For bonedaddy and others who plan to blow up the compromise...

[DowntownDawg]

....you guys need to think about where we are and what our choices are.

If we don't comply with this, by and large, the following will happen. First, the SEC will begin to fine us. When the fine level reaches a certain point, the University will be forced to tell security to frisk people and then take them up in the stands. This will become the status quo, and there will be no more cowbells because it will hurt the university for people to have them.

If we do comply, we have the opportunity to publicize and take advantage of this tradition. Instead of 10,000 bells in the stadium, there might be 25-30,000. Imagine an ESPN prime time game at night with 30,000 bells in the stadium ringing pre-game. Imagine what that would look and sound like to recruits. Imagine how loud it could get after scores, or after a big win. This is a huge opportunity for us.

In reality, the cowbell has been both a tradition and our fans' way of creating noise during a game to try to help our team. We're being forced to give up the latter, but being allowed to keep the former - which will in turn still help our team - with recruiting, with gameday atmosphere, etc.

Please, please don't blow this for us. Recognize that it's this or
nothing.

 

[DowntownDawg]

....you guys need to think about where we are and what our choices are.

If we don't comply with this, by and large, the following will happen. First, the SEC will begin to fine us. When the fine level reaches a certain point, the University will be forced to tell security to frisk people and then take them up in the stands. This will become the status quo, and there will be no more cowbells because it will hurt the university for people to have them.

If we do comply, we have the opportunity to publicize and take advantage of this tradition. Instead of 10,000 bells in the stadium, there might be 25-30,000. Imagine an ESPN prime time game at night with 30,000 bells in the stadium ringing pre-game. Imagine what that would look and sound like to recruits. Imagine how loud it could get after scores, or after a big win. This is a huge opportunity for us.

In reality, the cowbell has been both a tradition and our fans' way of creating noise during a game to try to help our team. We're being forced to give up the latter, but being allowed to keep the former - which will in turn still help our team - with recruiting, with gameday atmosphere, etc.

Please, please don't blow this for us. Recognize that it's this or
nothing.

 

[DowntownDawg]

....you guys need to think about where we are and what our choices are.

If we don't comply with this, by and large, the following will happen. First, the SEC will begin to fine us. When the fine level reaches a certain point, the University will be forced to tell security to frisk people and then take them up in the stands. This will become the status quo, and there will be no more cowbells because it will hurt the university for people to have them.

If we do comply, we have the opportunity to publicize and take advantage of this tradition. Instead of 10,000 bells in the stadium, there might be 25-30,000. Imagine an ESPN prime time game at night with 30,000 bells in the stadium ringing pre-game. Imagine what that would look and sound like to recruits. Imagine how loud it could get after scores, or after a big win. This is a huge opportunity for us.

In reality, the cowbell has been both a tradition and our fans' way of creating noise during a game to try to help our team. We're being forced to give up the latter, but being allowed to keep the former - which will in turn still help our team - with recruiting, with gameday atmosphere, etc.

Please, please don't blow this for us. Recognize that it's this or
nothing.

 

[jcdawgman18]

For the next 89 days, there will be at least onepost that basically says exactly the same thing as this one.

(NOTE: I'm not disagreeing with it, but hey, it's gonna get old really fast)

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

I mean if it's $500 an occurrence, go ahead, what does it matter. When it's $10,000 that's a different story.

 

[jcdawgman18]

nm

 

[DowntownDawg]

...enough to frisk and take em up in the stands.

 

[jcdawgman18]

That was my guess as to when it would start mattering that much to them. Because you know when the events you mentioned start happening, it's going to be contentious. They don't want it to come to that, and so I don't think they would get worked up over some small fines. Not worth getting the fanbase in a tizzy. But fines that actually start making a dent in the budget, that would be a different story.

 

[bonedaddy401]

part of the tradition of the cowbell is that it is a defiant gesture in itself. Part of thetraditionis that is not legal and other teams hate them and want them gone.<div>
</div><div>I really think you are putting to much into this. They have been "prohibited" forever and nothing has come of it in the form of fines or penalties yet. If you want to cave in and beJohnydo gooder be my guest but don't say anything to me or anybody else that will keep on takingadvantageof our one advantage as Mississippi State fans.</div>

 

[markymark.sixpack]

if the great majority of our fans were able to realize situations where ringing them makes sense, even if we get fined.

Ringing on random 3rd downs vs Alcorn State - not such a good idea

Say it's 4th and goal with a minute to play and Auburn is trying to score a go ahead TD from the 3....I think 30,000 people should be ringing as loud as possible and we just pay the fine.

Ideally, we pick and choose to maximize a potential advantage and still not get them banned.

 

[holdembulldogs]

I can't believe bonedaddy has a thread named for him, haha, but this is going to be an interesting season for cowbells, there will be certainly be more cowbells, but I hope we can change the culture to ring when we are supposed to. As much as I will want to ring it as much as I want, from what I have heard either we go at it like this, or they are done.

