One important thing Josh Heupel is doing to prepare the Vols to face Clemson in the Orange Bowl
Most non-playoff bowl games are viewed these days as "unimportant", but that's not the approach the Tennessee Vols are taking for their matchup against the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has spent some time this month explaining the historical significance of the Orange Bowl to his team. Heupel, who […]
Most non-playoff bowl games are viewed these days as "unimportant", but that's not the approach the Tennessee Vols are taking for their matchup against the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has spent some time this month explaining the historical significance of the Orange Bowl to his team.
Heupel, who won a national championship with the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2000/01 Orange Bowl, wants his players to view this as an important game.
“I told them from the moment we found out we were going to be in this game that this is an iconic game, one that you’ll remember forever," said Heupel upon his arrival to Miami on Sunday. "The entire country will be watching this game on the 30th and you want to be ready to go play your best football. It would mean a lot to you when you get there."
"Embrace the journey, enjoy it," added Heupel. "You’re going to have a week full of fun and at the same time it’s college football as good as it gets.”
If Tennessee beats Clemson, it will give the Vols 11 wins in a season for the first time since 2001. That alone should make this game important for Tennessee's players.
But if they need added motivation, Heupel gave it to them this week by explaining how big of a game this truly is for the Vols. Heupel is right — the entire nation will be watching this game (there isn't much competition in the sports world that night). And for a lot of non-Tennessee fans, this game will determine how the Vols' 2022 season is viewed and what kind of hype the 2023 UT team will have.
If Tennessee wants the 2022 season to be viewed as special by college football fans across the nation, they'll find a way to beat Clemson on Friday night.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
