Newly Restored Film of 1961 Monon Bell Features Commentary by Ed Meyer '62
September 8, 2010
September 8, 2010, Greencastle, Ind. — Restored color film footage of the 1961 Monon Bell Classic now carries commentary from Edward Meyer, a longtime coach and 1962 graduate of DePauw University, who quarterbacked the Tigers to victory in the big game 49 years ago. The project, completed by Ken Owen '82, executive director of media relations at DePauw, can be viewed here: 
[Download Video: "The 1961 Monon Bell Classic" - 29,311kb]. (at left: the scoreboard displays the final tally)
In the spring, Owen became curious after finding a few unmarked cans of film in the DePauw Archives, borrowed a projector, and discovered that one of the films was a 1941 admission movie, and the other contained clips from the 1961 DePauw-Wabash game. When Owen made the 1961 "Monon Memory" several years ago, there was no available footage from the '61 game.
"The silent film was a reel of plays from the game, taken from atop the press box by Richard Peeler, the legendary art professor who used to create films for the football team in his spare time," says Owen. "It needed some context, and I turned to my old friend and former coach, Ed Meyer, who was the quarterback of the 1961 team and scored a touchdown in this game."
As they did with the 1941 film, Owen and Wes Wilson, coordinator of the Archives, sent the film to a lab where the 16 millimeter images were digitized. Owen did some further speed correction on the footage, then provided Meyer with a DVD of the silent film, which the coach reviewed. A few days later, Owen recorded Meyer discussing the game and the men who competed in the 1961 edition of the rivalry.
"Ed had so many interesting observations, especially about head coach Tom Mont and assistant Ted Katula, that I extended the 
piece a bit to include them," Owen notes. "I hope that alumni of that era and all fans of the Monon Bell rivalry enjoy this heretofore lost treasure."
Meyer was DePauw's head baseball coach from 1965 through 1999 and also served as an assistant football coach.
A higher quality version of this clip will likely be included on the 2010 Monon Bell DVD. The video can also be seen on YouTube (it is embedded below; at left: Meyer gallops toward the end zone)
In October 2008, Ken Owen completed the series of "Monon Memories," which cover each and every football game 
played between DePauw and Wabash since the historic rivalry began in 1890. The series of videos was featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education and on HDNet and Inside Indiana Business.
The Tigers open their 2010 football season this Saturday versus Rose-Hulman. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Blackstock Stadium and the contest can be heard live on student radio station WGRE (91.5 FM or via this link).
For the very latest, visit the football team's official online page.
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