Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel did something very un Josh Heupel-like and it was so awesome that he needs to do it more
Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Josh Heupel usually keeps a low profile in public, but he’s put himself out there a bit more this offseason as he continues his pursuit of a championship on Rocky Top.
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel typically keeps a low profile publicly, but he’s been putting himself out there a bit more this offseason.
Heupel has done more interviews than normal this offseason as he looks to control the narrative around Tennessee’s football program (which is what SEC counterparts like Kirby Smart and Steve Sarkisian, among others, try to do).
Josh Heupel shotguns a beer with Luke Combs
Heupel put himself out there in front of thousands on Saturday night in Knoxville.
The sixth-year Tennessee head coach joined Vols legends Peyton Manning and Al Wilson, as well as former UT quarterback Joey Aguilar, on stage with Luke Combs during his concert in Neyland Stadium.
Heupel, Manning, Aguilar, and Wilson actually shotgunned a beer with Combs on stage, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
We saw Heupel join Morgan Wallen during his pre-show “walk out” in 2024, but that was a more subtle public appearance from Tennessee’s head coach.
It’s nice to see Heupel let loose a bit. As we’ve said in the past, you almost have to be a showman these days if you’re a college football head coach.
Shotgunning a beer with Combs may not seem like a big deal — some may even think it’s silly or immature — but it’s a viral moment that will double as a marketing tool for the Tennessee program.
The way to reach the younger generation of players and recruits, after all, is via viral clips that will fill Instagram and Tik Tok.
I’m not saying Heupel needs to start doing Tik Tok dances with his assistant coaches, but letting loose in public and having some fun is only going to make him more appealing to play for.