Neyland's #2!

#1

crusse10

THIS MAN IS A PERVERT
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#1
FoxSports.com released their Top 10 Toughest Places to Play College Football, and Neyland came in second only to Death Valley.
The rest play out like this:
3. Beaver Stadium
4. The Swamp
5. Kyle Field
6. The Horseshoe
7. Lane Stadium
8. The Big House
9. Autzen Stadium
10. Sanford Stadium

It may just be me, but I think there's no way in hell that Neyland is tougher than the Swamp...
 
#2
#2
It may just be me, but I think there's no way in hell that Neyland is tougher than the Swamp...

I agree. All of those stadiums listed pretty much provide the same experience for a visiting team.
 
#4
#4
I agree. All of those stadiums listed pretty much provide the same experience for a visiting team.
I'd say the team defending those fields has more to do with the difficulty than does the environment.
 
#5
#5
On atmosphere alone, Neyland is about as tough as it gets for an opposing team. UT's home-teams haven't been all that great over the past few years though.

And, for the UTMBA's of the board, I'm well aware that the Vols went undefeated at home last year. Other than Georgia, Neyland didn't host any top-flight opponents last season.
 
#6
#6
I put the Swamp over Neyland because of the involvement of the fans.

When 90k do the chomp and yell in unison, it's intimidating.
Tennessee just doesn't have something as short and well taught as the Gators.
 
#8
#8
I put the Swamp over Neyland because of the involvement of the fans.

When 90k do the chomp and yell in unison, it's intimidating.
Tennessee just doesn't have something as short and well taught as the Gators.

I've been to both, and the Swamp is one of the loudest stadiums outside of Death Valley and Neyland that I've ever been to. However, I assure you that when Tennessee isn't getting clown stomped that it is a toss-up.
 
#9
#9
I put the Swamp over Neyland because of the involvement of the fans.

When 90k do the chomp and yell in unison, it's intimidating.
Tennessee just doesn't have something as short and well taught as the Gators.

Uh, ever heard of Rocky Top?

I think the Swamp was on top when they let people have passes out at halftime to go drink. It's about even, but Neyland is bigger.
 
#10
#10
I'd say the team defending those fields has more to do with the difficulty than does the environment.

Probably true, but there's no doubt that Neyland or Sanford provides a bigger homefield advantage than Bobby Dodd does for Ga Tech for instance.

Once you get above about 80,000 drunk people yelling at you, does it really matter where you are though? It's sort of like arguing what is colder; 2 below zero or 10 below zero?
 
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#11
#11
I put the Swamp over Neyland because of the involvement of the fans.

When 90k do the chomp and yell in unison, it's intimidating.
Tennessee just doesn't have something as short and well taught as the Gators.

the only thing intimidating about the chomp is that you know once it's over their hands will be free to continue hurling bottles and urine-filled cups
 
#12
#12
I'm a senior in the band, I know what it's like in both stadiums very very well.

Neyland has Rocky Top when we play it, and it's not near as intimidating as the Gator Chomp by everyone.
The chomp is loud and normally done in unison with some other cheer.

On the other hand, Rocky Top is sung only when something good happens, and there's no other thing.
Florida mixes cheers and everyone does it. 1/4 of our fans don't even stand...Whether or not we're winning...
 
#13
#13
Ive talked with several former SEC players from other than UT and all of them said the same thing about Neyland. It's breathtaking just to enter and if it's at night then forget about it. Coach Gene Stallings told me that he has lost kids for several minutes when they first go in the stadium at Tennessee. He said he would almost have to slap them to get their attention and forget about a young QB.
 
#14
#14
I agree, from what i've heard from everyone, Death Valley is the best homefield advantage in the country.
 
#15
#15
Ive talked with several former SEC players from other than UT and all of them said the same thing about Neyland. It's breathtaking just to enter and if it's at night then forget about it. Coach Gene Stallings told me that he has lost kids for several minutes when they first go in the stadium at Tennessee. He said he would almost have to slap them to get their attention and forget about a young QB.

We all know what CAL said after we routed them in 2006 too.
 
