Monon Bell

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Monon Bell in 1967.
Monon Bell in 1967.

The Monon Bell (pronounced MOE-non) is the trophy awarded to the victor of the annual college football matchup between the DePauw University Tigers (in Greencastle, Indiana) and the Wabash College Little Giants (in Crawfordsville, Indiana) in the United States. The Bell is a 300-pound locomotive bell from the Monon Railroad. At of the end of the 2007 season, the two teams have played against each other 114 times, and the all time series between the Tigers and the Little Giants stands in Wabash's favor at 53-52-9.

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[edit] History

The rivalry between Wabash and DePauw began in 1890 and is the oldest college football rivalry west of the Alleghenies where more than 100 games have been played. The Monon Bell was introduced as a travelling trophy in 1932 at the suggestion of a DePauw alumnus, Orien Fifer (Class of 1925), in a letter to the editor of the The Indianapolis News. Since the schools are only 27 miles apart, the adversaries in the game are often brothers, cousins, high school classmates or good friends, adding to the rivalry’s intensity. Since the bell entered the series, DePauw has won 36 games, Wabash 34, and there were 6 ties. Before the introduction of overtime to college football, the rule was that the team with the bell retained it. This rule last held significance for the 99th Monon Bell Classic in 1992 where Wabash opted for a field goal to tie the game at 17-17, keep the bell, and set up the 100th game as an evenly split 45-45-9 series.

The teams failed to play each other only 5 years in the entire history. From 1897-1899, the schools failed to schedule each other for an unknown reason. In 1910, the teams didn't play due to the death of Wabash's star halfback, Ralph Wilson, who died from a concussion in a game earlier in the season. The schools have played each other every year since 1911.

[edit] Thefts

The Bell has been stolen at least 8 times (1941, 1959, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1998). The most famous theft is known as "Operation Frijoles," which was ranked by Sports Illustrated as one of the five greatest all-time rivalry pranks (December 12, 2005, p. 36). "Operation Frijoles" is still the favorite story shared by Wabash fans regarding the "reappropriation" of the 350-pound trophy claimed each November by either Wabash College or DePauw University in the annual football meeting.

[edit] Operation Frijoles

Prior to the 1965 meeting between the two teams, Wabash student Jim Shanks '67 scheduled a meeting with DePauw University President William H. Kerstetter, claiming to be representative from the US Information Service in Mexico City. During the meeting with Kerstetter, Shanks was able to convince the president to offer two full scholarships for Mexican students. To "seal the deal" Shanks asked to take photos of various points of interest on campus to show the "prospective" Mexican students more about DePauw University.

One item Shanks asked to photograph was the Monon Bell, in the Tigers' possession after a 22-21 victory in 1964. The dean of the college was the only person on campus who knew the location of the Bell, but was reluctant to tell Shanks of its location. "I don't know whether I should show this to you or not," he said with laugh. "The last time I showed it to someone, they stole it."

Taking Shanks to the second floor of a quonset hut near the football field, Shanks took careful notes that were provided to a group of Wabash students who entered the building and took the Bell back to Crawfordsville.

Shanks was on the Depauw campus at the time of the theft and was told by the Greencastle police to either find dates or leave the campus. Shanks and his friends proceeded to find dates for the evening while other Wabash students escorted their stolen treasure from its secret hiding place back to Crawfordsville. Greencastle police suspected Shanks, but his alibi was rock-solid thanks to the police themselves; he had been escorting DePauw co-eds all night. The Bell was eventually "found" by the Wabash administration and returned to DePauw the day before the 1965 game.

That Saturday afternoon the Little Giant football team made certain it was a short visit. Wabash defeated DePauw 16-6. At the conclusion of the game Wabash fans stormed the field, many wearing sombreros and ponchos, throwing taco shells onto the field and wielding posters congratulating President Kerstetter for the loss of the Bell and the two scholarship offers.

[edit] Other heists

Another famous heist saw DePauw students stealing the bell from themselves. Concerned about the safety of the Bell from canny Wabash kidnappers, DePauw students stole the bell from its resting place and buried it in the north endzone of their football stadium. Very few students knew of its location. A problem arose on gameday as the ground was frozen. The students were barely able to reclaim the Bell in time for the game.

The bell was last stolen in 1998 by Wabash students on Halloween.

[edit] Failed heist

One other failed heist occurred by DePauw students. They had succeeded in stealing the bell and had the bell loaded into their car when their car wouldn't start. They were caught red-handed with the bell. They assumed that they would only get a slap on the wrist for the attempted heist. However, because DePauw and Wabash are located in different counties and all the judges in Montgomery County (where Wabash is located) are Wabash graduates or fans, the students from DePauw got 1000 hours of community service.

[edit] Tradition

The Monon Bell football game is more than just a rivalry. During the week of the game, both schools have numerous events and shared functions including concerts, debates and a blood drive. In addition, Wabash students guard their campus day and night for the entire week.

The game has received national media coverage including articles in Sports Illustrated in 1973 and 1993, a feature on Charles Kuralt's 1979 "Sunday Morning" show, articles in USA Today in 1987 and the Wall Street Journal in 1999 and a feature on Fox Sports Net's show The Slant in 1999.

The game is regularly televised and past battles have been seen on ABC, ESPN2, and HDNet. Annually, alumni parties are held in about 50 cities across America where loyal fans from both schools gather to watch the game. In May 2007, a three-year agreement was announced with HDNet to televise the game through 2009.

