He’s the horn guy. A one-man band that is probably the most well-known yet unknown celebrity at Cyclone football games. Who would have thought a plastic horn, capable of playing only one note and worth no more than a few dollars, could become an impromptu symbol of Cyclone athletics?

When it comes to college football, even the seemingly meaningless can grow into a tradition.

The band is fantastic, but when it is not going to play after a first down, members point up to the student section waiting for the horn guy to imitate their sound. As that monotone song sails through Jack Trice, the air of thrown-togetherness adds to the humor and irony of the situation. Add in the fact that the band plays less frequently while the Cyclone offense is on the field and all of a sudden, the horn fills a need after numerous first downs.

Yet, late in the Army game, the horn was confiscated by the stadium security staff. Immediately, the student section started chanting “horn back” — to no avail.

So the question is, why is the security staff so hellbent on sucking the life out of the student section? Doing silly things at football games is part of the experience, and the department should consider a revision of the rules to allow for specific instances like this one. Nick Britton, assistant athletic director and head of events management, could not be reached for comment on the matter, but students who spoke to the Per Mar staff during the game that night were told that staff were doing their jobs, and that until they hear from Jamie Pollard, their hands are tied.

After speaking with other students, it became clear that the horn has been around for quite some time and has developed a bit of a reputation. The Facebook group “Fans of the guy who blows the horn thingy at the football games” has 305 members, and board posts date back to 2006, when horn guy’s older brother was the horn guy. Now that his brother has taken on the task of leading the students in cheer, the horn has perpetuated its life as an unofficial symbol of the student section.

This is a cool thing we have here. It’s campy, silly, amusing and slightly amazing. It embodies the ingenuity and fun-loving spirit a student section should possess. There’s no reason the athletic department can’t find a way to promote and preserve this unique, burgeoning tradition without allowing the situation to snowball out of control: After all, every home game can’t feature a 5,000-horn symphony.

It’s time to make an exception to the noisemaker rule and allow one — only one — horn to appear at football games without incessant hassling by the stadium staff. When he graduates, he can crown the next holder of the horn.

Are we, the edit board, too attached or maybe obsessed with the horn? No, but we are obsessed with defending things that are frivolous but awesome, and rarely does something this fun and unique fall squarely into our laps. It’s time administrators take notice and preserve the aspects of Jack Trice that have created the electric atmosphere that brings fans and students back week after week. That atmosphere all starts with the students being happy, fired up and cheering in unison.

So, horn guy, we hope you have a few extra horns, and we hope you aren’t discouraged in the least. Hope to hear you in Kansas City.