Refs crack down on Elder band

The rules clearly state that it's illegal for a marching band to be playing when the ball is in play or when the quarterback is calling signals as listed below from the OHSAA football manual.

16. Bands
G. Bands shall not play music at football games while the ball is in play, or while signals
are being called by the quarterback. This means that it is not permissible to use either:
1. Drum roll or beat
2. Cymbals clashing
3. Horn sounds, or
4. Any other kind of musical instrument while the play is underway in football.

Although maybe Elder's band wasn't following the rules during Saturday's matchup with Cov Cath, they certainly were following a precedent. I'm all for following the rules, and being good sports in all situations, but the selective, and quite random enforcement of this rule. In all my years of going to Elder, and other high school football games, I've never, NEVER, seen a band quieted by a referee.

I'm not angry because I go to Elder, or the fact that many of my friends are in band, but I'm angry because this rule has never before enforced. In fact one of the dumbest things the referees could have done was what they did. One band mom told me after the game, "We thought, 'If you don't want to listen to our band, then you're gonna have to listen to us'." The normally raucous "Purple Nation" only got louder, and then forced two straight false start penalties and a fumble. Maybe this year the referees were told to keep more watch on this rule. But one thing is certain; If this is the only time a referee tells a band to quit playing I would question the decision. It just makes no sense to selectively start enforcing the rules, even if they only do it once this season.