Vital Stats: BIG D, III

Photo by Douglas Jeffries. Overlay by Daniel Reck.

The current spirit flag, BIG D, III, weighs in over five pounds heavier than it's predecessors.  Made from rubber-coated nylon, it'll wear like iron and last forever!

Originally, we saw it just as part of the regular trademark flag runs by band members after touchdowns.

Then-Director David Ziemba '03 pioneered a new use at the 2002 NCAA Women's Basketball Championships -- a banner to lead the teams onto the court.  Since then, BIG D has always lead the Tigers towards victory on the court or field.

BIG D and it's successors, BIG D, JR., BIG D, III, and DOUBLE D, have earned a special place in Tiger teams' hearts.  It is a call to cheer, a call to play hard, and always a call to win.

See more about BIG D's history below -- learn about the treachery that happened on December 4, 2002. 

• Greencastle, Indiana
  DePauw University
  
• Alta, Utah
  April 2001/2002
• Crawfordsville, Indiana
  Wabash College
  Nov. & Dec. 2002-present
• Elcho, Wisconsin
  July 2002/2003
• Hinsdale, Illinois
  May 2001/2002
• Islamorada, Florida
  BSA Florida High Adventure Sea Base
  July 2002

• Photo by Daniel Reck.

  BIG D, SR. soaks up the rays at its last vacation: to Florida Sea Base in the Keys.

  Sioux Lookout, Ontario
  June 2002
• Terre Haute, Indiana
  Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
  2002-present
• Toronto, Ontario
  Sigma Nu Fraternity 60th Grand Chapter
  August 2002
• Washington, DC
  The Capitol Tiger Alumni Flag Football Team
  April 2004-present
• Westerville, Ohio
  Otterbein University
  March 2002
• Wilmington, Ohio
  Wilmington College
  March 2002
   

Remember December 4, 2002

The Original: BIG D, SR.

Photo by Daniel Reck.

Then-TPB Director David Ziemba '03 runs BIG D, SR. onto the Wabash field to lead the Tiger Football team into battle for the Monon Bell in the 109th meeting.

The Legacy: BIG D, III, and CAPITOL D

Photo by Daniel Reck.

ATPB Director David Ziemba '03 runs BIG D, III and CAPITOL D onto the Wabash field to lead the Tiger Football team into battle for the Monon Bell in the 111th meeting.

In retribution, BIG D, SR. was stolen and destroyed by the Wabash boys on December 4, 2002, after they lost the annual basketball match against the Tigers for the fourth year in a row.

This wasn't the lowest thing the Wallies had done, but it was close.  (Sending 400 boys to jeer DePauw in a match against Illinois Wesleyan isn't very sportsmanlike for gentlemen either, now is it?)

We retain the shattered remains of the BIG D, SR. mast-pole to remind us to always BEAT WABASH, no matter what it takes.

(...and Wabash footed the several-hundred dollar bill to replace our school flag.  It's good to see their administration is better behaved than their boys.)

TWO YEARS LATER

To avenge this travesty, BIG D, SR.'s legacy entered the Wabash Little Giant Stadium in force.  On November 13, 2004, carried by the same men as it's processor, BIG D, III lead the Tiger Football Team to the 111th Battle for the Monon Bell... and a decisive 14-7 victory over the Wallies on their own turf.

Accompanying it was the latest addition to the BIG D family: CAPITOL D.  This cousin is the official flag of the Alumni Tiger Flag Football Team in Washington, DC, and it made the trip to Crawfordsville especially for the Monon Bell game.

The Family Line

BIG D, JR.		BIG D, III		DOUBLE D
First Flight January 11, 2003 vs. Rose-Hulman Retired February 13, 2003 vs. Hendrix		First Flight February 27, 2003 vs. Oglethorpe at Memphis, Tennessee On Active Duty		First Flight February 27, 2003 vs. Rhodes  at Memphis, Tennessee On Reserve Duty
BIG D, JR. came into being immediately after it's ancestor was stolen.  Made from a bed sheet and spray paint, this is the only non-square shaped BIG D. Sure, the Rose-Hulman fans in the photo above called it our "ghetto flag," but we have yet to see their spirit flag -- or a victory over DePauw, for that matter! After bravely serving the Tigers for more a significant portion of the 2002-2003 basketball season, BIG D, JR. is enjoying a comfortable retirement in an undisclosed location.		BIG D, III inherited BIG D, JR's mast-pole, but is otherwise an all new flag.  Featuring a larger 'D' with an added tiger paw-print, it now resembles the Tiger Pep Band varsity letter. BIG D, III began its service away from Tiger turf in Memphis, leading the Women's Tiger Basketball Team to victory against Oglethorpe at the first annual SCAC Basketball Tournament in 2003. BIG D, III can now be seen at every DePauw contest, leading the Tigers to take the court or field in the glorious battle for victory!		DOUBLE D is BIG D, III's twin.  In this first photo of it, from the first game in which it served, one can barely see that it was a one-sided flag! Quickly pressed into service to help the Men's Tiger Basketball team beat Rhodes at the 2003 SCAC Basketball Tournament, it could not be completed on time for the simultaneous matches in Memphis.  (Yes, Tiger Pep Band appeared in two stadiums at the same time.) Now completed, DOUBLE D can be differentiated from BIG D, III by the fact that the D reads forwards on both sides of the flag -- unlike your conventional flag...
CAPITOL D		LITTLE D		GEEZER D
First Flight April 2004 at Washington, DC On Active Duty		First Flight Febuary 27, 2005 at Memphis, Tennessee On Active Duty		First Flight February 27, 2005 at Memphis, Tennessee On Active Duty
CAPITOL D is the official flag of the DePauw Tiger Alumni Flag Football Team in Washington, DC.  It is cousin to BIG D, III and DOUBLE D. Leading Tiger alumni into battle on the Mall of the nation's capitol, CAPITOL D, brings the Tiger spirit to the east coast.		LITTLE D is a leaner version of BIG D, III, but just as mean. Sometimes LITTLE D goes where it's big brother simply can't: Such as in the hands of Tiger football team members on the sideline. LITTLE D was a gift from the Tiger Alumni Bands and Stumblebums as we travelled to Memphis as the official band of the 2005 SCAC Basketball Tournament!		GEEZER D is the official flag of the Tiger Alumni Bands and Stumblebums, and is a portable echo of BIG D. This flag doesn't see as much action, but it probably travels more than any other incarnation. GEEZER D shows up whereevr Tiger Pep Band alumni show up, and that could be just about anywhere! GEEZER D made its first appearance alongside LITTLE D at the 2005 SCAC Basketball Tournament.