DESTIN, Fla. — The cowbell is safe in Davis Wade Stadium for another year.
Friday, 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 into Davis Wade Stadium and to ring them at designated times.
MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin wouldn”t divulge the voting breakdown, but he 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,” Keenum added. “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 approval from the league presidents comes just two days after athletic directors reversed course on a vote to do away with the compromise. The athletic directors 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 there wasn”t conversation on what it would take this season to make the compromise permanent.
“I hope 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.
MSU will be fined $30,00 for violations of the compromise stemming from home games against Auburn and Georgia last fall. The next fine will be $50,000 if MSU violates the agreement this season. Each fine after that would be $50,000.
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 our fans can ring the right way and still create an unbelievable atmosphere,” Stricklin said. “I think this year is a great opportunity for us to make that experience incredible and follow those rules to the letter.”
Keenum hopes a flawless record of compliance will help make the compromise a permanent fixture.
“If we do, we”ll have this discussion this time next year when we go forward,” Keenum said. “We”re the only stadium in our league that”s allowed to have an artificial noisemaker. It”s unique and special, and I want to preserve that for generations to come. We have to take it one step at a time.”
—-SEC reduces signing limit; does away with basketball divisions
The SEC has capped football signing classes at 25, a move coaches voted against and one that school presidents hope will be adopted across college football.
The league, which will hand out a record $18.3 million in shared revenue to each of its 12 schools, had previously allowed up to 28 players to be signed annually.
The SEC also voted Friday to eliminate divisions in men”s basketball.
The teams now will be seeded one through 12 in the postseason tournament, with the top four teams receiving first-round byes. The SEC will keep a 16-game league slate for 2011-12, but will increase the number of conference games the following season.
The conference also voted to ban graduate students from transferring and being immediately eligible.
The first-year of the transfer rule saw former University of Mississippi quarterback Jeremiah Masoli transfer from the University of Oregon after being kicked off the team in Eugune, Ore.
Brandon Maye has enrolled at MSU after graduating from Clemson and will be cleared this season. Any player who has already transferred won”t be affected by the rule change, which is only taking effect in the SEC.
“I had mixed emotions about the whole issue,” Keenum said of eliminating the transfer rule. “But I think the fact you had a student-athlete (Masoli) somewhat take advantage of the rule left a bad taste in some of the president”s mouths.”
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