[edit] Monon Memories

In 2002, utilizing video and film from DePauw University's archives, the first "Monon Memories" -- short (40 second to 2:30) video summaries of past battles for the Bell -- were produced. There are now 93 segments, each for a different game dating back to 1915 (every game played for the Monon Bell -- from 1932-2007 -- is represented by a video clip), and more are planned as archival material is uncovered. The videos, produced and often narrated by DePauw's Executive Director of Media Relations, Ken Owen, are available for viewing at DePauw's Web site and many are included in each year's special edition DVD of the Monon Bell Classic.

[edit] The Ballad of the Monon Bell

The Ballad of the Monon Bell was introduced the week of the 1985 game at DePauw. The music is by Nancy Ford Charles (DePauw 1957), and the lyrics are by Darel Lindquist (DePauw 1968). The concept of the ballad originated with Patrick Aikman (DePauw 1957). The ballad has been recorded by Jim Ibbotson (of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) (DePauw 1969). A video, originally created in 1985, was recut in 2007 after tape was found containing a stereo version of the song. (See external links below for an MP3 and MOV of the song.)

Long before the cannonball travelled through her towns
 The state of Indiana owned the jewel of the crown
 The train, they called the Monon, the stories they still tell
 The Cavemen and the Tigers playing for her bell

It rode like a masthead on engine ninety-nine
 Crawfordsville to Greencastle, then further down the line
 The Cavemen came from Wabash, the Tigers from DePauw
 Since eighteen-ninety they have played the last game ev’ry fall

Many years they played for pride, oh the stories they could tell
 Then in thirty-two the Monon train gave up her precious bell
 They said, “Here take this symbol of smoke and fire and grit
 And give it to the winner, a symbol not to quit.”

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

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

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

Now history has recorded the players and their games
 And to this day they still play for the Bell in Monon’s name
 Those who’ve gone before return each November day
 Swapping stories and the legends for those who did not play

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

©DePauw University, 1985

[edit] Year by Year Result

Year Winner Score Year Winner Score Year Winner Score


1890 DePauw 34-5 1934 Wabash 7-6 1974 DePauw 15-12
1891 DePauw 1-0(For) 1935 Tie 0-0 1975 DePauw 14-8
1892 DePauw 42-4 1936 Wabash 19-0 1976 Wabash 14-7
1893 DePauw 48-34 1937 DePauw 32-0 1977 Wabash 30-6
1894 Wabash 16-4 1938 DePauw 7-0 1978 Wabash 11-3
1895 Wabash 6-0 1939 DePauw 7-0 1979 Wabash 16-13
1896 DePauw 20-0 1940 Wabash 17-13 1980 Tie 22-22
1900 DePauw 26-11 1941 Wabash 27-19 1981 DePauw 21-14
1900 Wabash 6-0 1942 DePauw 6-3 1982 Wabash 31-6
1901 DePauw 31-2 1943 DePauw 33-0 1983 DePauw 16-10
1901 DePauw 35-5 1944 Wabash 14-7 1984 Wabash 41-26
1903 Wabash 10-0 1945 DePauw 13-7 1985 Wabash 28-8
1905 Wabash 52-0 1946 Wabash 26-0 1986 Wabash 24-23
1906 Wabash 7-0 1947 Wabash 27-7 1987 DePauw 33-11
1907 Wabash 11-4 1948 DePauw 8-0 1988 DePauw 24-14
1908 Wabash 12-0 1949 Wabash 25-21 1989 DePauw 41-14
1909 Tie 0-0 1950 Wabash 34-20 1990 DePauw 20-13
1911 Tie 0-0 1951 Wabash 41-12 1991 Wabash 23-18
1912 Wabash 62-0 1952 Wabash 47-0 1992 Tie 17-17
1913 DePauw 7-0 1953 Wabash 41-0 1993 Wabash 40-26
1914 DePauw 3-0 1954 Wabash 28-0 1994 Wabash 28-24
1915 Wabash 34-0 1955 DePauw 23-20 1995 Wabash 7-2
1916 Wabash 26-13 1956 Tie 7-7 1996 DePauw 31-13
1917 DePauw 7-0 1957 DePauw 37-6 1997 DePauw 14-7
1918 DePauw 28-6 1958 DePauw 24-8 1998 DePauw 42-7
1919 Tie 0-0 1959 Tie 6-6 1999 DePauw 21-7
1920 DePauw 3-0 1960 DePauw 14-13 2000 DePauw 27-17
1921 Wabash 22-0 1961 DePauw 20-7 2001 Wabash 27-21
1922 Wabash 30-0 1962 DePauw 13-10 2002 Wabash 35-7
1923 Wabash 17-0 1963 DePauw 17-0 2003 Wabash 37-20
1924 Wabash 21-0 1964 DePauw 22-21 2004 DePauw 14-7
1925 Wabash 22-0 1965 Wabash 16-6 2005 Wabash 17-14
1926 Wabash 6-0 1966 DePauw 9-7 2006 Wabash 23-20
1927 Wabash 13-7 1967 Wabash 7-0 2007 DePauw 24-21
1928 DePauw 20-12 1968 DePauw 18-7
1929 Wabash 8-7 1969 DePauw 17-7
1930 DePauw 7-6 1970 DePauw 14-13
1931 DePauw 13-7 1971 Wabash 16-7
1932 Tie 0-0 1972 Wabash 20-14
1933 DePauw 14-0 1973 DePauw 28-21


[edit] External links