Why Vols' head coach Josh Heupel could have extra motivation to beat Clemson in the Orange Bowl
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel could have some added motivation to beat the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl when the two programs meet later this month in Miami. And it's not because of Dabo Swinney's "flipping burgers" comments that were made after the Vols' shocking 63-38 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks. The […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel could have some added motivation to beat the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl when the two programs meet later this month in Miami.
And it's not because of Dabo Swinney's "flipping burgers" comments that were made after the Vols' shocking 63-38 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The trajectory of Heupel's career changed in early 2015 thanks in part to Dabo and Clemson.
Heupel's final game as the Oklahoma Sooners' offensive coordinator came in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl against Clemson.
The Tigers beat the Sooners 40-6 in a game the Sooners managed only 275 yards of total offense.
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops elected to not retain Heupel after the 2014 season, effectively firing a Sooners hero who helped lead the program to an unlikely national championship in 2000.
Heupel is better off because he was fired at Oklahoma. He was able to evolve as a head coach after leaving Norman. Instead of doing what Stoops wanted to do offensively, he was able to start implementing his true offensive vision. First at Utah State, then at Missouri and UCF before finally landing in Knoxville.
“I had been under one umbrella my entire coaching career,” said Heupel in 2018 (via The Orlando Sentinel). “The opportunities I have had to go to other places after Oklahoma either confirmed things or opened my eyes to things I would want to do in my own program. I’m a better coach today because I left Oklahoma.”
While it's obvious that getting fired by Stoops was the best thing that could've happened to Heupel's career (I'd say things have worked out just fine for him), I still think Tennessee's head coach is eager for some revenge against Clemson.
Getting fired by Oklahoma is a stain on Heupel's resumé. Even if it was a bad decision by Stoops, who should've fired his brother, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, instead, it's still viewed as a negative when folks discuss Heupel.
I think Heupel is hoping to get even with Clemson after the Tigers altered his career path. And it's not because he regrets getting pushed out of Norman or because he has anything personal against Clemson. It's because that loss to the Tigers in the Russell Athletic Bowl in 2014 had to have left a bad taste in Heupel's mouth.
A win against Clemson in the Orange Bowl could be somewhat of a palate cleanser for Tennessee's head coach. It can erase some of those bad bowl memories that came with that career-altering loss to the Tigers.
We've seen this season that Heupel is at his best when he feels slighted or he has added motivation.
And he should have plenty of motivation to take down a team that had a massive impact on the way his tenure at his alma mater ended.
Featured image via Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
