Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess
Kenny Chesney poses for a photo opportunitywith University of Florida cheerleaders during the recent Vols-Gators game in Gainesville. Chesney says it’s not as bad as it looks.
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Kenny Chesney, who'll be at Neyland Stadium tonight to see the Vols play, isn't oblivious to what a vocal segment of football fans are saying about him in Knoxville.
Some say he's a traitor.
Others say he's selling out.
Then there are those who say he's turned his back on the Big Orange.
"I'm taking this as seriously as it needs to be taken," Chesney said. "I take it with a grain of salt."
Such talk began in March after Chesney performed in Gainesville, Fla., the home of the University of Florida Gators, one of the University of Tennessee's fiercest Southeastern Conference rivals. At a concert there, Gator football fans came up on stage and put their team's helmet on Chesney's head.
With the helmet firmly in place, Chesney continued to entertain the crowd, who loved the sight of seeing their favorite country music star wearing the symbol of their pride.
But when word got back to Knoxville, many Vols fans were angry with Chesney, a native of Luttrell.
Local fan anger was raised again in September when Chesney attended this year's Vols-Gator game in Gainesville, which the Vols lost, 59-20. There, he was spotted mingling with Florida supporters and seen posing for photographs with cheerleaders and the mascot for the Gators.
Fans reacted to Chesney's behavior by posting comments on knoxnews.com on Friday.
"I have no problem with his singing and who his fans are, just don't call yourself the No. 1 Vol fan and act like he acted in order not to offend his 'other' fans. When you are standing on the sidelines at a UT game, saying you're the No. 1 fan, your actions should line up with your words," one reader posted.
Chesney said he heard reports that listeners called local country music station WIVK-FM 107.7 and asked the station to stop playing his songs. WIVK operations manager Mike Hammond said Friday he isn't aware of such complaints on-air, but he did receive about half a dozen e-mails.
"I understand people being angry. I really do," Chesney said in a telephone interview. "But for them to get on a radio station and question my loyalty to the tradition and the history of Tennessee football is childish."
Other readers posting on knoxnews.com Friday were supportive of Chesney.
"I could (not) care less whether Kenny Chesney wears a Gator helmet or has his picture made with a mascot and some Gator cheerleaders. I might even do the latter with the cheerleaders. He's got a fan base that is worldwide," another reader posted.
The majority of listeners' reactions at WIVK were siding with Chesney, Hammond said.
A spokeswoman for the UT Athletics Department said Friday she had not heard negative reaction among the administration to Chesney's actions.
The award-winning singer said he is putting the local backlash in perspective.
"There are more things going on in the world than this," Chesney said. "I love Tennessee football. I love East Tennessee. I can't believe I have to sit here and defend myself over it."
More controversy could be coming with tonight's game. Chesney does not apologize for being friends with Steve Spurrier, the outspoken coach of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
"He's been to a lot of shows," Chesney said. "So if anybody sees me and Steve down on the sidelines, me saying 'hi' (to him), don't ask for my head on Monday morning on WIVK."
Terry Morrow may be reached at 865-342-6445.
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Comments » 29
gohawks1 writes:
Hey, if I could hang out with a bunch of college cheerleaders, I'd have my picture taken too. Call me a traitor.
bigorangesob writes:
Who gives a damn about kenny chesney or the gators
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Fire Urban. Hire Kenny.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
Kenny loved you San Antonio concert, you were great!!! With fans like jwray I wouldn't blame you changing your loyalty. What people have to realize is loyalty is one thing but royalties from your fans is another. You have to support your fans also!!!!!
GO VOLS!!!
GO KENNY AND BEAT THE GAMECOCKS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
nashvol writes:
What is a Kenny Chesney?
Did he play at UT?
Did he even go to UT?
Why is he on the sidelines?
What's he got to do with UT Football, anyway?
egrantrea writes:
Goes to show you can NEVER please everyone. Kenny should do what he wants. Just because he has his picture taken with fans other than Tennesseans doesn't mean he isn't "loyal". I love that he gives a plug for every team everywhere he goes but saves his best for his Vols. I am a Patriots fan and I love Kenny Chesney!
Voldemort writes:
David Keith vs. Kenny Chesney. One on one for the title.
cphil writes:
Sure, Kenny Chesney is an entertainment personality. Sure, he has fans everywhere. But, so are David Keith and Johnny Knoxville. Have you ever seen either of them run over for photo ops with the "other side" where they don the other teams logos?
Bottom line, if you talk the talk, you should walk the walk.
Oenoboy writes:
Why is this considered news? He didn't even go to school at UT. I'm not saying he isn't a diehard fan but it is not relevant to Tennessee football unless he starts recruiting for us. Heck, I may even start liking country music if he does that.
Coach_Joe writes:
cphil, David Keith and Johnny Knoxville are not as big celebs as Kenny Chesney!
Heck, for that matter what is David Keith known for in the last 10 years? So, why would anyone go running over to have their picture taken with him?
Voldemort writes:
I'm not talking about taking pictures. I'm talking about whether someone is a true Vol fan or will sell out at any college town to turn a buck. I think an entertainer can go into a venue and play to the crowd without wearing their uniform.
volntx writes:
how many people here go to a ut game without anything orange on, or without a tennessee logo on your shirt and hat? I do not give a phooey what he does but he is no real fan!
