Former SEC offensive lineman says Neyland Stadium has a 'volume that's intimidating'
Former Auburn Tigers offensive lineman Cole Cubelic recently put out a video discussing the toughest, loudest, and most underrated SEC environments. The whole video is worth a watch as Cubelic provides unique insight from a player's perceptive on various SEC stadiums. Unsurprisingly, Cubelic, who is now an analyst for ESPN/SEC Network, included Neyland Stadium, the […]
Former Auburn Tigers offensive lineman Cole Cubelic recently put out a video discussing the toughest, loudest, and most underrated SEC environments.
The whole video is worth a watch as Cubelic provides unique insight from a player's perceptive on various SEC stadiums.
Unsurprisingly, Cubelic, who is now an analyst for ESPN/SEC Network, included Neyland Stadium, the home of the Vols, among his list of the toughest places to play in the SEC.
"Tennessee, Neyland Stadium, whoo, man, I put this one up there next to LSU as far as just cathedral-like, history, tradition," said Cubelic. "You can't walk into this place and not start thinking about different eras and different players. Reggie White and Carl Pickens, and Tee Martin, and Peyton Manning, and Jamal Lewis, and Al Wilson."
"When you're in those stands and you step out into the aisle to walk down, especially if you're up a little bit higher, you feel like if you tripped and stumbled, you'd end up on the field," continued Cubelic. "And there is actually a little bit of distance behind the middle of the benches. So it's not necessarily as on you as some other places, but God Almighty does it get loud. I mentioned [that] we went there, and we played Tennessee tough in '98 at home (at Auburn) — they win the national championship."
"We go there in 99 Ben Leard's hurt. Jeff Klein, God rest his soul, I love you Jeff, rest easy my friend, turns and throws an uncovered check, first play of the game. Deon Grant intercepts it, takes it back and that right there, folks, that moment is the loudest I have ever heard any stadium in my entire life. And I remember Ben Leard was standing next to me — because we were both hurt for that game — I turned and I was like 'man that's loud'….I kept yelling at him as loud as I can. He couldn't hear me, like just nothing. That is a volume that's intimidating. Because it gets to the point where it cuts off your communication. It legitimately does. And when that happens, that becomes a real problem. And when people are faced with problems, then people start to panic, therefore, that is allowing intimidation to set in and affect you."
Neyland Stadium has always been a tough place to play. A few down years caused that reputation to fade a bit, but this past season — specifically Tennessee's wins against Florida, Alabama, and Kentucky — showed that Neyland Stadium can get as loud as any stadium in the nation. And it can have a major impact on the action on the field. As long as the Vols keep keep winning, Neyland will continue to be one of the most intimidating venues in college football.
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Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
