College World Series: Vandy whistler says he was told to stop whistling or be ejected

Update: On Tuesday, a spokesman for TD Ameritrade Park said fans can be ejected for excessive whistling at the College World Series.

OMAHA, Neb. — The Vandy whistler said he was warned three times by a tournament employee to stop whistling during Vanderbilt's College World Series game Sunday and that if he didn't quiet down, he could be ejected from the ballpark.

He plans to keep whistling in the Commodores' game against Mississippi State Tuesday (6 p.m., ESPN).

"They can't throw me out for whistling for our (Vanderbilt baseball players), like I always do," said Preacher Franklin, one of two Vanderbilt fans dubbed the Vandy whistler. "But (the tournament employee) said people around me were bothered by it and people watching the game on TV were calling and complaining.

"He said, 'Whistle like that one more time and you're going to be thrown out of here.'" 

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The NCAA.com College World Series stadium guide lists "noise making devices of any kind (i.e. bells, whistles, horns, etc.)" as banned items. But whistling produced naturally is not listed as a prohibited action.

When asked for comment, an NCAA spokesman directed questions to the Omaha Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority, which reserves the right to have additional rules on fan behavior beyond the NCAA.

During the 2014 College World Series, Franklin and fellow Vandy whistler Jeff Pack said they were warned by a security guard and an ESPN staff member to stop whistling. An ESPN spokesman denied that claim at the time.

ESPN has helped promote the Vandy whistler, either Franklin or Pack, in other broadcasts since.

Who told the Vandy whistler to stop whistling?

Franklin said the man that warned him three times on Sunday to stop whistling wore a TD Ameritrade Park shirt and had a plastic credential around his neck. Another Vanderbilt fan, Matt Byrn, said he sat two seats away from Franklin and witnessed all three warnings.

"He was definitely an official employee of TD Ameritrade Park. He had an earpiece in, a walkie-talkie and a badge around his neck," Byrn said. "And I heard everything the guy said. He told Preacher that people weren't enjoying the game because of the whistling, so he needed to stop whistling.

"Preacher told the guy that he would try to hold it down as much as he could. The guy came back a third time, maybe in the sixth or seventh inning. That's when he told Preacher that if he didn't stop whistling, they would escort him out of the park."

Byrn, a Vanderbilt season-ticket holder, traveled with Franklin to the College World Series.

"But I didn't know I'd be doing (opposition) research for Preacher Franklin on this trip," joked Byrn, who was honorably discharged from the Army in 2014. "But we've been friends since I met Preacher and Jeff around 2014, and I told them that I really liked the whistling at Vandy games."

One Vandy whistler is here; the other is not

Franklin and Pack are the two Vandy whistlers. Some Vanderbilt fans wanted them leading the way at the College World Series. Many other college baseball fans want their chirping nowhere near Omaha and ESPN broadcasts this week.

Both groups are getting their wish. Franklin is at the College World Series as long as the Commodores keep winning. Pack cannot attend the early portion of the tournament due to work obligations. He hopes to make it to Omaha if Vanderbilt advances to the championship series.

“But I won’t be whistling at home,” Pack said.

So which whistle has been heard at TD Ameritrade Park this week?

Franklin’s style is more rapid-fire whistling, often letting loose in three quick shrieks — chirp, chirp, chirp. And his whistles are delivered throughout the game rather than as part of larger cheers.

For TV viewers, Franklin’s whistles seem more like constant shrieks amid other ballpark noises.

Pack, who is not be at Sunday’s game, has a more structured whistle. He often uses it to lead Vanderbilt cheers — chirp, chirp, chirp, clap, clap, clap, chirp, chirp, chirp.

However, Franklin said he adopted Pack's style for part of Sunday's game to lead cheers. Constant whistling was also heard during the Arkansas-Texas Tech game Monday, but Franklin said he did not attend that game.

Still confused? Here’s which whistler is here

Pack, who is not in Omaha, is the Vandy whistler that got major TV time during the SEC Tournament, when it appeared he was being ejected from the stadium after some fans complained about his whistling. Instead, he was moved to a different area, where his actual ticket assigned him to sit.

Pack was booed and cheered during the incident and kept whistling. Afterward, fans of several teams encouraged him and posed for selfie photos with him. Others still jeered him.

Franklin said he received a threatening text message from an unnamed Ole Miss fan during the SEC Tournament. His cell number, which is used for his personal business, was listed online. He suspects the fan got it from there.

Franklin traveled here with two friends in his Vandy whistler van, a very recognizable black and gold vehicle. “Whistler” is painted on the driver’s side door, and a 2014 national championship logo is on the side window.

Both Frankin and Pack have attended Vanderbilt’s previous College World Series appearances in 2011, 2014 and 2015.

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.