The environment at Neyland Stadium has been a popular debate in the last week after Gary Danielson downplayed its impact ahead of Tennessee’s matchup against Texas A&M last Saturday.
“I get that. It’s a way of life. We embrace it from a production standpoint, and it’s fun,” Danielson said to Sparks about Neyland Stadium. “I love it all, the pomp and the circumstance and the storylines. Tennessee doesn’t have to take a backseat to anybody. But to me, it’s just about the same (as other SEC stadiums).”
Danielson didn’t say anything crazy, just that he doesn’t think it would be any different than any other rowdy SEC environment from a player’s perspective. But it’s started an ongoing dialogue about Neyland Stadium. Third-year Tennessee coach Josh Heupel came to Neyland Stadium’s defense over the weekend and now former Florida coach Urban Meyer is weighing in.
Asked about Danielson’s comments that Neyland Stadium was the same as any other SEC stadium at the Knoxville Quarterback’s Club Monday, Meyer disputed Danielson’s claim.
“No,” Meyer said on if Neyland was the same of other SEC stadiums. “I think it’s all relative. When that guy (John Chavis) was calling defenses and you had a guy named Phil Fulmer wearing a headset, I can say it’s the loudest game environment. But I’ve also been in the stadium when they’re not very good and it wasn’t very loud, so it’s all relative. When that one’s cooking, it’s as loud as there is.”
In Danielson’s defense, he’s called more games at Neyland Stadium where the Vols’ were uncompetitive than he has like Saturday against Texas A&M or last season’s against Alabama when the Vols ended a 15-game losing streak in the series and fans poured onto the field.
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Danielson’s time at CBS calling the SEC game of the week began in 2006 just two years before the Vols’ decade-plus of wandering in the college football wilderness began.
But Meyer coached against Tennessee at the end of the Fulmer era and before Tennessee’s struggles began. The current FOX analyst knows how hard it is to win at Neyland Stadium. Meyer spent six seasons at Florida posting a 6-0 record against Tennessee. The former Gators’ coach referenced Florida’s narrow 21-20 win in Neyland Stadium in 2006 and how loud the stadium was multiple times during his QB club appearance.
Meyer won two National Championships in his six-years at Florida before stepping away from football only to return two years later at Ohio State. According to Meyer, LSU’s Tiger Stadium is the only other stadium in the SEC that compares to Neyland Stadium when the teams are competitive.
“But you also got Death Valley in Baton Rouge. I see things down there (that) I really can’t unsee,” Meyer said with a laugh.
After a three-game home winning streak, Tennessee heads back on the road for consecutive road games against Alabama and Kentucky. The Vols return to Neyland Stadium on Nov. 4 when they host UConn on homecoming.
