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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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...

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. 

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!

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

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!

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. 

For the piece on Reece, click here.

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

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