The Music City Bowl apparently doesn’t mean all instruments will be invited.
The bowl game’s CEO Scott Ramsey said on ESPN 680 Louisville this week that Mississippi State fans will not be allowed to bring their cowbells into Nissan Stadium for the Music City Bowl. Mississippi State will face Louisville in the bowl game.
“I’m sure we will see a lot in the city but they won’t be allowed in the stadium,” Ramsey said according to The Clarion Ledger via ESPN radio. “Due to safety certification process with [the Department of] Homeland Security and what the Titans and Nissan Stadium are going through, which is a very high-end certification process. Just the nature of the bell, not necessarily just from a noise side, but from a safety and a noise side, they’re not going to be allowed in the stadium.”
Mississippi State actually just faced Louisville in the TaxSlayer Bowl two years ago and the fans were permitted to bring cowbells into TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs faithful also brought its cowbells into Raymond James Stadium in Tampa at the Outback Bowl last year.
But Nissan Stadium, where the Titans play their home games, have decided not to allow the cowbells for safety reasons.
“Nissan Stadium is a designated SAFETY Act Facility by the Department of Homeland Security,” a stadium representative said in a statement to Mississippi State. “Nissan Stadium’s supporting documentation for its designation under the SAFETY Act specifically prohibits noisemaking devices inside the stadium such as blowhorns, airhorns, cowbells, whistles for all events.”
For what it’s worth, the Titans’ website lists cowbells under noisemakers not permitted inside Nissan Stadium for NFL games, so this isn’t a rule only being applied to the Music City Bowl.
Mississippi State and Louisville will square off in Nashville on Dec. 30 at 4 pm ET.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
