We don't hate on y'alls traditions!

Mississippi State has gotten a lot of media attention recently from the SEC for the artificial noisemaker rules. Last summer, State was granted permission to allow cowbells into our stadium only, as long as we followed guidelines on when to ring the bells (during SEC games). It's been pretty obvious as a student that the cowbells are being rung whenever students feel like it. While I think students should "respect the bell" as the campaign calls it, I think other interesting views from football analysts, SEC commentators, and students/fans of other SEC schools need to be called out.

I've heard the cowbell called obnoxious, rude, "country", redneck, stupid, and an "unfair home field advantage". Now I apologize for sounding rude, but y'all don't think being called "Tiger Bait" and having drinks thrown on you at LSU is rude? Gator chomping at Florida? That the "Woo Pig Sooie" at Arkansas is annoying? "Roll Tide" doesn't get old?

I don't.

I'm not an Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Ole Miss, or Vandy fan. But I do respect their traditions. It's what makes each school unique. This is what makes the SEC.

And I would expect that the fans of these schools would respect ours.

Maybe it's because they don't know the story of the cowbell...

A jersey cow walked onto the field in the early 1900s during an Ole Miss vs. MS State game. State came from behind and won the game. The cow was viewed as a symbol of good luck. The cow was eventually replaced/represented by the cow bell, handles were welded on to make ringing easier, and cowbells became a Mississippi State tradition.
Everyone decorates their own cowbell. That's what makes them special to each person.
Lots of times they are passed down from generation to generation.
This is what makes us unique.
It's a symbol of who we are, and Mississippi State's hospitality. Here is Ray Goodrich and Kristina Akra of SEC Gridiron Live ringing bells at our tailgate.
We even have an iPhone app!

So next time you go to make fun of the cowbell, call us country, redneck, rude, whatever....remember what the cowbell means to us. And remember that we respect your traditions and would expect that you would respect ours. And this goes for my Florida Gator love as well. Stop making fun of the Gator Chomp. Or the "We are the boys of Old Florida". It's what we do. Get over it. Same with the Vols. I love Rocky Top.

Go be a part of your school. The traditions you love is what makes you LSU, Bama, Auburn, wherever. And this is what makes us Mississippi State, Gator Nation.

GO GATORS!

AND GO STATE!!!!!!