Interesting Happenings in the Visiting Team Area After the Game
Tennessee fans across Neyland Stadium often greet visiting teams with scattered boos as they take the field, but there is more to the story behind the scenes. Beneath the South end lies an area full of post-game drama that few spectators ever see.
The current visiting team area has been in use since the 1948 stadium expansion, with several updates over nearly 80 years, including a new media room. After each game, this area buzzes with multiple activities.
Compared to other college football venues, the visiting team zones often seem neglected, but this reflects part of the game’s unique atmosphere. For instance, coaches sometimes conduct their post-game radio shows before meeting the media, leading to tension. The home school SID staff in the press box eagerly waits to share the coaches’ remarks with the press covering the game.
Memorable Post-Game Incident in 1996
A notable example occurred after the 1996 game against Georgia. During the live broadcast, Georgia head coach Jim Donnan accused Phillip Fulmer of “running up the score” by throwing a late touchdown pass to Derrick Edmonds. Such disputes are common in the visiting team area.
“Phillip Fulmer ran up the score,” said Jim Donnan after the game with Georgia.
Additionally, off the air, Donnan spoke with show co-host Loran Smith about having dinner the previous night with Archie Manning and hinted at possibly revealing parts of Georgia’s game plan.
Summary
The visiting team area at Neyland Stadium has a rich history and ongoing dynamic interactions that add depth to the post-game experience often unseen by fans.
Author’s Take
Behind the boos, the visiting team area at Neyland offers a vibrant and dramatic space full of unique post-game moments rarely witnessed by most fans.