The biggest difference between Auburn's Bryan Harsin and Tennessee's Josh Heupel
Auburn Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin and Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel are connected to each in a couple of different ways. For one, they were both hired during the same offseason. Secondly, Harsin's predecessor at Auburn, Gus Malzahn, became Heupel's successor at UCF (after Malzahn was forced out at Auburn). Harsin and Heupel […]
Auburn Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin and Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel are connected to each in a couple of different ways.
For one, they were both hired during the same offseason.
Secondly, Harsin's predecessor at Auburn, Gus Malzahn, became Heupel's successor at UCF (after Malzahn was forced out at Auburn).
Harsin and Heupel are both essentially trying to outperform Malzahn to prove themselves.
Both coaches had a somewhat similar first season as head coaches in the SEC.
Harsin went 6-7 in 2021, while Heupel went 7-6.
Heupel has been wildly celebrated in East Tennessee, while Harsin is on the verge of getting fired.
Why the difference?
Well…while Harsin and Heupel are in similar situations as coaches — they're vastly different people.
It's all about how you treat people.
Harsin and Heupel are both good coaches. Harsin had a lot of success at Boise State before he took the Auburn job last winter. He didn't suddenly forget how to coach football.
The biggest difference between the two coaches is that Heupel understands what it means to coach at Tennessee. Harsin doesn't get it when it comes to being the head coach at Auburn.
Harsin reportedly doesn't value Auburn's history and tradition.
People familiar with the situation say Harsin has alienated assistant coaches, players, and others inside the athletics department. His critics say he didn't do enough to build relationships with key boosters and donors and didn't seem to embrace Auburn's traditions. In May, he skipped 1985 Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson's charity golf tournament, leaving two assistant coaches to speak in his absence, which peeved several big donors.
"He doesn't place real value in the history and tradition of Auburn," a source told ESPN. "If you're a new coach, especially an outsider, you'd think you'd embrace those things."
If that's how Harsin is approaching being the head coach at Auburn, then he should be gone yesterday. Auburn has some great traditions. And they deserve a coach who embraces those traditions.
Heupel, on the other hand, has a deep love for the great traditions and former players at Tennessee.
He doesn't have it to fake it — he gets visibly excited when talking about those traditions and former players.
If Harsin had the same attitude as Heupel, he wouldn't be in such hot water right now. Fans and boosters would accept a 6-7 season in his first year. They wouldn't be over the moon, but they wouldn't be trying to run him out of town, either.
Harsin brought all of this on himself. He was never all-in.
Perception goes a long way. And the perception is that Harsin doesn't really care about Auburn.
And that's why Auburn doesn't care about him.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
