Vols' Josh Heupel even with Phillip Fulmer in a very impressive category
The Josh Heupel era of Tennessee football is in the early stages of its third season. However, the Vols' head coach has already managed to reach a rarified air in a very important category accomplished by just one man in program history. And it's one of that fans tend to care about very much. Through […]
The Josh Heupel era of Tennessee football is in the early stages of its third season. However, the Vols' head coach has already managed to reach a rarified air in a very important category accomplished by just one man in program history.
And it's one of that fans tend to care about very much.
Through 27 games, Heupel has accumulated 7 wins over ranked teams. According to the university's strategic communications department, that's tied for the most ever with Phillip Fulmer.
Fulmer took over as interim head coach for the start of the 1992 season for Johnny Majors, who underwent heart bypass surgery just weeks before the season began. Fulmer's Volunteers knocked off #14 Georgia in Athens 34-31 before toppling #4 Florida in Knoxville 31-14 in the driving rain. Majors returned the following week but ultimately was forced to resign after a string of questionable losses, including 24-23 at South Carolina. Fulmer took over for the fourth time of the season for the Hall of Fame Bowl, a 38-23 win over #16 Boston College.
Over his next 23 games, Fulmer would win four more ranked games: against #22 Georgia and #13 Louisville in 1993, and #23 Georgia and #17 Washington State in 1994. Fulmer would win his 28th game to finish out the 1994 season against another ranked foe: a 45-23 thrashing over #17 Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl.
Through 27 games, Heupel has matched Fulmer with 7 ranked wins. In his first season, only the 45-42 win at #18 Kentucky made that list. However, he pulled off 6 ranked wins in last season's incredible leap forward for the program: at #17 Pittsburgh, vs. #20 Florida, at #25 LSU, vs. #3 Alabama, vs. #19 Kentucky, and vs. #7 Clemson.
Though Heupel won't have the chance to reach ranked win #8 on Saturday, there won't be a lack of opportunities later in the season. And under his leadership Tennessee once again looks like a program that's going to continue to be on the right side of a lot of those big games in the coming years.
Cold, hard facts prove Tennessee football has been a strong national brand
Despite several lean years, Tennessee football has been appointment television
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
