Watch: Vols HC Josh Heupel thanks fans and players while accepting fan-voted award
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel was revealed as the winner of the Paul "Bear" Bryant Accenture 2023 Fan Favorite coach of the year award on Wednesday night. TCU head coach Sonny Dykes took home the Paul "Bear" Bryant coach of the year honors on Wednesday night after leading the Horned Frogs to a 13-2 record and […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel was revealed as the winner of the Paul "Bear" Bryant Accenture 2023 Fan Favorite coach of the year award on Wednesday night.
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes took home the Paul "Bear" Bryant coach of the year honors on Wednesday night after leading the Horned Frogs to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the national championship game (which they lost by 58 points to the Georgia Bulldogs).
It was Heupel, however, that was viewed by fans as the coach of the year after leading Tennessee to an 11-2 season which included a win against Clemson in the Orange Bowl and wins against Florida, LSU, and Alabama.
Heupel sent a message to fans and his players while accepting the fan-voted award.
"I would like to thank the Bryant family, the Bryant executive leadership team, and the American Heart Association for the honor of being a finalist for this prestigious award, which continues to celebrate the legacy of Coach Bryant," said Heupel. "Thank you to Accenture for sponsoring the Bryant Award fan vote."
"As the fan vote winner, I'd like to thank Vol nation and all the fans who voted for this honor," added Heupel. "As illustrated this season, there is truly no place like Rocky Top and Vol nation is at the heart of that. From our sold-out crowds, the atmosphere on the Third Saturday in October versus Alabama, Vol walk, and your turnout on the road, our team thanks you for your unwavering support."
"As I have always said, Coach of the year awards are a direct reflection of your players and what they have accomplished. We've been fortunate as a staff to coach a great group of young men who came together and turned this program around in the last two years. To see them go out with an 11-win season and a victory in the Orange Bowl was special. So I share this honor with them."
Heupel never passes up a chance to praise Tennessee fans. He also always makes sure to share any credit he receives with his players. In fact, Heupel almost always deflects the credit away from himself and back to his players.
This is just the beginning of what could be a special run for the Vols under Heupel. Tennessee has to keep progressing, but the program is currently in the best shape it's been in since the early 2000s.
Featured image via Twitter