 

[ckDOG]

Not in the sense that cowbells have the negative PC aspect of being interpreted as racist, but in the sense it's very likely that the behaviors of a few folks are going to ruin something for the majority. Stop the chant, keep the song. Limit the ringing, keep the bell. Same thing.

Our fans are going to be too damn stubborn and/or stupid for us to make it work where everyone is somewhat happy - just like what happened up the road.

 

[J-Dawg]

I thought that this only applied to SEC games. Ex. we can't get in trouble if we ring them all game against Alcorn

 

[MSUDOG92]

... that I am worried about. This is a one-year "trial period". If we blow it, the ban will be back and the SEC could attempt to actually make sure that we enforce it. I'm not sure what the SEC would do differently (re: enforcement), but I bet we wouldn't like it. With that being said, I think the athletic department will take steps to make sure we don't abuse our new privileges, and most true fans are savvy enough to not screw this up. The only time I see an issue arising is when we are either controlling the game against a highly ranked team (hey, it could happen!) or one of our rivals, or if it's a close game and suddenly some people want to ring the bell on the opponent's 3rd down play, etc.

 

[ckDOG]

People have been casually bitching about cowbells for decades and we have been casually not giving a **** for just as long. It worked out just fine. I'm good with indefinitely having that sort of treatment.

Now, we have an explicit rule set dedicated to give us a fighting chance at showcasing our tradition within an approved rules set. Once we 17 it up (complying with the rules), the SEC has plenty of ammo to say "we gave you a fair shot and you blew it" and begin fining the crap out of us. Not slap on the wrist fines - we are going to strain your budget type fines.

Unless, of course, the AD got wind that the potential fines were coming this year regardless. Then, this is a good last-ditch effort to find middle ground. But, I have no reason to believe the SEC was going to turn into a pain in the *** overnight re: cowbells.

 

[olemissbydamn]

I can see it now...

The next altercation in which someone gets popped by a cowbell is going to be between MSU fans. Some fan is going to take the Bonedaddy401 stance and ring his bell the whole game. Another fan is going to getpissed over the Bonedaddy401 definance stance because he feels passionately about keeping the cowbells and takes the Downtowndog stance. This will lead to an altercation in the stands.

 

[DowntownDawg]

...from ever having the opportunity to enjoy our tradition.

There is no more status quo on this. We'll be forced to take em up in the stands, and that's all there is to it. Hope yours is the first one to go.

 

[patdog]

such as by ringing cowbells while teams are in the huddle. But 2010 is NOT that time. This is the year to adhere to the letter of the rule and get the rule made permanent next June. I know everyone is going to want to ring the cowbells during play, but you have to ask yourself if you'd rather put them down during play or put them down before you enter the stadium. Because there's little doubt that if we 17 this us, the rest of the SEC is going to show us no mercy next June. And really, now that teams use hand signals and silent snap counts, it's not that big of a deal for them to deal with ringing cowbells anyway.

 

[patdog]

about the cowbells this year. I'm pretty sure they were ready to crack down and Stricklin pulled a rabbit out of the hat by getting them to agree to a last-ditch compromise. And yes, fines were being discussed for weeks, if not months. </p>

 

[rem101]

They will never get his bell.

 

[bonedaddy401]

/

 

[DowntownDawg]

...it was on the agenda, don't you remember?

We knew it was on the agenda. That's why we were prepared.

 

[ckDOG]

I can't buy into the ridiculous paranoia by some that think the SEC is out to get us because we are on the verge of being competitive in football again. Sure, I bet there is a strong correlation with how loud the bitching is with the number of wins we have in any given season. The problem with that is we still aren't good. We are wooly, no doubt, but we aren't annoying anyone yet other than Ole Miss.

Maybe I missed something during the off-season, but isn't this just par for the course?

 

[DowntownDawg]

....to discuss enforcement. That awas the new part.

It was on the agenda because our crowd size greatly increased and because the right people (ahem, Urban) complained about it.

 

[patdog]

And no, what we've been hearing for months from a lot of other SEC ADs has not been anything like "par for the course." They've NEVER seriously threatened us with substantial fines before. That's really the only leverage they've ever had to force compliance.And you'd better bet that can really force true compliance (as in number of cowbells in the stands being numbered in the 100s).

 

[DerHntr]

will be told to take up a bell if they see it being rung at the wrong time. that would be interesting to see them enforce it. i am sure they would have to make an example out of a bunch of folks in the first SEC game to set the tone.

plus, it will also be damn funny to watch the blue hairs screaming at people to put their bells down. many have complained about the bells being too loud in their ears when i have been at games. now they will basically have to tolerate it during the times when we are "supposed" to ring them but i bet they will be overly persistent in the times we aren't supposed to ring them. should make for some high quality comedy.

 

[ckDOG]

As a fan, I just want to know between what extremes the compromise falls between. We know Stricklin initially proposed lifting the ban entirely which would have been the ideal situation for us and the worst situation for everyone else.

