Josh Heupel issues direct challenge to Tennessee Vols fans regarding recent Alabama game controversy
The Tennessee Vols defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide on 24-17 last Saturday before a deafening crowd inside Neyland Stadium. Unfortunately, questions about how much and why regarding the level of deafening popped up this week after Alabama play-by-play radio announcer Chris Stewart made an accusation during the game that Tennessee was filtering in crowd noise […]
The Tennessee Vols defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide on 24-17 last Saturday before a deafening crowd inside Neyland Stadium.
Unfortunately, questions about how much and why regarding the level of deafening popped up this week after Alabama play-by-play radio announcer Chris Stewart made an accusation during the game that Tennessee was filtering in crowd noise through the stadium speakers.
"Second-and-16 is not what you're looking for, especially with the noise level being what it is here," Stewart said. "You got a hundred-thousand plus and they also pipe in crowd noise as well."
Of course, it was mid-game snark and/or sour grapes from a pro-Alabama employee. There's been no proof that's happened, and Tennessee AD Danny White and CBS Sports radio host Josh Pate have shot that down publicly. However, that still didn't stop some from believing it, including former Alabama QB AJ McCarron.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel was asked about it at his Wednesday press conference, and he had a direct message to Vol fans in his response.
"I have not heard that. (laughs) Neyland doesn't need anything fake [or] piped into the stadium for that to be the loudest place in America.
"Hopefully our fans take that personal and enjoy this bye week and come back and we'll be louder than ever the next time we're at home."
Weird that this wasn't brought up as an excuse by Alabama the last time they lost to Tennessee back in 2022. Of course, there was another excuse they pointed at instead, complaining about the number of penalties Alabama was flagged for even though the vast majority were pre-snap fouls and not live ball judgment calls.
That all being said, Stewart's baseless allegation should also be taken as a backhanded compliment to the incredible roar that the Tennessee fans generated throughout the game. There really is no place like Neyland Stadium, and Vol fans are helping turn it back into one of the most difficult places to play in the country.
We'll see next Saturday night if Tennessee fans can rise to Heupel's challenge and make things even tougher for the Kentucky Wildcats. With it being a night game with all day to tailgate, it should certainly be another frenzied crowd that the Vols' rival from the Bluegrass State will be facing.
Tennessee Vols will see a trend some players don’t like continue against Kentucky next weekend
Fans of the Tennessee Volunteers who are hoping for plenty of tailgating time for the team's next home game are surely thrilled about the kickoff time revealed by the school on Monday. However, some of the players might not be quite as enthusiastic about it. The school announced on Monday the Vols will be taking […]
