What is a "bell cow" (1 Viewer)

[heidbrink]

I know it means for us a RB who carries a huge load for the team (implies no rbbc).

But I was just curious if anybody knows where the term "bell cow" originated.

btw, Wiki doesn't know. I did find a quote relating to a track team. In track, the "bell cow" refers to the runner who gets a big lead...

http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/citations/bell_cow_1/

Quotation: But the goal is always the same, finish early and often. That, meanwhile, is the job of the “bell cow,” a term for the team’s lead runner who’s job it is to jump out early and interrupt another team’s pack."

I wonder if any of you guys know the origins of the term and how we ffers came to use it as we do today.

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

Here

 

[Tigerbot Hesh]

when you have a herd of cows, usually one of them has a bell around its neck. The other cows hear this bell and follow the bell cow, keeping the herd together.

 

[Jackal King]

You train the cows to come to the sound of a ringing bell....and then you attach a bell to your best cow. The herd then follows the bell cow, allowing the herders to handle large numbers with just several cowboys.

So...the pace of the bell cow determines the pace of the herd.

 

[ranglerone]

Typically, in a herd of cattle or cows, there was always one cow that the other cows followed. The farmer would put a bell around the lead cows neck so they could follow the herd or hear them coming.

Rangler

 

[Cookiemonster]

Typically, in a herd of cattle or cows, there was always one cow that the other cows followed. The farmer would put a bell around the lead cows neck so they could follow the herd or hear them coming.Rangler

Leader of the pack. The one you trust to bring 'em all home.

 

[QuizGuy66]

The Bell is just a ploy to motivate the other cows.

-QG

 

[Bri]

I've been using sled dog since BP called Joe Morris one 20 years ago or so. I think that's the best term or most fitting analogy(?)

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I've been using sled dog since BP called Joe Morris one 20 years ago or so. I think that's the best term or most fitting analogy(?)

The view only changes for the first string....

 

[DrJamesAndrews Fan]

The Bell Cow is the Cow that is always listed as questionable every week and calls radio shows and bashes the Lead Rancher.

 

[Stinger Ray]

The Bell is just a ploy to motivate the other cows.-QG