Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs came to the defense of Tennessee fans on a popular Barstool Sports show, disagreeing with the notion that Vols fans are unpleasant to deal with.
A WWE hall-of-famer known by his ring name Kane, most of Jacobs’ conversation with “Mostly Sports” hosts Brandon Walker and Mark Titus focused on his wrestling career. But when Walker turned the conversation to his opinion of Tennessee fans, calling them “overtly obnoxious,” Jacobs disagreed.
“No we’re not,” Jacobs said. “We’re very nice. Have you ever been to Alabama or Gainesville?”
“Tennessee fans are overtly obnoxious” –@BFW
“No we’re not. We’re very nice” –@KaneWWE
“Online, Tennessee fans are the most obnoxious fans. And they want to be. They want the title of ‘we’re the most obnoxious fans” –@BFW
“I don’t think so” –@KaneWWEpic.twitter.com/wbaofX5JR1
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 3, 2026
Walker called back on his experience at Tennessee’s home football game against Ole Miss in 2021, when Lane Kiffin returned to Neyland Stadium as the Rebels’ coach after spurning Tennessee for Southern Cal in 2010 after just one with the Vols. Kiffin was infamously pelted in the leg by a yellow golf ball.
“And these are the fans you’re telling me aren’t obnoxious. The ones that were throwing golf balls,” Walker said.
“Well, it was Lane Kiffin,” Jacobs responded. “I’ve got to make an exception.”
Walker, a Mississippi State fan, agreed but said that Tennessee fans are the worst online. “They want the title of we’re the most obnoxious fans,” Walker said.
Jacobs again dissented, and after a brief discussion about Vols coach Josh Heupel – Jacobs was optimistic about Heupel’s program – the conversation steered back to wrestling.
Jacobs, who stands at 7-foot and over 300 pounds, first moved to East Tennessee in 1995 and briefly wrestled for Smoky Mountain Wrestling with the nickname Unabomb. He then began his career with WWF – later renamed WWE – in 1995, evolving into the character of Kane. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.
Jacobs has been Knox County’s mayor since 2018, succeeding current U.S. representative Tim Burchett. Jacobs won a second term, which ends in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs defends Tennessee fans on Barstool Sports