By Josh Woodward
InsideTennessee.com
September 10, 2010
The mighty Oregon Ducks travel to Knoxville to take on Derek Dooley�s Volunteers on Saturday night. Tennessee is a double-digit underdog at home for the first time in 20 years.
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Oregon is ranked 7th in this weeks AP poll and 8th in the coaches poll. After destroying New Mexico 72-0 at home last week the Ducks travel east to Neyland Stadium for a much-anticipated contest. Tennessee doesn�t match up that well against Oregon�s team speed, but the Volunteers to have one definite advantage.
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Neyland Stadium.
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The largest stadium in the Pac-10 is USC�s Coliseum, which seats just over 93,000, followed by the Rose Bowl at 92,000. Moreover, these stadiums are rarely at capacity. Neyland Stadium holds over 102,000 screaming fans. Add in a day at the tailgate for a few adult beverages and you have a raucous crowd screaming at the top of their lungs.
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In 2006 the Cal Bears came to Knoxville favored and overconfident. After falling behind 35-0 en route to a 35-18 loss, Jeff Tedford commented on the Neyland stadium crowd:
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``We've never seen anything like that. That's a pretty impressive atmosphere, there's no doubt about it,'' the Cal coach said. ``The environment they create gives Tennessee a real home field advantage.''
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During his weekly teleconference Oregon Coach Chip Kelly was asked about playing a game in Neyland stadium.
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�I've never seen the stadium, so I can�t talk about it," he said. "I�m really good at not talking about things I don�t know. We have played in big venues before. We�ve got some freshmen that have never played in a big venue, but we can�t be concerned about the crowd and the stadium.
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�We�re excited about it," he added. "I�ve heard about it. It�s one of the historic places in college football and will be great experience for us."
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Oregon has played in big venues before, including The Big House in Ann Arbor.
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�We�ve got guys on this team that have played at Michigan, played in the (USC) Coliseum, and played in big games�, declared Kelly. �The game is played on the field not in the stadium."
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What does the Oregon coach think of the Tennessee fans?
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�I know Tennessee�s got some of the greatest fans and an unbelievable crowd," he said. "And that will be good experience for us.�
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After Wednesday�s practice Derek Dooley was asked if home field made a difference.
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�It�s an advantage if you play well," he replied. "I have been in those stadiums where if you play well at home it can be an advantage, but if you�re not playing well it�s no advantage. We have to do our part in how we compete to energize the fans and when that happens it�s certainly going to be an advantage."
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The Volunteers will need that advantage from the fans on Saturday night to grab a win from the mighty Ducks.
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