Heupel Fires Back at Fake Noise Claims: “Hopefully Our Fans Take That Personally”
Heupel Fires Back at Fake Noise Claims: “Hopefully Our Fans Take That Personally”
Knoxville — A bold claim during Tennessee’s recent win over Alabama sparked a firestorm: Alabama radio play-by-play announcer Chris Stewart suggested that Neyland Stadium didn’t just rely on its electric crowd, but also “piped in crowd noise” to amplify the home-field atmosphere. Stewart’s comment—“You’ve got 100,000‑plus and they also pipe in crowd noise”—sent ripples across college football media.([On3][1])
But Tennessee’s head coach **Josh Heupel** wasted no time rejecting the accusation. Speaking at his bye‑week press conference, Heupel asserted, “Neyland doesn’t need anything fake piped into the stadium for that to be the loudest place in America.” He didn’t stop there—he issued a challenge: “Hopefully our fans take that personally. Enjoy this bye week and come back and it’ll be louder than ever the next time we’re at home.”([On3][2], [Saturday Down South][3])
Behind the scenes, athletic director **Danny White** echoed the sentiment on social media: “No, we don’t! Just 100K+ beautiful, booming, Big Orange voices!”([Tennessean][4], [On3][5]) Meanwhile, tight ends coach **Alec Abeln** defended the stadium’s authenticity at the Knoxville Quarterback Club, stating, “I have been places where they do pump in the crowd noise. It is 100% legit in that building.”([On3][5], [Tennessean][4])
The conversation didn’t end there: Stewart later attempted to clarify his remarks, telling a radio show that his words were “mis‑phrased.” He explained that he’d meant to say “amplified noise,” referring to speakers positioned at field level behind benches, which help project sound into the bowl—but insisted that was not artificial crowd noise per se.([On3][2], [Reddit][6])
The reaction from fans was swift and pointed. On Reddit’s Vols forum, countless voices dismissed the notion of fake noise, with one fan writing:
> “I’ve been to Neyland. They aren’t piping in anything, the fans just come and make themselves heard.”
> Another chimed in,
> “Neyland is a top tier environment in sports.”([Reddit][7])
Still others poked fun at the source of the rumor, reminding skeptics that such accusations are common from fans of opposing teams:
This wasn’t merely a refusal to accept criticism—it was a rallying cry.
* **For Heupel**, the quip from Alabama became a motivational asset, urging fans to respond in force and reclaim their reputation as one of college football’s fiercest environments.
For the programstaunch denial by staffers signaled confidence in the authenticity and impact of their fan base.
the controversy offered a unifying spark. Far from taking offense, many wore the accusation as a badge of honor—a reflection of how formidable their presence has become.
As Tennessee prepares for its next home game, fans now have added incentive to bring the noise—not as a perk, but as a point of pride. Heupel’s challenge is clear: use every decibel to prove that Neyland’s roar is all natural.
Let me know if you’d like a breakdown of how Neyland’s noise compares to other top college venues, or coverage of fan reactions across platforms!