Mason Zurek Against Thomas More

If you are going to go NORTH for football in December, north as in Minnesota, it better be for a good reason and the college football playoffs, with the Little Giants in the thick of things, is right on!

We’re already hearing for alumni throughout the Midwest on parking / tailgating / tickets / etc.  One challenge we have – the folks at St. Thomas do not allow tailgating on campus.  Working it now…we’ll see.

After the foot of snow early this week, the weather is stacking up to be pretty decent…

Wabash Always Fights!

Snow clouds move over the Canyon

The Grunge is back for the Grand Canyon!  Many, many thanks go out to Dudley (’64) and Judy Burgess for putting together a superb trip.    The total party included: Dudley and Judy, President and Mrs. Hess, Walt (’68) and Kathy Snodell, Dean Michelle Janssen, Scott Dreher (’82) and Aimee Cox, Ray LaDriere ’78, Greg (’85) and Sarah Estell, Jeff Perkins ’89 and Brandon Leyton.  Hikers were: Dudley, President Hess, Walt, Scott, Ray, Greg E., Jeff, Brandon, and the Grunge.

Hikers ready to go: Runge, President Hess, Brandon, Scott, Jeff, Ray, Greg E., Walt, and Dudley

We headed into the Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail and exited on the Bright Angel Trail.  A good time was had by all.

On our arrival at the Canyon, we were greeted with a south rim snow fall.

Walt and Kathy Snodell with the snow moving through

That snowfall made the first couple of miles “interesting” as you can see.

President Hess on the early switchbacks

By the time the group left Phantom Ranch, everyone knew the “Wabash hikers”.  Had to get the “banner” shot in front of Phantom Ranch.

Some tired but happy..hikers! Ray, Dudley, Jeff, Greg E., President Hess, Walt, Scott, and Brandon

DePauw and Wabash had great turnouts

It was fun…the Grunge told everyone to tell CINC Grunge that the temp was 45 and it was raining…but it was beautiful!

All eyes on the TV

The game was on three screens so the group divided up.  Here’s you can see the Wabash fans pretty intent on the game.

The Phoenix crew has their own Bell…it went home with Wabash’s Mike Rapier again.

The organizers (Mike Rapier ’89 is our guy) thanks everyone for being there.

Judy Burgess catches up with a young couple

The grandson of Tobey Herzog H’11 and Cal Black ’66 – waive his app fee!

A victory toast!

The Monon Bell Arrives

The traditional Monon Bell Chapel was, yet again, a great event.  Each captain talked for a short time.  Seven different messages – all united in purpose.  I always walk away from the Monon Bell Chapel thinking our guys are exceptional examples of what it means to be a true student-athlete.

Connor Rice

Evan Rutter

Tyler McCullen

Michael Putko

Mason Zurek

Eddie Cmehil

AJ Clark

Coach Erik Raeburn

Coach Raeburn was as good as ever.  He shared his insight into coaching as well as “public relations.”  He had the entire Chapel in stitches.

For some other photos – featuring some distinctive Mohawks – and these in a larger size, click here.

The Monon Bell

Guest post from a good friend.

“It was my Freshman year (1965), we hadn’t won the bell since 1955, and then, miracle of miracles, the Bell gets swiped by an enterprising Wally from a characteristically stupid Dannie: President Kerbsetter (as we called him), winner of the No-Bell Prize.  It’s such a great story, and was an irreplaceably fabulous moment for us Rhynes, as we were then called.  Nothing in my Wabash experience, not even the great 7-0 game in 67, galvanized the student body the way the heist did.  I’m sorry only that I didn’t save my sombrero.  The story’s been told endlessly, of course, and deservedly.  The point really is that some moments crystallize whole experiences.  There’s a rhetorical word for that, but I can’t come up with it easily.  Whatever.  In that one experience you have, for me at least, the spirit, camaraderie and ingenuity that was and is the Wabash experience… This uniquely “loyal son” has and will “always love” the Old Place.

Beat DePauw.

WAF—-Just as I was to send this, the old gray cells fired, the synapses connected: synecdoche.  That’s the word I wanted.  There ain’t many Dannies who know that word, I’ll wager.”

The Wabash Wreath at theTomb of the Unknown

As you know, the Grunge made the trip to Arlington this past September with the football team.  I had hoped our young men would grasp what sacred ground they were walking on.  After all, when you’re their age, with their entire lives ahead of them, the moment might go under-appreciated.  I should not have worried – these guys are Wabash men.  They got it.

No secrets here – I want to be buried at Arlington.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t deserve to be buried among heroes.  But I can’t think of a better final resting place on this earth.  I am not in a hurry to get there, but I am a lot closer to Arlington than Culver Hospital where I was born. 

My other favorite school celebrates Veterans Day.  Of course, when the words “God, Country, Notre Dame” are displayed over one of the main entrances to the Basilica, you know service means a great deal.  The late Father Ted Hesburgh used to go away sometimes at Christmas and say Mass for sailors somewhere around the world.  I recall he said that he picked up the phone and called the Chief of Naval Operations to ask where they needed him that Holiday Season.  Father Ted and the CNO – talk about starting at the top – had to be a great conversation.

Here, Veterans Day comes and goes.  A large part of that, I’m sure, has to do with the week…Monon Bell week.

Bottom line remains the same.  There is value, great value, in service rendered for our country.  We live their ROI every, single day.

Ding…Ding…Ding…Ding…

Heard a familiar “ring” this morning.  THE bell sounds crystal clear…perfect for piercing these late fall mornings.

Hope you’ll be watching Saturday afternoon in person, at one of our more than 60 Monon Bell telecast parties, or with other Wabash fans.

Go Wabash – beat the Tigers!

Chris Morris and his son

Wabash Hall of Fame running back Chris Morris ’04 (CMOE) attended the Denison football game this past Saturday.  In a time-honored tradition, Chris and his son took the field at halftime to work on a couple of moves…and get rid of a little steam.

It was readily apparent that his son has that running back DNA – successfully alluding the “tackle” of his father several times.

I think the football field has a special attraction for children- they get to dream big and run on the very same field their heroes played on…where else but Wabash and Division III?

Wabash in the North Region (Mount Union) Bracket at #3…see the rankings here.

Ding! Ding!

Straight from Brent Harris:

“Fewer than 750 tickets remain on sale for the Wabash College seating section of Blackstock Stadium in Greencastle, Indiana. Tickets will be sold in the College’s Bookstore during regular business hours, including home football Saturdays or may be purchased online through the Bookstore web site until sold out.

Tickets are $20 each, and every person attending the game must have a ticket regardless of age. Tickets purchased online will have an additional shipping charge added to the total purchase for requests to mail the tickets to the purchaser prior to game day.

The Student Senate has once again purchased tickets for Wabash students. Each student may pick up their single free game ticket during regular bookstore business hours beginning October 1. Each student will receive one free ticket, and those will be set aside until Monday, November 9. At that time student tickets will be returned to general sale. There are currently 400 of the reserved student tickets available at the Bookstore.

No free tickets will be issued to “W” pass holders, Wabash faculty, or Wabash staff as the game is being played in Greencastle.

Wabash and DePauw will meet for the 122nd time on Saturday, November 14 at 1 p.m. at Blackstock Stadium. The Little Giants lead the series 59-53-9. Last year Wabash won its sixth consecutive Monon Bell title with a 27-3 victory in Crawfordsville.”