DESTIN, Fla. — The cowbell is safe in Davis Wade Stadium for another year.
Today, Southeastern Conference school presidents voted in favor of extending the amended artificial noisemaker policy by another year to allow Mississippi State fans to bring cowbells in to Davis Wade Stadium and ring them at designated times.
MSU director of athletics Scott Stricklin wouldn”t divulge how the voting breakdown but said there was “overwhelming” support for MSU”s longest sporting tradition.
“This is a good day for Mississippi State and for fans everywhere who believe traditions are an important part of the college football experience,” MSU president Dr. Mark Keenum said in a statement. “I appreciate Commissioner (Mike) Slive and our SEC colleagues working with us to allow cowbells to continue to ring in Davis Wade Stadium, within the rules. I thank them for their support. When the compromise was crafted last year, many people doubted we could abide by the terms of the deal. While it was a challenge, we continued to press the importance of ”ringing responsibly,” and our fans responded. I am so appreciative of our fans, who demonstrated we could do the right thing. I am confident they will continue that good work this season, when it will be more important than ever to ”respect the bell.””
The vote comes after coaches and athletic directors voted in favor of extending the compromise earlier in the week. Initially, league athletic directors voted against it but later voted in favor once the coaches showed overwhelming support.
The compromise is an extension and isn”t amended or changed in any way, Stricklin said.
Stricklin said there wasn”t conversation on what it would take this season to make the compromise permanent.
“I hope that we continue to get better and better and show we”re committed to it as a fanbase and university and that it starts to become less of a concern to the other schools,” Stricklin said. “That”s my hope.”
MSU will be fined $30,00 for violations of the compromise stemming from home games against Auburn and Georgia. The next fine will be for $50,000 if MSU violates the agreement this season.
Under the cowbell compromise, MSU fans are allowed to bring cowbells into Davis Wade Stadium– last year was the first time in 36 years — and ring them at designated times. Cowbells can be used before the game, between quarters, during timeouts, after scoring plays, and during possession changes.
“I think the Arkansas game last year showed that our fans can ring the right way and still create an unbelievable atmosphere,” Stricklin said. “I think that this year is a great opportunity for us to make that experience incredible and follow those rules to the letter.”
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