So.. what's the strategy on the Cowbell issue?

[Hector.sixpack]

1. It's a long standing tradition, and the precendent has been established.
2. The players and university shouldn't be punished for broken rules they can't enforce on the fans- ie. alcohol, violence, (you know- typical LSU tiger behavior). Cowbells will always find a way into the stadium.
3. Is it really that much of an advantage? I mean- what has been our home record over the last 15 years.
4. The NCAA doesn't care, the bowl games (when we go) want them.
5. Surely it's good for SEC publicity- they always mention it on ESPN. It's not just good for MSU, it's good for the SEC and college football.

If I'm a coach or AD, this would be way down on my list of stuff to worry about. Who really care's that much?I don't think Slive really cares about us but I don't think he cares that we sneak cowbells in either. Maybe Templeton can bump some elbows and help push this to the side.

 

[patdog]

Behind the scenes, I'd agree to quit actively encouraging fans to bring cowbells and to commit to confiscate cowbells that are in plain view when taking up tickets. In exchange, nofines, etc.for the cowbells that do get in.

 

[thunderclap]

stuff a paper towel in the bell, stick it in the back of my pants, walk to the stadium with stiff drink in hand, get to gate, toss out cup, walk in stadium.</p>

 

[MeridianDog]

There are more lots more"other" teams in the SEC than MSU and they all stay upset with the cowbells. If I'm Auburn and I think that even one play was messed up because of cowbells then I start campaigning to get rid of them. As soon as three or four Alabamas and LSUs andAuburns all start asking to have them outlawed, we are in trouble.

That's where we are. We beat somebody at some point in the past and someone there thought the cowbells played a part in our victory, so they will most likely make us get rid of them.

Really sad. I don't take mine to games, but I like them and will hate to see them go. As far as I'm concerned, they are likely history.

 

[DowntownDawg]

Officials are out of the picture as I understand it. There can be no on the field penalty. So the line of thinking is that the SEC will fine us.

Alright then, who determines what is excessive? Does one cowbell do it? Will there be an SEC representative at each game to make an arbitrary judgment on the level of cowbell noise? I think I've heard at least one air horn at every game I've been too, home or away, and they are infinitely louder than bells. Do we fine the other schools?

The athletic department can frisk people and can really try to take them up. People will still get them in.

 

[boomboommsu]

the SEC does not own the stadium, they have no right to enforce rules upon it that affect revenue. (1st amendment claim tied to unequal enforcement). they can only kick us out of the league. but i'm one of the few that wouldn't mind that.

but you can't expect them to accept a compromise like offered above if there's not a threat to them that the compromise takes away, be it lawsuit or some other threat/annoyance. without a threat, i don't see the value to them of a compromise, instead of just doing what they want (banning them, effectively this time).

The NFL just lost a huge lawsuit that took away league's ability to act as a single entity. Maybe that helps us here.</p>

 

[FlabLoser]

The NFL just lost a huge lawsuit that took away league's ability to act as a single entity. Maybe that helps us here.</p>

The courts declared that each NFL team is an individual for-profit entity.

College football is ALLEGEDLY non-profit. There has been some rumbling that revenue created by college football is excessive and not spent on each school's non-profit mission (education) and should be taxes. That talk could have legs. Especially with the shortfalls of tax revenue this country is seeing.

 

[Hector.sixpack]

the SEC does not own the stadium, they have no right to enforce rules upon it that affect revenue. (1st amendment claim tied to unequal enforcement). they can only kick us out of the league. but i'm one of the few that wouldn't mind that.
</p>

1. Who says having cowbell's affect revenue? There is a legitiment argument that is does affect noise level andthe playing field.There's lots of things that could generate revenue but be against the rules (ie. alcohol, pole dancers,etc)
2. Getting kicked out the SEC would be the dumbest move in the history of college athletics. The SEC is a money making machine, and we need a piece of that pie andthat priestege. We need the SECmuch more than we need our cowbells.

That being said, I sure hope we continue to hear thousands upon thousandsof cowbells come gameday.

 

[dawgstudent]

We are in no position to sue the SEC.

 

[Mjoelner]

who do they penalize/fine if there are cowbells at an away game? Is it the home team's responsibilty for letting them in the gate? Is it strictly a violation for MSU whether home or away? What happens after the rule comes down where there is a penalty and/or a fine and opposing fans start ringing them when playing us? I know if I were an opposing fan and despised cowbells, I would sure as hell sneak one into a home game if there were a chance it would cost MSU yardage and/or money.

