The Grunge Report will be off the air next week.  The Grunge will be hiking down into the Grand Canyon and, hopefully, back out again.  So, to you faithful 9 readers (yes, we are up 2!), look for something after Thanksgiving week.

I am making the trip with alumnus Dudley Burgess '64 (leading the way), his sons, my son (Chris '94), Tim Oliver '89, and some soon-to-be friends.  Should be a great time!!!

In the meantime, there are several other Wabash Blogs you will enjoy - just click here.

The answers to those questions...

Yes, I have been working out more.  Yes, I am ready!   Yes, the will is updated.  If this is the last sortie - I get down and can't get back! - bury me at Arlington.  In lieu of flowers please make a gift to the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes, or the Smile Train.

And sprinkle a little JP-8 on my grave - I miss that aroma! (Ropes - Jim Roper '68 - can explain!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There isn't a video stream for the Illinois Wesleyan game tomorrow but you can listen on the internet through three different audio streams.

Wabash Broadcast - click here to listen to Brent Harris do the game.  (Preferred Option!)

WJBC.Com is the IWU professional broadcast done by a local Illinois radio station.

WESN.ORG is the IWU student radio station. 

Photo:  Bad news - that's Tommy Mambourg is a DePauw defender sandwich.  Good news - he's in the end zone!

Posted by Tom Runge at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tim Haffner '82, a partner with the law firm of Baker and Daniels in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been named Volunteer of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

This award honors individuals who work with the Chamber for the betterment of the business community, according to Kevin Brinegar, President of the Indiana Chamber. Haffner was one of three individuals who received the 2009 award.

Haffner, a native of Fort Wayne, helped start the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance and the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, an organization that markets a 10-county region and teams with local development groups to attract new business to the area.  Tim is also past chairman and board of director with the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he has served on the board of directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Goodwill Industries and United Way of Allen County. 

Congrats Tim, well done!

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Larry Williams '62 has just published his first book - a murder mystery that features...Shades State Park!  

Larry's retired...but he's always waned to be an author.  

To see the story, click here.

Congrats Larry!

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

About 5:20 PM...yes it gets dark early now!

Under the lights of Hollett Stadium (temporary lights, that is), the Little Giants are preparing for the Saturday match up with the Illinois Wesleyan Titans.

We're hoping for a good-sized game day crowd from Indiana and Illinois  as Bloomington, IL is "just up the road a bit."

Hope you'll be there cheering on the Little Giants!

For tailgate information and directions to their campus, click here.

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Several folks have been asking about a DVD of the 116th Monon Bell game.  Yes, there will be one and we plan to have it out before Christmas.  Stay tuned to the web site for details.

Posted by Tom Runge at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 25, 2009, is Vic Powell's 90th birthday.  Send him a card. Send him an email.  Let him know you're celebrating his great life and his impact on yours.

Posted by Tom Runge at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sometimes this blogging thing is hard...real hard.  But on days like today, it's fairly easy.

For example, the photo above.  Taken yesterday.  Beta pledge on the back porch of the Beta house. Ringing the Bell.  I'll bet he remembers this past weekend, including today, for the rest of his life.

And that's the easy part because all of you, our 9 faithful readers, know exactly what this means to every member of the Wabash community , not just to the students and alumni.

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bonus - bet I know where a bunch of those footballs went...

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Took this photo in the 4th quarter of the Bell Game as members of our defense were leaving the field. They spent a lot of time on the field on Saturday, one of the things I always worry about.  (But remember, I'm an out-of-work fighter pilot and not a football coach!)

However tired they may have been, if anything they were stronger in the 4th quarter...stronger.

The 4th quarter...it's a time when talent, training, and knowledge are important but guts and heart reign supreme...and these guys had it all. 

Posted by Tom Runge at 05:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

That's Jeff Birk, Class of 1974.  The 2009 Bell Game will be his 40th Bell Game in a row...40 of them...and he's been there in person for every one. 

I failed to check his overall won-loss record before posting this but...well...it just doesn't matter.

