Interesting happenings in the visiting team area after the game

Interesting Happenings in the Visiting Team Area After the Game

Tennessee fans throughout Neyland Stadium often greet visiting teams with a scattered chorus of boos, but there is more to the story. Beneath the South end, after each game, a lesser-known drama unfolds that few get to see.

The current visiting team area dates back to the 1948 stadium expansion, with some additions over nearly 80 years, including a new media room. This space remains a bustling center of activity following the game.

Across college football, visiting team areas often seem like an afterthought, which adds to the game's overall atmosphere. For instance, coaches sometimes conduct their post-game radio shows before speaking with the media. This can cause tension as the home team's SID crew in the press box waits to distribute the coaches' comments to the attending media.

Notable Post-Game Incident

An example of this occurred after the 1996 game against Georgia. On air, Georgia head coach Jim Donnan accused Phillip Fulmer of “running up the score” with a late touchdown pass to Derrick Edmonds. Such contentious moments are common in the visiting area.

On the air, Georgia head coach Jim Donnan suggested that Phillip Fulmer “ran up the score” with a late TD pass to Derrick Edmonds.

Off the air, Donnan also asked show co-host Loran Smith about having dinner with Archie Manning the night before and hinted at possibly revealing parts of Georgia's game plan.

Visiting Team Area Atmosphere

The visiting area is often hidden from public view but remains a dynamic place after games.
It includes key features such as a media room to facilitate post-game interactions.
Conflicting interactions between coaches, media, and staff are a regular occurrence.

The visiting team's side at Neyland captures a different, often overlooked, facet of the college football experience, rich with its own stories and tensions.

There’s drama underneath the South end after each game precious few people get to witness.

Author's summary: The visiting team area at Neyland Stadium is a vibrant, behind-the-scenes hub of post-game drama and activity, highlighting an often unseen but integral part of college football culture.

The Knoxville Focus — 2025-11-05