on 3/11/06 2:39 PM, Mark Lewin at [log in to unmask] wrote:

> 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.

        It wasn't Bob Gaudet who generated the "RPI rule", it was his
predecessor, Herb Hammond.