When asked where the toughest place to play in the SEC is, a lot of current and former players point to Tennessee football’s Neyland Stadium. That’s not just the case in recent years, but throughout the course of the program’s history.
For former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who played for the Bulldogs from 2009-13, there is no more ‘intimidating venue’ in the sport. He said as such on his preview of the upcoming Tennessee-Georgia game this Saturday.
“Listen, when Tennessee is good, which they are right now, and they were later on, especially my last season at Georgia, it is the most intimidating venue,” Murray said. “I haven’t played in the Big Ten. I haven’t been to Ohio State, I haven’t been to Michigan, those places look crazy. Penn State whiteout, crazy. But Neyland when they’re good and they’re rocking, you can’t hear. I remember, we were backed up, had to go two-minute drive to tie it to go to overtime. I’m just trying to get a play out, E-Mac, I’m screaming. Screaming and nobody can hear a single word that’s coming out of my mouth. Just had to use complete hand signals.
“It’s awesome. It looks like the colosseum on steroids. I remember driving up the first time and being like, oh my God. This is like me as a gladiator going into battle in the colosseum. 100,000 people. It is very tough.”
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The game Murray referenced was the Vols’ 34-31 defeat in 2013, his senior season. Tennessee scored to take a touchdown lead and gave the ball back to the No. 6 Bulldogs with less than two minutes to play. Murray led a 10-play, 75-yard drive to tie it up with five seconds in regulation and force overtime.
In the extra period, Tennessee fumbled and Georgia kicked a field goal in response to win. Murray finished completing 19-of-35 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns. UGA was 4-1 after the game with UT dropping to 3-3.
Murray’s cohost on his show, Eric Mac Lain also has experience to draw back on from Neyland Stadium. Ranked as the No. 59 player in his class by Rivals, he was committed to Tennessee with strong ties to Knoxville. However, when Phillip Fulmer was dismissed and Lane Kiffin took over, Mac Lain decommitted and made his way to Clemson.
“I was committed to Tennessee back in the day, I was going there,” Mac Lain said. “I grew up in Knoxville… Running through the Power T, Rocky Top at the top of your lungs, that was my dream. They fired Phillip Fulmer, man, brought in Lane Kiffin. I was like no thanks, I’m good, I don’t want any part of this. That’s how I stumbled into Clemson… I was Rocky Top all the way, man, and that place is crazy. My first college game ever was Tim Tebow vs. Eric Berry in the stadium right there. It was crazy. It was unbelievable. I can only imagine if you’re the opposing quarterback, what that’s like.”
This year’s matchup has the makings of another raucous environment in Neyland Stadium. ESPN’s College GameDay is in attendance and ‘Checker Neyland’ is in effect. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on ABC.
