Interesting. It was two or three years ago that they handed out those stupid Thundersticks at Brown when I was there for the SLU game. I guess Brown doesn't mind noise makers. My cowbell has traveled to quite a few ECAC rinks and has never been refused or tossed out before. Sara SLU '77 Let's go SAINTS!!!!!!!!! Off to the game now. I don't know if I should try and sneak the bell in or not. -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Mark Lewin <[log in to unmask]> > 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 > > > > > >