University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Anticipate "Epic" Atmosphere
September 29, 2014 | Football
By Brian Rice KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
UTSports.com
Volunteer fans will #CheckerNeyland on Saturday afternoon against Florida, a coordinated campaign of orange and white sections to create a look and an environment that with be unique in college football.
"To have a fan initiative of Checkerboard Neyland, I think it speaks volumes," Jones said. "Most places, they have to manufacture that, where our fans come out and it's on them. I'm excited."
It has the Vol players excited as well.
"Noon game, Checkerboard Neyland," Curt Maggitt said. "It's going to be epic."
A.J. Johnson said he was excited from the moment he first saw the Photoshop concepts of how the stadium will look on Saturday.
"Just looking at the pictures makes you want to play in the stadium," Johnson said. "I know our fans are going to have the emotions high and have the environment turned up."
Fans can visit CHECKERNEYLAND.com and enter their section, row and seat number to find out if they should wear orange or white to help create the effect, similar to what Tennessee did in Thompson-Boling Arena for a basketball game against Kentucky in 2006.
The difference between that game and this one is that this will be completely fan-driven, something that Jones sees as just another example of what he's seen every day since his hiring in Dec. 2012. And it's what drives him to perform every day for those fans.
"The support has been outstanding," Jones said. "Our fans are incredible, I work every day for them and representing Tennessee because they are so special and it means so much to them."
That passion and support has been a foundation that Jones has been able to build his program around, brick by brick.
"They have created so much positive energy and excitement around our football program," he said. "Our players are feeding off of it, our recruits are feeding off of it, our community is feeding off of it, the state of Tennessee is feeding off of it. They've been extremely supportive and Saturday at noon should be a great, great college football environment. It should be the best environment in the country."
Johnson, one of the team's emotional leaders on and off the field, agreed with his head coach.
"Our student section is sold out, the stadium is sold out," Johnson said. "So you know they're going to be in there turned up."
#VolNation Tweet it Make it your avatar this week!
RT @Vol_Promos: http://t.co/JBFxUP3zgv #CheckerNeyland pic.twitter.com/Vytg2erCQW
-- Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 29, 2014
#VolNation Tweet it Make it your avatar this week!
RT @Vol_Promos: http://t.co/DggSQhXPqp #CheckerNeyland pic.twitter.com/P8bV7yiFZK
-- Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 29, 2014
