Why the University of Tennessee Changed Their Fourth Quarter Song from Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” to Morgan Wallen’s “The Way I Talk”

The University of Tennessee Volunteers have long played Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” to kick off the fourth quarter of home games. However, during their game against the Florida Gators on Saturday (October 12), they replaced the ‘90s country banger with Morgan Wallen’s “How I Talk.” This seemingly abrupt change left many to wonder if UT switched their music in response to the allegations Brooks is currently facing.

Earlier this month, an unnamed former employee known publicly only as Jane Roe accused Brooks of rape and other sexual misconduct in a lawsuit. The country superstar denies the allegations and is prepared to embark on a years-long legal battle that includes counter-suits to clear his name. To say that the allegations have tarnished his once-spotless image, though, would be an understatement. However, these allegations had nothing to do with the University of Tennessee changing its fourth quarter song.

[RELATED: Watch Peyton Manning Escort Morgan Wallen on Stage in Full Tennessee Volunteers Uniform for Record-Setting Knoxville Show]

According to Knox News, a Knoxville-based outlet, the university had been planning to change the song for months. A source with direct knowledge of the decision told the outlet, “A song change had been in the works since this summer. … UT wanted to unveil it at the Florida game and after Wallen played two sellout concerts at Neyland Stadium in September.”

Why Did the University of Tennessee Swap Garth Brooks for Morgan Wallen?

The allegations against Garth Brooks had no bearing on UT exchanging “Friends in Low Places” for “The Way I Talk.” Instead, it was all about giving the fans something, newer, more upbeat, and homegrown.

While Brooks is a modern country legend, he’s from Oklahoma. Wallen, on the other hand, is from Tennessee. More specifically, he hails from Sneedville, Tennessee which is a little more than an hour away from Knoxville, the home of the Vols. Additionally, he graduated from Gibbs High School which is less than a fifteen-minute drive from the UT campus. As a result, when his concerts in Knoxville—like this sold-out two-night stand in September—are hometown shows. The “Sand in My Boots Singer” is also a huge fan of all things Volunteers and practically bleeds orange and white.

However, the university based its decision on more than Wallen’s connection to the university. Fans wanted a more modern and upbeat song to kick off the fourth quarter. “The Way I Talk” fits that bill. More than that, the song contains the lines It gets slower after three or four cold beers. / And it gets louder when I’m cheering on the Volunteers. / Folks know I’m country when they hear / The way I talk.

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