Is it possible to keep an external drive in standby when computer wakes up?

Hello:
I've recently started using SuperDuper! as my backup application. I've setup scheduled backups to an external hard drive. I keep this drive unmounted, yet still powered on and connected to my computer. The schedule in SuperDuper! mounts the drive to perform a backup and unmounts it when finished. While the drive is not in use, it is in standby mode, which is exactly what I want. There's no sense in having it running full throttle when I'm not using it. I have "Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible" checked in the System Preferences. Unfortunately this has proven to not be the answer to my issue.
My question revolves around if there is a way to keep this external drive in standby mode when I wake my computer from sleep mode? When I wake my computer, the external drive also wakes. Though it remains unmounted and I am not attempting access it, it still powers up and out of standby mode. I'd love a way to prevent this from happening. Is it possible?
Understandably, the only other time (besides during backup) the external drive is knocked out of standby mode is when I open Disk Utility. It makes sense because DU is actually attempting to communicate with any connected drives. I'm confused on why waking the computer also wakes the external.
I appreciate any and all support!
Many thanks.
BJ
G4   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   Western Digital My Book Pro external drive

baltwo/Stanley:
Thanks for your comments. I know the computer attempts to communicate with all attached devices. I guess I was hoping that there was a way for the computer to know the external drive was connected and that it could communicate with it without having to actually spin-up the external disk.
Stanley, you're right. I shouldn't worry about this. I suppose the reason is because the external is my only backup, and I'd like to maintain the integrity of it so it lasts as long as possible. But, on the other hand, it is a hard disk. They're made to spin...
I appreciate the feedback, again, baltwo and Stanley.
Regards,
bj

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