New Rules for Mississippi State's Cowbells

[ValuJet]

In light of all this, as long as people aren't getting hurt, Let em' keep the cowbell's.

Agree. It's their tradition, and it's pretty much all they have as an identity. It's a rich part of the SEC pageantry, much like the name "Death Valley" and the incessant playing of "Rocky Top". It is SEC football.

 

[CrimsonSon]

Mississppi St. also has a cannon.

 

[Hamilton]

I can't believe anyone described anything related to MSU as classy. They have no class when they lose and even less when they win. I stated that the way I meant it. And by they, I mean everyone from the t-shirt fan to the athletic department. Trust me on this.

 

[CrimsonSon]

I personally didn't notice anything out of the way when I got to go to Starkville. They treated me pretty hospitable I guess. I even got to see someone make a marriage proposal. I thought it was clever and pretty romantic. I remember they incorparated a sign and everything. Wish I was clever like that. This took place during the game at the stadium.

 

[pvilleguru]

i personally hate the cowbells and wish they would actually check for them at the gates. it is VERY easy to find a cowbell on someone. i don't care how bad their team is or how small the stadium is, there shouldn't be exceptions to the rules.

mississippi state has some of the worst fans in the ncaa. i never really cared about them until i actually went to a game in starkville. but after being to two games there, they are now my most hated team behind tennessee and auburn.

 

[CullmanTide]

I personnaly didn't notice anything out of the way when I got to go to Starkville. They treated me pretty hospitable I guess. I even got to see someone make a marriage proposal. I thought it was clever and pretty romantic. I remember they incorparated a sign and everything. Wish I was clever like that.

What part of Starkville did you say you lived?

 

[CrimsonSon]

What part of Starkville did you say you lived?

Born and raised right here in the Heart of Dixie. Don't let my lack of harshness toward Mississippi St. fool you; I'm Crimson Tide all the way! You can take that to the bank!:biga:

 

[JessN]

The difference between a cowbell and the Rammer Jammer cheer is that I can't hit anyone over the head with a Rammer Jammer and cause a concussion.

I have personally witnessed someone in Tuscaloosa get hit with a cowbell being used as a weapon. A colleague of mine says he once saw a homemade cowbell that was a bell the size of a Bible affixed to a bicycle handlebar, which made it approximately the length of a T-ball bat.

The reason few of our fans seem to have had a problem with a cowbell yet is because State hasn't been a decent program since the Jackie Sherrill era, and was only decent for about four years even during that time. Someone asked when the last time State won the conference -- it was 1941. I guess we should be thankful it only happens once every World War, otherwise we'd actually have to deal with the problem. Can you imagine Gator fans swinging cowbells? That's the issue.

I guess my overriding point is that the other 11 SEC schools all have to respect rules regarding when music can be played, sound effects can be used, etc., except Mississippi State. So we as a conference end up treating them like the class idiot -- "It's just Little Johnny, he don't know no better."

As far as I'm concerned, the rule needs to be this: The first time you hear a bell of any kind, I don't care if it's the recess bell coming from a building at Starkville Elementary, you stop the game and penalize MSU 15 yards. The second time it happens, you flag them again. The third time it happens, you flag them again and you eject the head-coach-of-the-week from the Bulldog sidelines, and then you keep doing it until people get the point. Otherwise, take the whole rule off the books. When you pass rules, ENFORCE THEM.

People talk about gameday security finding the cowbells -- heck, I was in Starkville last year, and one of the ushers had his own cowbell. You think those pillars of the security community are going to actually take anyone else's away from them (unless they want it for themselves)? Ha.

 

[Redwood Forrest]

I imagine the "no guns" rule was an issue of CYA. If it's posted as a rule and someone goes postal and starts shooting up the place, they'll limit their liability with their "no guns" policy. Of course they can't enforce it, but that's not what it's about. Unfortunately, we now live in a society where rules are made to protect the individual making them, NOT the individuals who are supposed to be following them.

That may be true, but looks to me like that would make them more liable because they have a rule they refuse to enforce.

 

[bamaslammer]

They keep their bells because they suck. If they were more competitive the rest of the league would enforce the existing rules.

The best way to shut them up is for Mark Ingram to rip off an 80 yard run. their arms get weak after that.