#16
#16
By the end of my years at UT, I will have been to every stadium but Death Valley and Vaught-Hemingway.
From where I've been, it goes
1. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
2. Neyland Stadium
3. Sanford Stadium
4. Bryant-Denny Stadium
5. Notre Dame Stadium
6. Razorback Stadium
7. Williams-Brice Stadium
8. Commonwealth Stadium
9. Scott Field
10. Vanderbilt Stadium
11. Liberty Bowl
 
#17
#17
there is no way that michigan stadium belongs on there. been there for even the ohio state game. not the least bit intimidating. michigan fans are a lot like texas fans...sit on their hands. if it was my list, i would say:

death valley
swamp
horseshoe
neyland (haven't been, but will soon)
lane
kyle
autzen
beaver
jones
 
#18
#18
there is no way that michigan stadium belongs on there. been there for even the ohio state game. not the least bit intimidating. michigan fans are a lot like texas fans...sit on their hands. if it was my list, i would say:

Michigan is just big, but their stadium is designed in such a fashion that the sound tends to escape.
 
#19
#19
I put the Swamp over Neyland because of the involvement of the fans.

When 90k do the chomp and yell in unison, it's intimidating.
Tennessee just doesn't have something as short and well taught as the Gators.

Their students section throwing urine at opposing teams fans doesn't hurt their case much either.
 
#20
#20
there is no way that michigan stadium belongs on there. been there for even the ohio state game. not the least bit intimidating. michigan fans are a lot like texas fans...sit on their hands. if it was my list, i would say:

death valley
swamp
horseshoe
neyland (haven't been, but will soon)
lane
kyle
autzen
beaver
jones


How do you rate Neyland 3rd if you've never been there? I live in Gainesville and the only thing intimidating about the Swamp are the drunk a-holes who know nothing about football and throw stuff at you. Once you are a mile away from the stadium you wouldn't even know it's a gameday. The tailgating is limited and the entire football scene has little variety.

Knoxvile is a vibrant place on gameday with lots to do and see. Everywhere you go there are signs of UT football and tradition. Downtown is practically closed off and forget about driving. Fans come by land, by sea, by air at McGhee-Tyson. There is tailgating all over the city and surrounding counties and there is a greater passion for UT football. A lot of the fans in the swamp are kids from south Florida who did not grow up as Gator fans and know nothing about Gator history. Gator fans are louder and stand up more but Neyland is much more intimidating because of it's size and history. Neyland is a giant monolith of a stadium that is intimidating even when it's empty. When you are in the Swamp all you can think is "How the hell did they cram 90,000 people in here?" The Swamp definitely has the edge when it comes to the women, though.
 
#21
#21
How do you rate Neyland 3rd if you've never been there? I live in Gainesville and the only thing intimidating about the Swamp are the drunk a-holes who know nothing about football and throw stuff at you. Once you are a mile away from the stadium you wouldn't even know it's a gameday. The tailgating is limited and the entire football scene has little variety.

Knoxvile is a vibrant place on gameday with lots to do and see. Everywhere you go there are signs of UT football and tradition. Downtown is practically closed off and forget about driving. Fans come by land, by sea, by air at McGhee-Tyson. There is tailgating all over the city and surrounding counties and there is a greater passion for UT football. A lot of the fans in the swamp are kids from south Florida who did not grow up as Gator fans and know nothing about Gator history. Gator fans are louder and stand up more but Neyland is much more intimidating because of it's size and history. Neyland is a giant monolith of a stadium that is intimidating even when it's empty. When you are in the Swamp all you can think is "How the hell did they cram 90,000 people in here?" The Swamp definitely has the edge when it comes to the women, though.


As a stadium, the swamp is a real dump if you ask me. It looks HORRIBLE and tacky inside w/o fans in it, but on game day they rock it.
 
#22
#22
Ive talked with several former SEC players from other than UT and all of them said the same thing about Neyland. It's breathtaking just to enter and if it's at night then forget about it. Coach Gene Stallings told me that he has lost kids for several minutes when they first go in the stadium at Tennessee. He said he would almost have to slap them to get their attention and forget about a young QB.
Given Stallings' record in Knoxville, it wasn't too bad for him or his team.
 
#23
#23
As a stadium, the swamp is a real dump if you ask me. It looks HORRIBLE and tacky inside w/o fans in it, but on game day they rock it.
surely it can't be more tacky than when the mullets & jorts parade arrives.
 
#24
#24
The absence of Memeorial Stadium in Norman from this list is further proof that Fox Sports should refrain from having anything to do with college athletics.
 
#25
#25
Granny Clampett once said that one of the toughest places he's ever played was Duke. How do you get your players pumped for a game in front of 10,000 people?
 
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