Neyland Stadium
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2024 5:55 pm
So my wife and I are on a road trip in the Midwest/East. We decided last minutes to make a short detour to go to a Tennessee football game. We rolled into Knoxville in Ducks jerseys during the Florida Vs Tennessee game day.
Great night for football, fun to stroll around town a couple hours before the game. So many confused Tennessee fans! (“you’re a long way from home.”, “Why are you here???”) We decided to buy Tennessee Volunteer hats to at least portray “we come in peace”.
Overall, Tennessee fans are SOO hospitable and kind. So many fun interactions! The craziest part is how many fans kept asking me if Oregon had played Ohio State yet or if they were winning (or won). Many fans also said they’re rooting for the ducks, while maybe only one or two fans had said “Go Bucks”. There was also someone two rows in front of us who was watching the Oregon/OSU game on his phone the whole time haha! So I was definitely glancing at his phone throughout the game. Related side note, I’m in Louisville now and will be in Indy on Thursday and talked to some Big Ten fans this week and many of them said they were rooting for Oregon to beat Ohio State. But a couple of these fans also mentioned they didn’t love the idea of Oregon coming and winning the Big Ten in their first year. Lose-lose situation for Big Ten fans perhaps? Interesting though to hear the perspective of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin fans.
Game day atmosphere… it’s a different culture. Football feels bigger there. The southern vibe just adds a little zest too. Noise levels, at its loudest, was LOUD. Up there with the loudest games I’ve been too. However, that was only on the first drive or some 3rd/4th downs. Noise levels the rest of the game were kinda meh for 102k fans. Keep in mind, this was a very boring game and Tennessee did almost nothing offensively. They kinda suck (to be fair, fans in the stands mentioned to me that they’re missing two OL starters and their offensive line sucks and teams are taking advantage of that) However, Autzen is louder overall. No doubt. Oregon fans bring it every down.
One of my favorite sports experiences ever. Even though the game was miserably boring, the Tennessee fans and Neyland culture offer an environment I’d imagine is hard to replicate anywhere else.
Go ducks!!!
I’ll be at the Oregon vs Purdue game and plan to attend Penn State @ Wisconsin the weekend after.
Great night for football, fun to stroll around town a couple hours before the game. So many confused Tennessee fans! (“you’re a long way from home.”, “Why are you here???”) We decided to buy Tennessee Volunteer hats to at least portray “we come in peace”.
Overall, Tennessee fans are SOO hospitable and kind. So many fun interactions! The craziest part is how many fans kept asking me if Oregon had played Ohio State yet or if they were winning (or won). Many fans also said they’re rooting for the ducks, while maybe only one or two fans had said “Go Bucks”. There was also someone two rows in front of us who was watching the Oregon/OSU game on his phone the whole time haha! So I was definitely glancing at his phone throughout the game. Related side note, I’m in Louisville now and will be in Indy on Thursday and talked to some Big Ten fans this week and many of them said they were rooting for Oregon to beat Ohio State. But a couple of these fans also mentioned they didn’t love the idea of Oregon coming and winning the Big Ten in their first year. Lose-lose situation for Big Ten fans perhaps? Interesting though to hear the perspective of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin fans.
Game day atmosphere… it’s a different culture. Football feels bigger there. The southern vibe just adds a little zest too. Noise levels, at its loudest, was LOUD. Up there with the loudest games I’ve been too. However, that was only on the first drive or some 3rd/4th downs. Noise levels the rest of the game were kinda meh for 102k fans. Keep in mind, this was a very boring game and Tennessee did almost nothing offensively. They kinda suck (to be fair, fans in the stands mentioned to me that they’re missing two OL starters and their offensive line sucks and teams are taking advantage of that) However, Autzen is louder overall. No doubt. Oregon fans bring it every down.
One of my favorite sports experiences ever. Even though the game was miserably boring, the Tennessee fans and Neyland culture offer an environment I’d imagine is hard to replicate anywhere else.
Go ducks!!!
I’ll be at the Oregon vs Purdue game and plan to attend Penn State @ Wisconsin the weekend after.