 

[RamJamHam]

I imagine the "no guns" rule was an issue of CYA. If it's posted as a rule and someone goes postal and starts shooting up the place, they'll limit their liability with their "no guns" policy. Of course they can't enforce it, but that's not what it's about. Unfortunately, we now live in a society where rules are made to protect the individual making them, NOT the individuals who are supposed to be following them.

This.

I'm sure there's a rule against having sex with other employees, but the company is not checking up on that too much either. The rule is there, as the previous poster stated, to put a person bringing a gun/having sex with another employee in violation of company policy, which also paves the way for the employee to be fired and the company to say that they did all they could do to remedy the situation once they had knowledge of it.

 

[RamJamHam]

That may be true, but looks to me like that would make them more liable because they have a rule they refuse to enforce.

They've already told you not to do it, so your compliance is mandatory regardless of any enforcement efforts which may or may not be made.

 

[CrimsonSon]

I love nothing more than shutting up those cowbells. 31-3 will do that for you. On the other hand, where does it stop? What's the SEC going to do when, say, Vanderbilt fans decide that bullhorns are their new "tradition"?

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[CrimsonChuck]

I think this rule change is non-consequential. Who cares about an active play? It's on the line of scrimmage when it is most critical to hear.

That being said, a good coach (a la Saban) will have the team prepared to go to a silent count if they have to.

I do have an idea though. We as Bama fans need to take advantage of this rule. Now that they are legal, we should bring them ourselves and use them when the opposing team is on the line of scrimmage. I am serious.

 

[mdb-tpet]

Did anyone else get an advertisement on the sides for a shirt that says, "More Cowbell"?

I've never seen anyone hit with a cowbell, but I have seen a glass pint bottle thrown from the stands and hit someone in the head in Scott Stadium. So, I won't put it above the crowd to use them as weapons there.

Anyway, that new rule is pointless without a significant onfield penalty for breaking the "rule". I mostly feel for the referees that have to put up with the ringing, and they won't have any clue how to run the game now.

Let's give the crowd whistles next...

 

[13&counting]

I reckon this kind of silly stuff makes some people feel good about themeselves. Political Correctness, I suppose. We have rules like this at work. NO GUNS ALLOWED ON COMPANY PROPERTY.

When this rule was made, I asked how they are going to enforce it, for I know for a fact several cars have pistols in the glove pocket. I was told there was no way to enforce it. I then wanted to know why they made a rule they know they can't enforce and those IDIOTS looked at me like I was the idiot.

So I pointed out that they enforced the no smoking rule but refused to enforce the no gun rule and that was harrassment. They looked at me like I was the IDIOT again. Idiots!

So we have no smoking and no guns, except you can have a gun. Idiots.

Here is an example of this kind of stupidity: NO EVIL THOUGHGS ALLOWED ON COMPANY PROPERTY. Of course it can't be enforced, but it makes us feel better! Hooray for us. (Pat self on back).

What's wrong with guns? I think people should be able to wear them on their hips like they did in the old western days. We would have a lot less crime.

 

[mikes12]

This.

I'm sure there's a rule against having sex with other employees, but the company is not checking up on that too much either. The rule is there, as the previous poster stated, to put a person bringing a gun/having sex with another employee in violation of company policy, which also paves the way for the employee to be fired and the company to say that they did all they could do to remedy the situation once they had knowledge of it.

Well, how should we apply this logic to the question of enforcing the cowbell rule? Again, if there's a rule, there needs to be clear consequenses for violation, and it needs to be consistent.

--I just had a great thought: Someone needs to photoshop Baghdad-Bob in a MSU cap waving his arms saying "There are no cowbells here", while in the background you see MSU students clanging their cowbells on their ultra-jumbotron.

 

[RamJamHam]

Well, how should we apply this logic to the question of enforcing the cowbell rule? Again, if there's a rule, there needs to be clear consequenses for violation, and it needs to be consistent.

I think the oil spill is a more appropriate example. Instead of new rules, why don't we try just enforcing the ones we have and see what happens? How do we know they don't work when we haven't enforced them?

 

[CrimsonSon]

I think this rule change is non-consequential. Who cares about an active play? It's on the line of scrimmage when it is most critical to hear.

That being said, a good coach (a la Saban) will have the team prepared to go to a silent count if they have to.

I do have an idea though. We as Bama fans need to take advantage of this rule. Now that they are legal, we should bring them ourselves and use them when the opposing team is on the line of scrimmage. I am serious.

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[CrimsonSon]

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