Florida player explains why he was 'shocked' when Gators visited Neyland Stadium in 2022
Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall said at SEC Media Days in Nashville last week that he was "shocked" when he played the Tennessee Vols in Neyland Stadium last season. And it wasn't because of the Vols' high-octane offense that puts points on the board at a ridiculous pace. It was actually Tennessee's fans that […]
Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall said at SEC Media Days in Nashville last week that he was "shocked" when he played the Tennessee Vols in Neyland Stadium last season.
And it wasn't because of the Vols' high-octane offense that puts points on the board at a ridiculous pace.
It was actually Tennessee's fans that caught Pearsall off guard.
Pearsall, who grew up in Arizona and played at Arizona State before transferring to Florida in 2022, wasn't expecting Neyland Stadium to be as loud as it was during last year's matchup against the Vols.
"I was actually shocked that it even compared to the Swamp," said Pearsall. "I still don't think it compares. I'm gonna take the Swamp over everything. But their fans, actually are really loud. I remember just the first play. I walked out there because we broke the huddle and I just started laughing because of how loud it was."
Some fans might take the "I still don't think it compares" comment as a shot at Neyland Stadium, but it's really not. That's just Pearsall showing love for his home stadium just like Tennessee's players would do in the same situation.
Plus it's easy to make that comment when Pearsall, a senior, likely won't have to play in Neyland Stadium again. So next season when Vols fans bring these comments back to light before the Gators visit Knoxville, it won't be Pearsall that has to deal with the raucous crowd at Neyland.
Of course, before Tennessee can focus on Florida in 2024 they'll need to get past the Gators in the Swamp in 2023 — a place where the Volunteers haven't won since 2003.
Beating Florida on the road will be Tennessee's first big test in 2023. And it's a test they have to pass if they're going to reach their goal of winning the SEC East.
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