 

[patdog]

Let's piss off the rest of the SEC by filing a lawsuit that has no chance whatsoever of being successful. And I'd love to hear your plans for dealing with the $10M per year revenue revenue hit we'd take if the SEC ever did kick us out.

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[shutterdawg]

1. It's a long standing tradition, and the precendent has been established.
2. The players and university shouldn't be punished for broken rules they can't enforce on the fans- ie. alcohol, violence, (you know- typical LSU tiger behavior). Cowbells will always find a way into the stadium.
3. Is it really that much of an advantage? I mean- what has been our home record over the last 15 years.
4. The NCAA doesn't care, the bowl games (when we go) want them.
5. Surely it's good for SEC publicity- they always mention it on ESPN. It's not just good for MSU, it's good for the SEC and college football.

Use a Db meter during all SEC home games and make them prove that our stadium with cowbells is significantly any louder on average than all the other stadiums. There will be some not as loud but I'd wager my cowbell that DWS wouldnot prove to be any louder than Ala., UT, Flaetc. If it gives us an advantage prove it then we'll go from there. Show us some numbers proving it-not just listening to whiny bitches when they lose.

 

[boomboommsu]

.....State's only option is to roll over. And we'll have to keep rolling over, keep just taking it, over and over again. Or kiss the money and prestige goodbye and start playing in a non-rigged league.

on 1, it doesn't really have to do with revenue. the point is that a rule aimed only at cowbells, and not applied consistantly on all methods of noise/noisemakers, would be arguable challengable, as it would be suppressing speech without a legitimate purpose. the SEC doesn't have the authority, it only has the authority to say "do it or you're gone from the league". from the attitudes i've seen here, there seems a near unanimous opinion that we should roll over and let the cowbell be banned.

 

[patdog]

And no, our only option isn't to just roll over. If we hadn't provoked this by publicy flouting the rule, this wouldn't be a big deal. All we need to do is keep things a little on the down low (i.e. not publicy encourage our fans toignore the rule and confiscate the most obvious bells) and this thing will go away. The absolute worst thing we could do would be to get confrontational about it.

 

[FISHDAWG]

in the words of jacky sherill ... they are no different than tenn blowing "rocky-top" through the loud speakers but we won't win that argument ... I'm afraid they are gone

 

[Agentdog]

Really, our only defense is the Dbs levels. Also, to a lesser degree, how will the SEC enforce the rule? Will the SEC punish State when OM fans bring air horns? Also, I know this can be highly subjective.....but I can not think of one play in all my years of watching games in Starkville, that a play was obviously effected by cowbells or noise in general.

If I am AD, I would first ask the SEC to circulate a question to all ADs. It would be "Name the loudest stadium in the conference?" I bet 11 ADs do not say Davis Wade. I bet if you asked 1000 SEC fans, what is the loudest football stadium in the conference. 1000 fans would not say Davis Wade Stadium.

Second, I would ask the SEC to conduct a Db level survey you mentioned. You can take those two things and make a good point. But like you said, as long as little ole, piss poor, out in the middle of nowhere Mississippi State is beating the big boys, expect some sour grapes on the cowbells. In my opinion, really, that is all this is about. Sour grapes from those who feel they are entitled to a win vs State every year.

Regardless, I think what is going to happen is the SEC is going to ask State to do what other SEC teams do in their stadium. Have the security identify those ringing cowbells and take the cowbell or ask them to leave.

 

[boomboommsu]

Well many would say this only seems to be an issue when we're winning.

If the rule is only invoked on cowbells, then it only applies to cowbells. Jackie pointed out how UT and others were ignoring the noise rules as well.

so, your suggestion is to just never complain, never confront, stay under the radar? how is this not rolling over?

 

[Hector.sixpack]

..uh...wow.

We have to build the most political position we can...and as patdog said keep things as lowkey as possible. There are valid points on why we should get to keep them with little to no penalty, but in the end we will do what we are told to do. I hate it just as much as the next Bulldog..but it is what it is.

 

[AssEndDawg]

so that's not even a worry. I guess the measuring the dB levels would be the proper thing to do. I would also ask the SEC to treat ALL broken stadium rules the same way. So the SEC would also have to actually police alcohol and other behaviors in stands. While I don't really want this I think you would lose most of the support for doing something if you tie alcohol and the cowbells together. Most schools don't want to police anything more than the student section when it comes to booze. Pissing off the alumni is no way to stay the AD.

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

if you try it any other way---save the stiff drink (or cold beer---my preference) for those that dont drink, well then your just risking having your bell confiscated.