University of Tennessee Athletics
Neyland Stadium Preserved By Pilot: What They're Saying
Below are various quotes and testimonials from national media, opponents and other college football personalities who have experienced the unmatched atmosphere inside of Neyland Stadium:
“Neyland Stadium is the toughest place to play in college football. … I’ve never been in an avalanche before, but I would imagine Tennessee taking the lead on you in the fourth quarter and Rocky Top blaring, that’s what an avalanche of orange feels like.”
- Josh Pate, Josh Pate's College Football Show - 7/26/25
“Neyland Stadium at its best is the best that it gets in college football. I said that two years ago, and I experienced it again yesterday … This (Third Saturday in October) rivalry is insane. The atmosphere is insane. Just unbelievable.”
- Josh Pate, Josh Pate’s College Football Show – 10/21/24
“Gosh, I was there two years ago when Tennessee upset Alabama. I could hear from TV this game how incredibly loud it was. That stadium, it just came through, through the TV. When Tennessee gets going, there is not a better place or atmosphere. It is just unbelievable.”
- Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports—10/21/24
“Three years in a row the boys went to Knoxville to watch the Vols. FINALLY got to see it for myself and it did not disappoint. Those fans are a different kind of loud.”
- Taylor Lewan, Bussin’ With The Boys—10/20/24
“It was a crazy atmosphere. Crazy loud, super hostile. I think it had a big effect on the game. Fans had a huge impact, and I don’t usually say that coming out of a game … It was an excellent performance from the Tennessee fans, and they deserve immense credit.”
- Greg McElroy, Always College Football Podcast/ESPN – 10/20/24
“Josh Heupel disappearing into the crowd after the interview is legendary. The loudest, wildest environment I’ve ever seen. What a day on Rocky Top.”
- Molly McGrath, ESPN – 10/19/24
“There is an unmistakably electric atmosphere when it comes to big time college football, in the SEC, at night, and specifically in Knoxville … Last night was as good as it gets. How incredibly loud, amped up, and passionate the stadium was last night … Regular season college football pageantry at the highest level. So cool.
- Louis Riddick, ESPN — 10/13/24
“It’s the loudest singular moment I’ve ever had in a game. Playing in that stadium, the crowd was the loudest I’ve ever heard. That’s how good it is. Those fans have been hungry. Tennessee should be jacked about what they have.”
- David Pollack, Former Georgia All-American Defensive Lineman – 9/9/24
“The best entrance—I had a chance to see this and be reminded now that Tennessee is playing great football. There’s not a better scene than Neyland Stadium, especially at night. And when they go through that Power T, it opens up with the band and the team comes out—what an awesome atmosphere and a great way to get you fired up for the start of the football game.”
- Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN – 8/22/24
“There's nothing like this stadium--the loudest in the league."
– Tom Hart, ESPN and SEC Network– 9/30/23
“There are a lot of people I've told over time that this is the loudest stadium I have ever played in. It is on full tilt tonight. You are getting a clear explanation of why this place is deafening."
– Cole Cubelic, ESPN and SEC Network– 9/30/23
“This is the best regular season game I have ever witness in-person. It is the loudest environment I have ever witnessed in-person. I could not believe the sustained roar, the sustained decibel-level, if you want to call it that. Phenomenal atmosphere. If you have a casual fan out there that you need to introduce to our great sport, just show them that game last night.”
– Josh Pate on Late Kick with Josh Pate – 10/16/22
“It was one of the loudest stadiums I have ever heard.”
– Rece Davis on ESPN College GameDay Podcast – 9/26/22
“The atmosphere at Neyland Stadium was so cool. … To call a game in there, it was just a party from start to finish. The energy was amazing. It’s cool to be there in a night game, and Tennessee just showed up.”
– Chris Fowler, ESPN
“Cover the whole country. Neyland Stadium is as HYPED as any stadium I’ve been in. This Vol Football offense is terrifying, but don’t sleep on that defense. … But the stadium, game ops, crowd and the passion is INSANE!”
– Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN, on Twitter – 10/29/22
“Tennessee has everything possible to be able to recruit to an elite basis week in and week out. Take anybody that’s never been to a game in Knoxville and let them experience that with neutral glasses on and they will be blown away. The campus, the Vol Navy, when you pull into town, the stadium, the mascot, the uniforms, the crowd, the fight song, all of it. The Vol Walk, the dorms, the facilities, every bit of it. There is no way you can’t be impressed when you go to a game in Knoxville especially when Tennessee is playing good ball."
– Cole Cubelic, ESPN and SEC Network – 5/7/20
“I have been to Neyland Stadium, I’ve played there. That is the loudest place I ever played. I swear, our center turned around on third down in the third quarter and said ‘the ball is moving.’ It was so loud no one outside of my guards could hear me under center.”
– Brady Quinn, Former NFL & Notre Dame Quarterback
"It’s static noise. You can’t hear anything. You go up and down the line, your wide receivers, your running backs, your tight ends, nobody can hear. Nobody.”
– Baker Mayfield, Current NFL & Former Oklahoma Quarterback
"As a coach, I've been a part of teams that traveled to LSU, Florida State, and Texas and almost every other place in the country that could be considered one of the toughest places to play as a visiting team......But when I was at Notre Dame, we went down to Knoxville for a night game in 1999 and the Tennessee crowd that night was the most impressive that I ever faced. Neyland Stadium was just electric. Not only was there a fever pitch, but the crowd was educated. They knew that they were a factor, particularly when you were on offense and trying to change a play at the line of scrimmage. The Tennessee crowd can flat take you out of the game."
– Bob Davie, Former Notre Dame Head Coach
“Driving in, seeing everything and everybody in orange. It is one of the best college environments for a big game. All of college football is focused here.”
– Dave Portnoy on Barstool College Football Show – 9/24/22
“It was an honor to get back on those hallowed grounds. It was awesome to be there. It was electrified. Those fans for GameDay were ready.”
– Pat McAfee on ESPN MNF ManningCast – 9/26/22
“The fans were in early, they were on every play. They impacted the game maybe as much as I could ever remember in a big, top-10 game, and opposing stadium impacting the game. I would imagine if you went through the box score, of those 17 Alabama penalties, you could chalk up at least one-third of them to crowd on false starts.”
– Pete Thamel on ESPN College GameDay Podcast – 10/17/22
"We’ve never seen anything like that. That’s a pretty impressive atmosphere, there’s no doubt about it. The environment they create gives Tennessee a real home field advantage.”
– Jeff Tedford, Former Cal Head Coach
