There was this belief that Skynyrd were just the sorts of rednecks that Young was railing against, simply because they defended the place where they lived, not that they believed in the values that Young hated.
It was good publicity all round. They were planning on playing a gig together, but this being the early 70s they were all too stoned and/or wired to get it together.
Anyone who liked them should try Drive-By Truckers, particularly Southern Rock Opera, which is based around Skynyrd and theirs views on race, life, Neil Young and the plane crash. It's very good.