Editor-in-Chief James Wallace ’26 and Managing Editor Nathan Ellenberger ’26 traveled to the School Down South to do undercover reporting with one goal in mind: Do Dannies really care about the Monon Bell Classic?
Do you think the rivalry is in a healthy place?
“I think it’s super healthy, it really unites the colleges. I think that DePauw gets a lot closer during Bell Week.”
-KJ ’26
“My dad went here in ’91 and him and some Wabash kids got in a fight back then because they were heckling. There’s some banter back and forth, but that’s just a good, healthy rivalry. But recently, I haven’t heard of any physical encounters.”
-Audrey ’26
“Yeah, I would say so. On the football field, it’s a little gritty, but I think it’s a healthy relationship.”
-Robert ’27
“I think it’s as healthy as it’s going to be. It’s not the healthiest, but it’s football, it’s competitive.”
-Kiara ’28
“No bad blood, nothing really has happened that I can think of.”
-Mac ’27
What is the biggest difference when the Bell Game is hosted in Crawfordsville as opposed to Greencastle?
“I would say the atmosphere is definitely going to be a lot different because it’s an away game, so I think we have to bring the energy, regardless of whether it’s home or away. But I think it’ll be fun, because obviously it’s not our home field, so there’ll be a lot of Wabash people there. I would say I’ve heard about the same amount of people going but I think it’s definitely different without hosting the same amount of events on campus.”
-Kai ’28
“Just the atmosphere there, I kind of like the hatred towards us. It kind of fuels me.”
-Grant ’29
“I’m expecting a lot of energy, a lot of fans. I’ve heard so much about it on campus and from everywhere else that it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
-Beckett ’29
“I can say that we all kind of feed off of one another while we’re here, but when we’re there, we aren’t really sure what we can or can’t say.”
-Audrey ’26
“Last year I was a freshman, so I didn’t necessarily know about the rivalry but I guess it doesn’t feel as exciting since we don’t have the game here. Maybe it’s because I’m not going or I’m not huge into sports. I had a class a couple weeks ago, and people were on their computers trying to buy tickets for the game. I know some people didn’t get tickets, which was disappointing, but at least you could tell that people are really excited in that regard.”
-Rama ’28
“More spirit, I think more people are willing to go. I think it being an away game, it’s harder to get more students to go, even just to the tailgate. Also the lack of tickets and it selling out so quickly kind of sucked.”
-Kiara ’28
“I actually like the game at Crawfordsville, because you don’t have the option to take a break. You’re there all day, everyone gets bussed, you’re there for all the tailgates and you’re there for all the game. It’s super fun, and it’s always fun to beat a team on their own turf.”
-Ashley ’26
“I think whenever the game is hosted at home, it is a better environment for DePauw students, because it’s obviously homefield advantage, and everyone is more likely to be closer together, so I think it provides a more hype environment.”
-KJ ’26
“Well, I play football, so I think I have a pretty solid opinion on this. I think hosting here, it’s just the home atmosphere. Obviously, we hate seeing red, so seeing more black and gold in the stands is preferable. Crawfordsville is a great atmosphere, too. Big stadium, big stands. But I think away could sometimes be better just because everyone’s hating on us.”
-Robert ’27
“From what I’ve experienced freshman year on the football team, it was crazy. So I think that atmosphere will be good. And I think being able to travel to a place also adds an effect, because you’re going to someone else’s house and it’s super rowdy.”
-Mac ’27
Which school cares more about the rivalry?
“I think we care equally about it, but DePauw is definitely better. Obviously, I’m a little biased, I go here.”
-Kai ’28
“Definitely DePauw. I think we just have more pride here than Wabash.”
-Beckett ’29
“Well, probably Wabash, because how long has it been since they’ve won? After we’ve won multiple times, they would care more because they’re underdogs.”
– Rama ’28
“I’m going to assume [Wabash], just because.”
-Jackson ’27
“There’s more people here that have more school spirit than I typically do. I’m gonna trust the rest of us.”
-Lane ’27
“DePauw, for sure.”
-Kiara ’28
If you had to say one nice thing about Wabash, what would you say?
“I don’t know a lot about Wabash, to be honest with you. I don’t know, all boys school, I guess? Good for you.”
-Kiara ’28
“They have a pretty campus.”
-Audrey ’26
“I don’t have anything, to be honest.”
-Robert ’27
“They’re college athletes. They work hard. It takes a good amount of work to get to that level.”
-Kai ’28
“Their stadium is nice, that’s what I’ll give them.”
-Grant ’29
“I really don’t have anything.”
-Beckett ’29
“They seem to care about their sports. I haven’t heard great things, but they seem to care. I guess that’s important.”
-Rama ’28
“I think that it takes a very special person to decide to go to an all men’s school in 2025. So they’re brave, maybe.”
-Ashley ’26
“it’s far. I really don’t know anything about them.”
-Jackson ’27
“They have really great serenades to the sororities.”
-KJ ’26