Miss. St. AD asks fans to observe proper cowbell etiquette

Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin is still riding high from the team's big win over Texas A&M last Saturday, but is concerned that some fans are getting a little overzealous with their use of the school's trademark cowbells.

Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin is still riding high from the team's big win over Texas A&M last Saturday, but is concerned some fans are getting a little overzealous with their use of the school's trademark cowbells.

Stricklin said in a letter to fans he was disappointed some supporters did not follow the rules agreed to in the so-called "Cowbell Compromise" of 2010, which brought the "clanga" back to Davis Wade stadium.

One of the not-so-cool parts of last Saturday was the 25 or so percent of fans who continue to ignore the rules on cowbell etiquette. This totally perplexes me. Dak Prescott doesn’t need fans ringing when they shouldn’t to make a dazzling play for our State. Benardrick McKinney doesn’t need fans ringing when they shouldn’t in order to deliver a crushing tackle.

Why anyone who professes love for this university would ring their cowbell when they’ve been told not to do so is beyond me. It’s selfish and disrespectful, two things Mississippi State does NOT represent. 

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SEC rules state that the bells cannot be rung from the time the center is over the ball until the play is blown dead on the field.

The Bulldogs will take on No. 2 ranked Auburn in Starkville, Miss., on Saturday.

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- Brendan Maloy