mimic, and something we should continue to cherish.”

STATES WITH THE MOST TELECAST PARTIES Indiana - 7 parties Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis (3), Munster, South Bend Florida - 6 parties Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa California - 5 parties Newport Beach, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica

Illinois - 4 parties Chicago, Forest Park, Naperville, Peoria Ohio - 4 parties Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton Texas - 4 parties Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio North Carolina - 3 parties Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh

12 | Monon special section Wabash College

Grant Ave.

byron P. holleTT liTTle gianT sTadiuM

Public Parking

Friday, NOvember 9, 2012

Franklin St.

dePauW TailgaTe

Media Parking

Wabash TailgaTe Jennison St.

Security at Wabash a priority for fun, safe time

By NETTIE FINN sports@thedepauw.com

The 119th Monon Bell Classic will bring students, alumni and fans from across the country to Wabash College’s campus — where security will be a top priority.

“It’s the biggest rivalry in Div. III football,” Joseph Haklin said, director of Athletics and Campus Wellness at Wabash.

Haklin said the campus has a security plan in place that is tried and true.

“The basic plan was in place many, many years before I got here,” he said. “It’s a good plan, and it makes sure the focus is on the game.”

Included in this security strategy are extra bleachers for Wabash’s Hollett Little Giant Stadium, more than 40 security guards stationed at various locations surrounding the field and an action plan in case of severe whether.

The added bleachers will bring the grand total of seating at Hollett to just less than 10,000. Haklin said fans should not be wary of the constructed bleachers done by Nussli (US) LLC, headquarter in Mooresville, Ind. “Rest assured, that these have been state

approved,” Haklin said. “Nussli is highly professional, and these bleachers have been correctly engineered.”

DePauw’s Public Safety director, Angie Nally, met with Haklin and knows the security proceedings well. She said alcohol will not be allowed within the stadium and that access to the stadium will not be granted without a ticket.

“Once you go into the stadium that’s the one use of your ticket,” Nally said. “You can’t leave the stadium and then go back in. Once you’re in, you’re in, unless you want to leave.”

A safe tailgating experience is of primary importance. Nally listed many banned items, including drinking games and funnels. Officers will be enforcing state laws regarding drinking, she said.

“With that many fans, they’re going to be looking at the people who are drawing attention to themselves,” she said. “The same goes for those needing medical attention.”

While DePauw fans are granted a designated lot next to the Fine Arts Center, tailgating space is first come, first serve.

“For this kind of game, space is premium – some folks will start arriving on Thursday,” Haklin said.

WEATHER

mostly sunny 10% chance of rain wind: S at 15 mph

A TOAST TO DEPAUW To Old DePauw we toast today And raise our voices high, We’ll honor thee and loyal be And praise thee to the sky.

Let every son and daughter stand United e’er for thee, And hail Old Gold throughout the land, Here’s to you, Old DePauw.

Here’s to DePauw, friends, here’s to our school.

Here’s to the place where good feelings rule; We will sing praises to our old school.

Old DPU, here’s to you!

HERE’S TO DEPAUW Then we will march, march on down the field, Shouting for Old DePauw.

Break through the en’mies’ line, their strength to defy!

We’ll give a long shout for DePauw’s team.

GO, TIGERS, VICTORY! Fight, fight unto the end for Old DePauw! cheer: T-I-G-E-R-S, T-I-G-E-R-S Tigers!

T-I-G-E-R-S, T-I-G-E-R-S Tigers!

THE “BELL”

day: Nov. 10

64

Nally met with DePauw Student Government Sunday to get the word out about tailgating expectations for the big game. The edges of Wabash’s campus collide with the city of Crawfordsville, and according to Nally, this was a problem last time Wabash hosted.

“We had some issues with students using backyards as bathrooms,” she said. “We just want to encourage everyone to be respectful.”

Along these same lines of respectability, Nally added that game-day attire should be kept appropriate – including the messages students might be tempted to print on T-shirts.

“I would encourage you to think about the messages those T-shirts are sending,” she said.

“If they’re homophobic or misogynistic, that isn’t necessarily only offending Wabash, it’s offending our own students.”

Both Nally and Haklin urge all fans to stay safe and be on their best behavior.

“This is a nationally-televised event, so we have the opportunity to represent DePauw in a positive way,” Nally said.

Added Haklin: “This is a big deal for the two schools, we just want to make sure everybody stays safe and has a good time.”

THEGLORY GLORYAND AND THE TRADITIONOF OFSONG SONG TRADITION

49

clear 0% chance of rain wind: S at 10 mph

LET’S GO TIGERS

The perfect combination of black and gold, sweet and bitter.

Make yourself a “bell” and have a victory of your own.

(followed by five hand claps)

top with sprite

ON SUNDAY: KEEP AN EYE ONLINE FOR

1 part of jagermeister

The DePauw sports editor

night: Nov. 10 1 part of whiskey

MICHAEL APPELGATE’S MONON RECAP www.thedepauw.com