Heupel discusses recruits’ views of game atmosphere, fan conduct

#5
#5
So, I haven't seen anyone talk about this, but I ADMIT I haven't read every thread either. "To see our student body rush back down and fill the bottom part of the section after being cleared out!" Even though I was mad at the prospect of losing that game and the delay of the game. Seeing the fans rush back down in support of the team made me swell with pride in a strange sort of way! I was like, "Oh yeah lets win this game!!!"
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dkswift, MyVolsDropped, TitanicVolz and 19 others
#6
#6
AllVols said:
So, I haven't seen anyone talk about this, but I ADMIT I haven't read every thread either. "To see our student body rush back down and fill the bottom part of the section after being cleared out!" Even though I was mad at the prospect of losing that game and the delay of the game. Seeing the fans rush back down in support of the team made me swell with pride in a strange sort of way! I was like, "Oh yeah lets win this game!!!"
Click to expand...
I watched that too from across the field in X5. It was an awesome sight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MyVolsDropped, 3-2-1-Wolf, MemphisVol77 and 6 others
#11
#11
Enough with talk about fans throwing stuff on the field. It doesn't have to be part of every conversation. I'm sure recruits didn't say "oh, those fans shouldn't be doing that. I can't play here now'. No. They saw the amazing energy and show. I do believe that will bring in some good players wanting to play in front of that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tbwhhs and 3-2-1-Wolf
#13
#13
The Original Fade said:
Wasn’t there, but you could tell the atmosphere was absolutely the best it’s been in a decade. Electric - that’s what recruits will remember, not mustard bottles and golf balls
Click to expand...

I doubt kids whose witnessed fights and immature tactics in high school would be bothered by young college students throwing trash on the field.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Illinoisvolfan2, Kungfuman2000, spyfish007 and 7 others
#21
#21
CJH statement was about as much as we can expect from him, he basically said he understood the reaction from fans without saying it.

Also, love this from Butler:

“And what happened at the end with the delay, it is what it is. One way or the other, I’m very proud to have fans of this great university, of this great tradition in this program, that are passionate. Now, what happened at the end, that’s just a few. But one way or the other, just proud to have fans like that, that support me. And hopefully we give back to them by playing good football and just being good ambassadors of our program and this brand, the University of Tennessee.”
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: screenthis and 9296potsguy
#22
#22
The Original Fade said:
Didn’t Baker Mayfield say as much?
Click to expand...
More than just Mayfield
Darlington visited Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium during his time as a player at Oklahoma. Here’s what he had to say about it.
“I was never a big believer in homefield advantage,” he wrote. “I scoffed at the notion that a fan could actually have an impact on a football game. You have a hostile crowd? Good. I feed off of hostile crowds, and I embrace it when fans ridicule me. You think you’re loud? Whatever. We use a silent count anyways, and noise is only a factor on three to four plays a game. Your homefield advantage is incredibly overrated. Bring it on. You’re wasting your breath.”
Then, he felt Neyland Stadium get under his skin. Literally.
“And then I ran out of the tunnel in Knoxville, Tennessee, FOR WARMUP and was greeted by thousands of screaming fans and the chorus of ‘Rocky Top,’ Darlington said. “The game wasn’t set to start for over an hour, and these people seemed to think it was kickoff time. I exited the tunnel for the pregame warm-up, and those psychotic students were already there, giving us a small preview of what to expect in the hours to come. What had we gotten ourselves into?
“What followed in the 4 quarters and 2 overtimes of play was a dissertation on the impact a crowd CAN have upon a football game. The Vol faithful made it absolutely impossible to communicate. On the first drive, we had to change our snap count, because even our silent count was ineffective against that wall of noise. I came off the field after that first drive and reassured Coach Bedenbaugh that the fans would settle down in due time, and that noise was not going to be an issue going forward. Boy was I wrong. The noise was a constant, oppressive force. I could literally feel it on my skin. But these fans weren’t just loud on the first drive. Or just on 3rd down. Or just in the fourth quarter. It was every. single. play.”
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volgirl939712, plaincityvol, spyfish007 and 3 others
#23
#23
I'm gonna go out on a limb - as controversial as it may be for some - and say that, quietly, deep down, some of Tennessee's players were probably pumped that their fellow students and other fans would so forcefully express their displeasure at the four hour clown show they were made to endure. First the officials stealing a touchdown from them, and Ole Miss making a mockery of the injury timeout rule - clown show. I am NOT condoning throwing things so save it for someone who is. But that little spectacle at the end was, in effect, some fans rejecting the clown show on the field. Which it was. And I could see Tennessee players having a tiny, quiet, never-expressed-publicly positive opinion of their classmates pushing back for their team.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jes, Kungfuman2000, volinthenorth and 6 others
#24
#24
I tend to agree with this. When you think about what is on the line for the university, it’s administration, coaching staff, and players. Literally millions of dollars. A bad officiating crew can cost all the above in many ways. Yet when they suck at their job there isn’t any accountability. They continue on and get to ref the next game. While all those others effectively could lose out on the position they fought so hard to be in. A bad call can effect whether or not a team gets to a bowl. That means less practice time and bowl funds. Bonuses for he coaches. There has to be some accountability for the refs. Right now nothing is stopping them from wagering on the game they are officiating and then dictating the outcome.
 
  • Like
Reactions: beachvol23 and screenthis
#25
#25
AllVols said:
So, I haven't seen anyone talk about this, but I ADMIT I haven't read every thread either. "To see our student body rush back down and fill the bottom part of the section after being cleared out!" Even though I was mad at the prospect of losing that game and the delay of the game. Seeing the fans rush back down in support of the team made me swell with pride in a strange sort of way! I was like, "Oh yeah lets win this game!!!"
Click to expand...
Glad you brought this up. I was in HH, the upper deck corner right above the Pride. So the "rushing back in" to support the team happened from right underneath me.

Felt like I was surfing a wave as it surged forward. I still can't believe what I saw. It wasn't even the steps. For multiple sections wide, hundreds of fans were literally running down the rows of metal bleachers. I was shocked no one faceplanted and cause a major domino effect with serious injury.

Never seen anything like it. I too was racked with pride.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Voltopia, Kungfuman2000 and AllVols
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top