Riley Green Was Horrified to No More by Knoxville Crowd for Insinuating Alabama Would Win Against Tennessee./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72833440/1749162238.0.jpg)
Riley Green faced a barrage of boos during his appearance in Knoxville on Friday night. The 35-year-old country music artist sparked the ire of over 20,000 Vols fans at Thompson-Boling Arena when he suggested that Alabama would defeat Tennessee on the Third Saturday in October.
Despite anticipating the reaction, Green understood that the boos stemmed from affection, but their volume was undeniable.
The contentious response was triggered by a specific lyric in Green’s song ‘Hell Of A Way To Go,’ which reflects on his cherished memories with his late grandfather, encompassing activities like hunting, fishing, and watching college football together. This song serves as a poignant reminder to cherish moments with loved ones and lead a life rich in meaningful experiences.
Having grown up in Jacksonville, Alabama, Green’s allegiance to the Crimson Tide over the Auburn Tigers, like his grandfather, is evident in the chorus:
“I’d be sittin’ on a lake like glass
Catchin’ Largemouth Bass
Just my boy and me
Or maybe on a fifty-yard line
Watchin’ Alabama whoop up on Tennessee”
Naturally, the mention of Alabama triumphing over Tennessee didn’t sit well with the home crowd, given the intense rivalry between the two SEC schools.
Despite covering his face with his hat as the crowd voiced their displeasure, Green courageously sang the contentious line.
Then, in a remarkable turn of events, the boos subsided, allowing the entire arena to join in unison for the final line of the chorus:
“And a song on a radio, would be a hell of a way to go…”