Then, we know this is the "compromise". Simple enough.

What was the third possibility? That's all I want to know. If it included hefty fines, I'm fine with the compromise. If it was just changing the verbiage up and including some vague instruction on a weak fine framework, then I'd just say let it pass and we'll keep on treating cowbells as we have been. Essentially, if it was just the SEC's way of showing their disapproval for cowbells, but failing to put in any effective means of penalizing us, why compromise?

Did we get to see the details of the last option, or are we just assuming it was a raw deal?

 

[markymark.sixpack]

i was just making a quick example - replace Alcorn with Kentucky in a game where we're up 3 scores in the 4th quarter....there, does that make more sense to you?

 

[markymark.sixpack]

that's a good point, but at the same time don't you think they will be more lenient to us this year since it's our first season trying out the new rule? I mean, if we adhere to it 95% of the time, do you really think they'll come after us hard over that other 5%?

I'm just saying we should use discretion instead of taking bonedaddy's approach; but at the same time, he does have a point. we need to find a middle ground.

 

[jakldawg]

(with some minor changes) or we can carry on the other proud Mississippi tradition of cutting off our nose to spite our face.

Gee, I wonder what will happen.

 

[Hump4Hoops]

There's no doubt we should adhere to the rule "except"

"except" being for the time or two or three a game when it really counts, then go bucknutty, even if a fine might occur.

 

[jamdawg96]

*

 

[Liverdawg]

Looks like we aren't gonna be in the SEC for much longer, so maybe Slive is just throwing us this bone before he gives us the boot. Might as well ring them while we can. (I do realize that we cannot be kicked out of the SEC, but that doesn't mean we will be asked to join the Super Fantasic Awesome Conference that will be formed in its place)

 

[ckDOG]

If we are up a FG against Kentucky on their last possession of the game while they are driving and you hear 30k+ cowbells for 10 straight minutes and we win, there will probably be a little fuss, but most likely chalked up to us getting accustomed to the new behaviors or that the cowbells in reality had little effects on the outcome.

Take that same scenario, only this time it's UGA on their last possession of the game you hear 30k+ cowbells for 10 straight minutes and we win...bye bye cowbell.

We'll be fine until we knock off somebody important that we aren't supposed to. I don't care how great of a "responsible ringing" campaign we put together and how well our fans adjust to it. If we need a big defensive stand late in a game to knock off a big time opponent, those cowbells are going to be loud as hell. You don't even have to be somebody with reckless disregard for the rules - the masses will be ringing their bells without a doubt. Hell, I'm sure I'll be in that group.

 

[futaba.79]

the cowbells will be in the spotlight. Camera crews will search for fans flaunting the rules. Craig James will take great pleasure in blasting us. We'll look back and say Sept 9, 2010 was the beginning of the end of the cowbell.

 

[DerHntr]

Just
curious, how many of you that plan to not support the compromise and
want MSU to pay a fine are actual Bulldog Club members?

After
all, some of you are talking about wanting MSU to pay a fine so that
you can ring your cowbell at any time during a game. Do you actually
support where the money might have to come from? Some of you may say
raise the ticket prices, etc; but the money will have to come from
somewhere to pay a fine.

Also... rest assured, the folks that say
pay a fine will pay it to ring their cowbell for this season. Being
defiant of supporting our university and tradition will be there for 1
year.

And for those that think our tradition was because of the
cowbell was illegal, you must be too young to understand. Me.... I was
there when you could ring them back in the 70s.... and they were great
to hear from a distance walking to the stadium. I hope many of you will
get to hear what that means.

Let's support our university, team,
president, and AD on this one. It will be great not having to hide our
cowbells!

<span style="font-style: italic;">no need in an identical thread</span>

 

[patdog]

I'm thinking 75% compliance would be great, and would be plenty. All the SEC is really looking for here is a legitimate effort to limit cowbells during play. Byrne and Mullen stirred up this hornet's nest by repeatedly and publicly calling for MSU fans to ignore the ban. I'd imagine that ruffled a lot of feathers.

 

[jcdawgman18]

I'm thinking 75% compliance would be great, and would be plenty. All the SEC is really looking for here is a legitimate effort to limit cowbells during play. Byrne and Mullen stirred up this hornet's nest by repeatedly and publicly calling for MSU fans to ignore the ban. I'd imagine that ruffled a lot of feathers.

I really do think they plan on hitting us hard next year no matter how well we do. Now, that doesn't mean I intend to just ignore the rule, but I'm not very hopeful of a happy ending for the rule.

 

[Original48]

in my opinion, this will be the last year of cowbells. There is NO WAY people are gonna adhere to the rules and the AD's know it. This is an orchestrated plan that will simply give them ammunition to get rid of them next year...regardless if it is just a few who don't follow the rules or a ton. Might as well ring the hell out of em. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[patdog]

nm</p>