STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn found it challenging to do an interview in Mississippi State's Davis Wade Stadium a few hours before the Tigers played the Bulldogs three weeks ago.
"I was getting interviewed by CBS, and the only people there were the students with their cowbells, and it was extremely loud even when we went to midfield," Malzahn said. "It was hard to do the interview. Those cowbells vibrate around the stadium."
It got a lot louder once a Mississippi State record crowd of 62,945 filled the stadium and cheered and rang their cowbells as the Bulldogs beat the Tigers 38-23.
Tonight it will be Arkansas' turn to experience the bigger, louder and more cowbelly Davis Wade Stadium when the Razorbacks play the No. 1 Bulldogs.
A $75 million project was completed for this season that enclosed the north end zone and added 8,815 seats to the 100-year-old stadium to expand official capacity to 61,337.
"It's become a very attractive stadium," said Rockey Felker, Mississippi State's director of football operations and a former Arkansas assistant coach. "It looks first-class now, and obviously our team has given the fans a lot to cheer about.
"We now have one of the best environments in the SEC."
Fans might be at a fever pitch with their cowbells for the Razorbacks' visit. It's the first time the Bulldogs have played at home since they moved up to No. 1 in all of the national rankings, including the College Football Playoff poll, as well as Mississippi State's first night kickoff for an SEC game.
"Our stadium has gotten louder, there's no doubt about it, by enclosing the north end zone," Felker said. "The fact we're having the kind of season we're having helps, too. The fans are excited and they're into it on every play."
Arkansas junior tailback Jonathan Williams was a freshman in 2012 when he first heard the cowbells ringing during Mississippi State's 45-14 victory over the Razorbacks.
"I don't like them at all," Williams said. "They're just kind of annoying. But we've had sessions of practice where they played a lot of cowbells, so we're trying to get used to it."
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, who never has been to a game at Mississippi State, had ringing cowbells played over loudspeakers with the Razorbacks practicing indoors.
"It definitely is different than playing anywhere else with those cowbells," Arkansas senior offensive tackle Brey Cook said. "It's noise, just like any other stadium, but it's unique."
Razorbacks offensive coordinator Jim Chaney pretended he had trouble hearing after Thursday's practice when he talked with reporters.
"What? What did you say?" Chaney said, drawing laughs. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. I've had cowbells in my ear.
"It's been difficult, but it's been good for us. We've had to go out and communicate non-verbally. That's what you've got to do on the road. Hopefully, we're prepared for that."
Tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. played quarterback for the Razorbacks from 1992-1995 when Davis Wade Stadium had a capacity of 40,656. Back then, Mississippi State fans had to sneak their cowbells into games because of an SEC rule against the use of artificial noisemakers.
In the spring of 2010, SEC schools reached a compromise with Mississippi State that allows fans to have cowbells at games with the understanding they won't be rung once the opposing team's center gets over the ball to snap it.
"I thought at one point they couldn't do it anymore, and then all of a sudden the cowbells were back," Lunney said. "So, well-played by them.
"You hear the cowbells, you know who they're rooting for. Even though it's artificial noise, you just block it out and hopefully keep them quiet during the course of the game if you can."
The SEC has fined Mississippi State twice -- $5,000 in 2010 and $25,000 in 2013 -- because fans rang cowbells during plays.
After the Bulldogs beat Alabama-Birmingham 47-34 on Sept. 6 at home, Mississippi State Athletic Director Scott Strickland in a letter posted on the athletic department's website admonished what he called the approximately 25 percent of fans not ringing responsibly.
"If you see someone disregarding the rules, do me a favor and ask them to stop," Strickland wrote. "If we continue having this issue, security will be deployed to either remove offending cowbells, or the individuals who are ringing irresponsibly, from the stadium.
"Remember, we are allowed to bring cowbells into Davis Wade Stadium because the other 13 SEC schools voted to allow it. If we continue to have problems following the rules, then they may decide to rescind that privilege. The last thing any of us want is to have to install metal detectors at the gates."
The situation improved in the next home game when the Bulldogs beat Texas A&M 48-31 as video board messages continually ordered fans to stop ringing cowbells during plays. Fans responded with loud cheers.
"I thought it proved that we can follow the rules and create a great game day atmosphere at the same time," Strickland told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "I got a lot of positive comments from neutral observers."
Chaney smiled when told Mississippi State fans are supposed to stop ringing cowbells before offensive plays by the visiting team.
"That's awfully nice of them," he said. "I hope they're kind to us."
Sports on 11/01/2014