I don't know whether this is truth or legend but here is my take on the
situation:

Many years ago, RPI started a tradition called the Big Red Freakout in
February of each year. At the BRF, fans were given souvenirs of the game and
encouraged to wear red and scream like hell.  For the first several years,
things were given out like cow bells and those long plastic horns.  Since
the freakout is sold out most years, imagine 5500 fans all with cowbells or
other artificial noisemakers.

One of the teams who was unfortunate enough to be RPI's opponents during
those early years was Brown University who were coached by Bob Gaudet at the
time. Bob Gaudet also served on the NCAA rules committee during that
period.  After his team was victimized by RPI fans for 3 or 4 years, the
NCAA rules committee passed a rule stating that no artificial noisemakers
could be handed out at games and was further extended that none could be
brought into the arena during the game.  Legend has it that Bob Gaudet was
instrumental in bringing this rule about and has since become known as the
"RPI rule".  Since that time, the freakout gifts have been non-noisemakers
which are pretty lame. But I must admit, 5500 cowbells is enough to impact
one's hearing for many days after the game.

This year, at another RPI event, they gave out thundersticks; those stupid
blowup things with some kind of RPI logo on them.  Most people managed to
get their hands on two of them. When inflated and struck together, they are
capable of making quite a racket also.

On 3/11/06, Sara M. Fagan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> But we don't have a pep band.
>
> So, I see my cowbell as the pep band.
>
> Sara
> SLU '77
> Let's go SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: Arik Marks <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sanctioned is the wrong term.  You aren't an official representative of
> the
> > university.   A pep band is.
> >
> > And before there might be another semantic debate, it's actually not
> about
> > sanctioned or official or anything of the sort.  Bottom line is that the
> > only people allowed to bring instruments/bells etc. into the rink are
> the
> > pep bands of the teams.  Other than that only the home rink PA people
> can
> > add in amplified noise.
> >
> > Try to sneak in the band next time... ;)
> >
> > Arik
> > Cornell '91
> > Michigan '99
> >
> >
> > On 3/11/06, Sara M. Fagan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > >
> > > So, my cow bell isn't sanctioned even though it was purchased from SLU
> and
> > > has the SLU  logo on it?
> > >
> > > Sara
> > > SLU '77
> > > Let's go SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> > > -------------- Original message ----------------------
> > > From: John T Whelan <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > On Sat, 11 Mar 2006, Sara M. Fagan wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > How is it that I can't take a cowbell to a game but Harvard can
> take
> > > > > a band.  It seems to me that the band is composed of artificial
> nose
> > > > > makers.
> > > >
> > > > Well, the band is sanctioned by the University, and under orders to
> > > > play only when the puck is not live.  Still, if they kept you from
> > > > bringing a cowbell, that is a Minnesota-like level of nonsense.
> > > >
> > > >                                            John Whelan, Cornell '91
> > > >                                                   [log in to unmask]
> > > >                                       http://www.amurgsval.org/joe/
> > > >
> > > > Enjoy the latest Hockey Geek tools at slack.net/hockey
> > >
>