BuckFama writes:
Chesney just goes to prove that if you put a big goofy hat on a weasel, millions of idiots will buy his records. Millions out there will by Britney Spears stuff, too.
I mean, let's get serious here. If Chesney were on par with the folks like Jones, Haggard, and Williams (not Jr.), we would be discussing music, not football.
I'd like to see Toby Keith walk up to Chesney and "put a boot in his a$$"!
xd9x19 writes:
These people getting upset are idiots. If I was Kenny, I'd make sure everyone saw me smoozing with the opposing cheerleaders for the remaining games and maybe even invite Spurrier over for dinner just to really set them off.
Some folks need to GET A LIFE!! It's ONLY football. In the grand scheme of life, it's of very little significance.
Voldemort writes:
edbthompson,
Maybe you're the idiot. Nobody is comparing the situation to "the grand scheme of life", as you put it. I think everyone who has commented has kept it in the perspective of being a football fan, and loyalty to the program. The place that is "Back Where He Comes From."
That is everyone kept it in context until the great philosopher, edbthompson, stepped in.
volsfan327 writes:
And for people that don't think this is news..it IS SPORTS news and there were numerous sports message boards that were lit up with this story and THAT is why KC is out running damage control. Of course there are bigger news stories on other issues but in Tennessee Sports News, this was a HUGE topic at the time and the sports department should have covered it. I don't think you would see Regis Philbin at a Notre Dame game, not wearing green and down playing his support for the Irish...when you are at the game, the rules of life are suspended for a moment and it becomes about your and your team!
volsfan327 writes:
The news story was about Chesney being invited to UT sidelines and not wearing orange! The National Media questioned him at half time about being a UT Fan, Where was his Orange...on and on and Chesney completely sidestepped the issue! Chesney is from East Tennessee and he knows full well what UT Tradition means. He is a smart man and knew what he was doing. It has blown up in his face with Vol Fans and now he has to face a different kind of music!
txsvol#372416 writes:
Hey, if Kenny couldn't stay married to Renee Zellwager because of fraud, as cited in the annulment papers (citation #17 in the Wikipedia article on Renee), then he certainly can't maintain his loyalty to UT during the hard times. I'll never buy one of his recordings. As the outlaw station (92.5) here says, "When Kenny Chesney records a good song, we'll play it. But, THAT ain't gonna happen!" Go Vols! SAVol
txsvol#372416 writes:
Should be Z-e-l-l-w-e-g-e-r. Can't type and proof-read during spousal interruptions. SAVol
volsfan327 writes:
Tennessee Test......Can you find the "No.1 Vol Fan in the whole world" in the picture above?
msdyb writes:
As far as I'm concerned Dolly is the #1 TN fan. She's got 2 BIG reason's to be so. Wouldn't you like to see HER on the UT sideline!
nich3244#338299 writes:
He has to be nice to the Gators as well as the Tide He is a True VOL so get oveer it
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
Rodney Adkins is a real Tennessee Fan. I know because I've been to games with him. You should see him go nuts when we score.
GreerVol22 writes:
Kenny Chesney is to UT football as Brittany is to motherhood. Remember this guys couldn't hold on to Renee "I'm really a lot uglier that I look" Zellweger. I actually think he and Tebow are made for each other.
Voldemort writes:
nich3244,
You can be nice to the Gators, Tide, Gamecocks, whoever without putting their gear. True Vol - I don't think so.
MissUT writes:
Kenny actually attended ETSU in Johnson City (home of Steve Spurrier), because UT didn't offer the program he wanted, Bluegrass Music. The difference in him and David Keith is that DK actually graduated from UT and he wears his orange proudly, even in his movies or TV programs. In his latest, the recently dropped program "The Class" there was a UT helmet on a bookshelf behind his chair. He's always been very proud of his TN roots. I've heard Kenny say he likes the tropics, and will more than likely live there. While KC grew up a Vols fan, he never attended UT. I'll bet he didn't sing Rocky Top at Gainesville!!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
who is kenny chesney?
volhoopsfan001 writes:
Kenny is a traitor, if he ever really was a Tennesssee football fan. He didn't go to UT, so he doesn't have to be a fan, but he doesn't need to be one just when it is convenient for him, either. In my opinion, if he really was a fan he would've mentioned Tennessee in his interview during the Florida game, but he didn't. The clothes he was wearing didn't show which side he was for either - not even a Tennessee cap, but a Red Sox cap. I don't have a problem with him hanging out with Tebow, but all he had to say was something like, "I can't root for Tim today against the Vols", or when the sideline reporter started asking about Tebow he could've said something like, "I'm here to see the Vols today" - but he couldn't. All it really would've took would've been a "Go Vols", but I guess he can only say that when he is doing a concert in Knoxville or trying to get people in the Knoxville area to buy a concert ticket.
mickey9830#643278 writes:
He is a performer so he has to mingle everywhere but he should have taken the helmet off after a few minutes and told where his loyalty lies.Also he should have for sure wore orange at our sidelne.That is if you are a #1 VOL FAN.Anyone saying any different you are the idiot and not a VOL FAN yourself.enough said GO VOLS
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