I thought this bore repeating as it's the best way I can describe how I feel and how I intend to act regarding the cowbell for these last two games...
I am pretty outspoken about my belief that the SEC and Mike Slive
shouldn't have the right to tell me when I can and cannot show support
for my team by ringing my cowbell. I have also said I don't ring only
in the allotted times. I am one of the folks who thinks if we, as a
fan-base, stand up and cry foul on this we can effect a positive change.
In another thread when someone cited the amendment to the artificial
noisemaker rule I posited the theory that perhaps after the season we
could lobby to amend the rule again, allowing cowbells to ring
essentially whenever the band and cheerleaders can do their thing. This
would result in cowbells being silenced from the time the opposing
offense breaks the huddle until the ball is snapped. In reality that is
the only time they would need to 'hear' and I am using quotes around
the word 'hear' because from the data resulting from decibel tests the
cowbells are a non-issue on the field. Beyond that, I would say 99%, if
not all, of NCAA and SEC teams today predominantly use hand signals to
communicate with their players on the field.
I have stated that I don't follow the outlined rules, and that I operate
a little differently than the Ring Responsibly campaign would have me
do. I ring my bell after big plays (regardless of a score)... if MSU
does something good, once the play stops I ring it. I ring it on big
3rd downs, from the end of 2nd down until the opposing offense breaks
the huddle and heads towards the line of scrimmage. At that point I do
stop, out of deference to the rules, and cheer until the end of that
play. Then I just rinse and repeat.
Having said all that, here is what I, as an avid
anti-cowbell-legislation-activist, am willing to do. For the last two
SEC home games I will follow these rules to the letter. I will only
ring before the game, during halftime, timeouts, after scores and after
the game. I hope that I have the opportunity to ring early and often.
Regardless of whether or not that is the case, I will follow these rules
for these final two games of the season.
BUT I do so with the understanding that in the off-season, and
especially when Scott Stricklin heads to Destin again next year, there
will be more than a simple, mewling, obsequious "Please sir? Let us
have some more cowbell, sir?" I expect a COMPREHENSIVE frontal assault
to the policy. I expect Scott, Dan and the rest of our athletic
department to come to this meeting loaded to the gills with decibel
studies, examples of our improved progress throughout the season, and
testimonials in the form of quotes from other SEC coaches, or video
clips of coaches, players, or talking heads from the likes of ESPN, etc.
coming out in support of the cowbell. Let me make it clear, even if
THIS cowbell rule gets past the one year trial period, I am not happy
with it. It must be changed.
The RR apologists would have you 'look at the big picture' to ensure the
cowbell will be around for years to come. I think regardless of the
outcome of this trial period you will NOT silence cowbells. But I am
willing to play the game this time as long as everyone understands we
are not going to simply roll over and let the likes of Mike Slive and
other cowbell-haters dictate when our traditions are viable. I will do
what is asked of me for these last two games, but I expect Scott
Stricklin, Dan Mullen and the entire Bulldog Nation to go to bat for the
cowbell after the season.
It is my sincere hope that this rule makes it past the one year mark.
That will be a step in the right direction, but it is by no means
satisfactory. The rule is flawed, and it will continue to be a point of
contention until it is amended to allow MSU fans to show their spirit
at reasonable and realistic times.
I'll get down off my soapbox now, but just know that the soapbox isn't going anywhere, and neither is my cowbell.
I am pretty outspoken about my belief that the SEC and Mike Slive
shouldn't have the right to tell me when I can and cannot show support
for my team by ringing my cowbell. I have also said I don't ring only
in the allotted times. I am one of the folks who thinks if we, as a
fan-base, stand up and cry foul on this we can effect a positive change.
In another thread when someone cited the amendment to the artificial
noisemaker rule I posited the theory that perhaps after the season we
could lobby to amend the rule again, allowing cowbells to ring
essentially whenever the band and cheerleaders can do their thing. This
would result in cowbells being silenced from the time the opposing
offense breaks the huddle until the ball is snapped. In reality that is
the only time they would need to 'hear' and I am using quotes around
the word 'hear' because from the data resulting from decibel tests the
cowbells are a non-issue on the field. Beyond that, I would say 99%, if
not all, of NCAA and SEC teams today predominantly use hand signals to
communicate with their players on the field.
I have stated that I don't follow the outlined rules, and that I operate
a little differently than the Ring Responsibly campaign would have me
do. I ring my bell after big plays (regardless of a score)... if MSU
does something good, once the play stops I ring it. I ring it on big
3rd downs, from the end of 2nd down until the opposing offense breaks
the huddle and heads towards the line of scrimmage. At that point I do
stop, out of deference to the rules, and cheer until the end of that
play. Then I just rinse and repeat.
Having said all that, here is what I, as an avid
anti-cowbell-legislation-activist, am willing to do. For the last two
SEC home games I will follow these rules to the letter. I will only
ring before the game, during halftime, timeouts, after scores and after
the game. I hope that I have the opportunity to ring early and often.
Regardless of whether or not that is the case, I will follow these rules
for these final two games of the season.
BUT I do so with the understanding that in the off-season, and
especially when Scott Stricklin heads to Destin again next year, there
will be more than a simple, mewling, obsequious "Please sir? Let us
have some more cowbell, sir?" I expect a COMPREHENSIVE frontal assault
to the policy. I expect Scott, Dan and the rest of our athletic
department to come to this meeting loaded to the gills with decibel
studies, examples of our improved progress throughout the season, and
testimonials in the form of quotes from other SEC coaches, or video
clips of coaches, players, or talking heads from the likes of ESPN, etc.
coming out in support of the cowbell. Let me make it clear, even if
THIS cowbell rule gets past the one year trial period, I am not happy
with it. It must be changed.
The RR apologists would have you 'look at the big picture' to ensure the
cowbell will be around for years to come. I think regardless of the
outcome of this trial period you will NOT silence cowbells. But I am
willing to play the game this time as long as everyone understands we
are not going to simply roll over and let the likes of Mike Slive and
other cowbell-haters dictate when our traditions are viable. I will do
what is asked of me for these last two games, but I expect Scott
Stricklin, Dan Mullen and the entire Bulldog Nation to go to bat for the
cowbell after the season.
It is my sincere hope that this rule makes it past the one year mark.
That will be a step in the right direction, but it is by no means
satisfactory. The rule is flawed, and it will continue to be a point of
contention until it is amended to allow MSU fans to show their spirit
at reasonable and realistic times.
I'll get down off my soapbox now, but just know that the soapbox isn't going anywhere, and neither is my cowbell.