STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin wants the school’s fans to practice proper “cowbell etiquette” when the No. 3 Bulldogs host No. 2 Auburn on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

Mississippi State fans have long brought cowbells to games, even when they were deemed illegal noisemakers. The Southeastern Conference approved the cowbells in 2010, provided they are not used when the opposing team is trying to run offensive plays.

Stricklin posted a note on the school’s athletic website on Wednesday criticizing the “25 or so percent of fans who continue to ignore the rules on cowbell etiquette.”

The school has consistently run “Ring Responsibly” commercials on its video board during games, but the sound of cowbells can still often be heard during important situations.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.