Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel delivered a subtle yet strong message to the Vols’ fanbase on Wednesday.
Keep going.
“Neyland [Stadium] doesn’t need anything fake piped into the stadium for that to be the loudest place in America,” Heupel said on Wednesday. “Hopefully our fans take that personally, enjoy this bye week and come back and be louder than ever next time we’re at home.”
Josh Heupel knows exactly how much of an impact Tennessee’s sold-out crowd can make. Neyland Stadium presented a roaring environment against Alabama this past weekend as the Crimson Tide had four pre-snap penalties during the game and was noticeably frustrated on offense in the final frame.
Heupel’s comment on Wednesday comes in the wake of a viral story involving Alabama football radio play-by-play broadcaster Chirs Stewart from Saturday’s game. Early in the game, Stewart suggested that Tennessee uses piped-in crowd noise to enhance the noise in a home game at Neyland Stadium. The story has blown up in the days since with Tennessee Director of Athletics denying the suggestion on social media Monday.
Josh Heupel responds to the suggestion that Tennessee uses fake noise in Neyland Stadium on Wednesday:
“Neyland doesn’t need anything fake, piped into the stadium for that to be the loudest place in America…” pic.twitter.com/2vqmqetmwl
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) October 23, 2024
More from RTI: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Heupel Said Wednesday During The Vols Open Date
Heupel said on Wednesday that he hadn’t heard the claim had been made. It doesn’t sound like something Heupel would put any stock into – bye week or not – but the question during Wednesday’s press conference did allow the Vols’ coach to continue hyping up the fanbase on social media before the game.
Heupel routinely compliments the Tennessee fanbase after home games and road games but doesn’t often give the fanbase that sort of material to work with.
Tennessee’s fans quickly accepted the challenge on social media.
The video of Heupel’s message has garnered more than 25,000 views in just a few hours on RTI’s social media platforms with several fans responding online:
“Will do coach,” one user said on Instagram.
“Heard you loud and clear!” another said. “Mission accepted! Bring on (Kentucky)!”
“LOUD AND CLEAR COACH WE WILL MAKE YOU PROUD,” one fan replied.
No. 7 Tennessee has an open date this weekend but will return to Neyland Stadium the following Saturday night to host Kentucky under the lights. Tennessee then hosts Mississippi State in the following week as the Vols look to go 4-0 in this October-November home stretch.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football coverage.
One Response
Think the fact that Neyland is located so near the river is part of its magic in that the water amplifies the roars of the crowds itself! No need for piped in noise…. That’s nature’s gift to the Vols making it what one opponent who played there call it a different kind of loud..