Tennessee defensive lineman Bryson Eason knows what gets the Vols going at home. He knows what Tennessee needs from its crowd when Alabama comes to Neyland Stadium on Saturday in front of over 100,000 raucous fans.
“I think it fuels everyone on the field at the time,” Eason said on Tuesday. “You know what I’m saying? It’s loud. Shaking. You can barely hear the guys next to you. It’s a great atmosphere to be in, man.
“We enjoy it. We love it. And to say it distracts us. I don’t really think it distracts anyone. I just think we are all out there just feeling it, embracing it, and man, trying to make the crowd get even louder, trying to make a play.”
Eason is one of several in-state players that probably has a special, perhaps dark, place in his heart when it comes to playing Alabama, which is considered one of the Vols’ all-time, fiercest rivals.
“It means everything to me,” Eason said. “Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, me personally, I just never liked Alabama, like growing up, because they always win.
“I’m an underdog kind of dude. But the history of the two schools, man, speaks for itself, and I’m just ready to go out there and play for the Power T.”
The Vols landed on the college football map the last time Alabama played in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee beat the Crimson Tide, which was ranked fifth in the nation, 52-49 in 2022.
Tennessee was ranked sixth in the nation and, after beating UT-Martin and Kentucky during the next two weeks, the Vols were ranked No. 1 in the nation by the College Football Playoff Committee in its first selection show. None of that would have happened had it not been for the Vols’ victory against the Crimson Tide.
“I just remember running out on the field, celebrating with everybody else, feeling accomplished and just feeling that joy of beating such a school like Alabama, which is kind of like the standard of college, you know what I’m saying?” Eason said. “So just beating them was a great feeling and I enjoyed it so much.”
The Vols beat the Crimson Tide on that day by containing quarterback Bryce Young, who had already won the Heisman Trophy and would go on to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
This season, the Vols will face off against junior quarterback Jalen Milroe, who is known for his overall athleticism, which includes the ability to run for bunches of yards after he breaks the pocket.
“Just making sure we keep him in the pocket,” Eason said of Milroe. “…Because I feel like everybody feels like he’s the heart of the offense, so just trying to contain as best we can and pressure him and just throw him off his game.”
It won’t be easy to get to Milroe considering his escapability. However, the Crimson Tide has given up an average of two sacks per game this season, which is eighth in the SEC, so there’s certainly some vulnerability there. Nevertheless, Alabama’s offensive front is rather breath taking.
“They have great play strength and just, man, just ready to get after it,” Eason said.
Tennessee will have to do the same if the No. 11 Vols hope to beat the No. 7 Crimson Tide on Saturday at 3:30 EST in Neyland Stadium.
