The 130th Monon Bell Classic has arrived.
The familiar contest needs little introduction. From all the hopes riding on this game to the intricate traditions and unlimited possibilities that could unfold on the field, everything this rivalry means will be brought together on November 16 with one simple message: “Just win the Bell.”
Following the double-overtime shootout of the 2023 contest will be a tall order, but like every season, this iteration of the Monon Bell Classic carries its own unique story.
Once again fans will gather to watch a winner-take-all battle. For the third-straight season, the Bell Game will carry the added weight of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) champion- ship. This year marks the first time since DePauw joined the conference in 2011 that the ninth-ranked Tigers (9-0, 7-0 NCAC) and Little Giants (8-1, 7–0 NCAC) will both enter the Bell Game undefeated in conference play.
Adding to the atmosphere of the contest is the fact that this will be the last Bell Game under the leadership of Head Football Coach Don Morel.
For his final season wearing the headset, Morel has been laser focused on bringing home the trophy that in many ways defines an entire year.
“This is my last season,” said Morel. “But if there ever was a year where a Wabash team went 0-9 and won the bell game. That would be a successful season.”
But while it’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the mythos of the game, winning takes composure. “I’m approaching it just like the first one I had in 2012,” said Morel. “You can’t go crazy, light your hair on fire because it’s Bell Week, that won’t work. So, I approach every game the same.”
On the other side of the coach- ing transition is Associate Head Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator Jake Gilbert ’98, returning to the rivalry. After 13 seasons as the head coach at Westfield High School, Gilbert was tapped to fill the void left at the defensive coordinator position. He will assume the role of head football coach after Morel retires. Gilbert brings the other half to their delicate coaching balance – the passion that makes the Bell Game what it is.
“I just feel a sense of responsibility,” said Gilbert. “I know how important this game is to so many people. I desperately want a win for Coach Morel. I desperately want to win for these players. And I feel like by the school hiring me back, I have been entrusted to guide our future. And the most important part of that future is probably how we do in this rivalry. That being the case, I think I understand the magnitude of my job.”
Despite the imminent coaching change and elevated pressure of the conference title, the Bell Game ultimately remains mostly the same. Neither team really needs the extra motivation. While a win would secure a trip to the Division III playoffs, it just doesn’t matter compared to the rivalry matchup.
“The honest truth is, regardless of what happens next week, we just want to beat this team,” said Gilbert.
In many ways the game plan is simple: score touchdowns while keeping them out of the end zone.
The contest between the Wabash defense and DePauw’s offense may be the defining feature of the game. The Little Giants have the second-ranked defense in the conference — behind DePauw — but lead the NCAC in forced turnovers and sacks. Late in October, the Little Giants achieved their first season with three shutouts since 2015. Everything about Wabash’s defense is geared toward game-shaking plays.
But they will have their work cut out for them.
The Tigers are 10th in the nation for total yards, while averaging 54 points per game. The offensive engine of the School Down South is led by senior quarterback Nathan McCahill, who is ranked 20th-nationally in passing yards per game.
Holding DePauw below their average for four quarters will be vital to bringing the Bell back to Crawfordsville.
“Some teams have done a good job defending them in the first quarter,” said Gilbert. “But then it’s like an avalanche, and they just start scoring. So we’re going to have to get off to a great start but then also stay vigilant, because they can score in bunches and they can score in one-play drives. We need to make sure that we don’t give them that.”
On the other side of the ball, Wabash’s offense — ranked second in the NCAC — will be tasked with clearing the defense that leads Division III for fewest yards surrendered at 177.6. After nine games, the Black and Gold allow only 10.3 points per game. Adding to their merit, the DePauw defensive line has allowed less than a single yard per rushing attempt and only 26.4 per game.
It is very possible that the Little Giants will be marching into Blackstock Stadium to face the greatest team DePauw has ever assembled.
But the Little Giants will bring an offense eager to make its mark on the historic rivalry. At quarterback, Brand Campbell ’27, who assumed the role after the injury of Blake White ’25, will have to continue his string of excellent performances.
Campbell leads the NCAC in completion percentage at 71.9 percent, while having thrown only a single interception in seven starts. With a last-minute drive to clinch a win over Wittenberg in their last game, Campbell proved he could be a crunch-time quarterback.
Campbell will have the support of a veteran offensive line who were named to the national team of the week earlier in the season, when they helped propel Wabash to a 55-19 victory over Wooster on October 5.
On the ground, Wabash has been a dominant force, averaging 181.8 rushing yards per game. The conference-leading carrier, Xavier Tyler ’26, will be handed the main responsibility of breaking through on foot.
Making consistent gains on the ground will be vital to Wabash’s success. Despite their impressive stats, the DePauw defense will have to prove that it really can stop the best running back in the NCAC.
“Every year I hear about how good their run defense is, and every year we run the ball in the Bell Game,” said Morel.
On the most important Saturday of the year, Wabash will make the 30-minute trip to face their archrivals DePauw. In a notoriously hard to predict game that will decide who gets the Bell and the NCAC title, fans can look forward to the wild momentum swings and usual antics that make the Monon Bell Classic what it is.
“Something crazy is going to happen; we just have to weather the storm,” said Morel. “The Bell Game is weird, because just as often as not, the favorite team loses.”