Many thanks to Greg Birk, Jeff's brother, for the note.

Blog #984 - 16 more to go!

Posted by Tom Runge at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For all Wabash alumni...probably a photo that needs no caption.

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scott Crawford, director of the Schroeder Center for Career Development, was filling a unique role last Saturday. Scott helped out with the football game as a home team "football supply manager", an official North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) position, as you can see.  .

Seriously, Scott answered the call for help as our usual group of volunteers was otherwise occupied.  

Thanks Scott!

Posted by Tom Runge at 06:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Veterans Day.  Thanks to all of you who have served or are serving.

One of the men wounded at Fort Hood was preparing for his fourth tour of duty in Iraq/Afghanistan.

Fourth tour.  Married.  Couple of kids.  

He isn't doing it for the salary, believe me.

BTW - Jet Noise Is The Sound of Freedom. 

Posted by Tom Runge at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Reece Collins, Class of 2004, got his post-college start in politics in Southern Indiana.  In just a few short years he's found himself in the nation's capital and the national spotlight, just like Jeremy Bird, Class of 2000.  Reece and Jeremy differ on their parties of choice but both are dedicated and talented young men.

For the piece on Reece, click here.

Thanks to Jefferson Crew, Class of 2005, for sending in the news link.

Posted by Tom Runge at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

But, you can find a Bell Telecast party by clicking here.

Posted by Tom Runge at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So...in the midst of all the hoopla surrounding the upcoming Monon Bell game, we sometimes forget how far we've come in the last several years in terms of the Bell Game Telecast.  There was a time when...we relied on some "smoke and mirrors" to get the telecast out to our regional areas.  In the aftermath of each game, we used to track how many sites received the game and how many watched a test pattern.  I recall a five page email from one telecast site explaining my very limited mental capacity...but that's another story.

This week the 116th Monon Bell game will be telecast nationwide in well over 60 sites - you can see the map here.  We're able to do that because Wabash and DePauw have a great working relationship with our friends at HDNet.

Thanks HDNet for your help in supporting the greatest rivalry there is in College Football.

Now, if we could just get GameDay....

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

That's Ron Brown '67 creating his new Facebook account while Brent Harris (r) walks him through the process.  Ron received two friend requests within a couple of minutes and was surprised at the high number of Wabash classmates (Class of 1967) who are already on Facebook.

Posted by Tom Runge at 09:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click here for important information from DePauw on parking and tailgating for the Monon Bell game.

Also, please note there isn't a Wabash team practice on Fridays.

Posted by Tom Runge at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Monon Bell weather forecast is being brought to you by Accuweather and the Grunge as a public service announcement.  Partly sunny and 50 - you can't beat that for a football game in November!

(And I'm willing to bet the forecast for the telecast parties is sunny and 72 degrees...)

Then it hit me.  Those of you with Bell game tickets only need the weather forecast to determine the number of layers.  It's not a choice of attending or not - you'll be there.  It's a matter of how many different pieces of Wabash apparel you'll need.  The Bookstore can help!

Ought to be a great game - can't wait!

Posted by Tom Runge at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Less than 100 remain... 

Update (Bad data) - about 250 remain...(11/5/09)

Posted by Tom Runge at 01:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Cross Country team finished a strong second in the NCAC tournament meet this past weekend. Coaches Roger Busch '96 and Clyde Morgan have the team running well and looking to be even stronger in the future.

Seth Einterz '11, son of Dr. Bob Einterz '77, finished fourth overall to lead the Red Pack.

Photo:  Seth Einterz running in the Charlie Finch '51 Alumni Cross Country Meet earlier this year.

Posted by Tom Runge at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Dallas-Fort Worth area WABASH (Wabash Alumni Benefiting And Serving Humanity) Day made the news.  This annual weekend of service attracted 200 alumni in over 25 locations. Mike Gregory '70 sent me the information - thanks Mike!

For the story, click here.

Posted by Tom Runge at 06:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)