Photo from Google Images
The University of Tennessee athletics has had a lot of recent success in men’s basketball and baseball. Let me remind you that Rick Barnes did not leave UT when UCLA came knocking. Tony Vitello did not leave UT when LSU came beeegggging. And Tennessee Football coach, Josh Heupel is not leaving UT for Oklahoma!
JOSH HEUPEL IS STAYING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE!
AD Danny White hired Josh Heupel. They have become a solid team in college athletics. There is no way Heupel leaves the University of Tennessee for Oklahoma after one heck of a year.
The Backstory
Sure, Heupel was an All-American at Oklahoma. He has roots there and lots of memories. But Heuple already had his homecoming when he returned to the sooners in 2006 as the quarterback’s coach. He was fired in 2014 when his contract was not renewed. They had their chance on Heupel and just like the Sooners vs. Oklahoma State; they blew it.
Rocky Top
When Heupel was hired, the football program was a total shit show. The program was dumpster fire up in flames after the 3-7 season and on their 6th head coach since 2008. Coming into his first season, 38 players transferred, THIRTY-EIGHT, and two QB’s were transferred in. The NCAA was being annoying with their “rules”, McDonald’s bags were all the rage and a new AD had just been named as Phillip Fulmer stepped aside.
Coach of the Year
In Heupel’s first year he changed the culture from the fan base. After years, decades, of watching a shitty program get lucky now and then, Heupel gave the fans a reason to believe that the future is bright. He can flat out coach! Finishing the regular season 7-5 and 4-4 in the SEC, was huge improvement from last year’s 3-7 Pruitt’s season. Heupel had the best inaugural season of any Tennessee head coach since Phillip Fulmer in 1993. Heupel also had the best first year power five coaches. Heupel scored 466 points this year in 12 games. Pruitt scored 465 in 20 games. The biggest difference from Dooley, Jones and Pruitt is that finally, the Vols were competitive in every single game this year.
“But for Josh Heupel to come into the situation he found himself in and to deliver in the way he has delivered, not only wins and losses, but with the way the kids are playing and the way the fans have bought in, it is has been absolutely fun to watch the energy that has been at Neyland Stadium.” -Rick Neuheisel of CBS on why he would vote for Heupel to win the SEC Coach of the Year.
Who needs Henry To’o To’o (transferred to Bama) when you have Jeremy Banks? Banks finished the regular season with more tackles, sacks, and interceptions that To’o To’o. If QB Hendon Hooker and WR Cedric Tillman return for one more eligible season, next year is going to be really bright with Heupel.
Besides, if Heupel left his buyout would be $8 million dollars! (He only makes $4 million year.)