Vols senior shares the critical 3-step recipe to Tennessee's great culture under Josh Heupel
One of the big reasons why the Tennessee Vols have found so much success so quickly under Josh Heupel is because of the improved culture on Rocky Top. Before Heupel's arrival, the culture at Tennessee was a mess. Players were leaving the team, there was an NCAA recruiting investigation hovering over the program, and it […]
One of the big reasons why the Tennessee Vols have found so much success so quickly under Josh Heupel is because of the improved culture on Rocky Top.
Before Heupel's arrival, the culture at Tennessee was a mess. Players were leaving the team, there was an NCAA recruiting investigation hovering over the program, and it seemed like no one wanted to actually coach the Vols.
In less than two years, the culture at Tennessee has done a complete 180. Now, UT is viewed as the program with perhaps the best vibes in the nation. It's the fun school that scores a lot of points and allows the players to be themselves and show their personalities.
On Thursday at SEC Media Days in Nashville, redshirt senior tight end Jacob Warren explained that there's a three-step recipe to Tennessee's culture under Heupel. And it all starts with respect — respect from the players to the coaches, respect from player to player, and respect from the coaches to the players.
"I think that means, you know, nobody putting himself above the program, kind of starts with that," explained Warren. "Coach (Heupel) talks about about respect a lot. And respect goes three ways, right? From the player to the coach and understanding that no player should be talking back to a coach. Shouldn't be using foul language towards the coaches, right? There should be a level of respect as first of all my elder, second of all someone that is my authority figure. Third of all, someone that's trying to help me. All coaches are trying to do whenever they're, you know, getting on your butt and correcting you, whatever it is, they're just trying to help you become the best player you can be. So there's got to be player to coach."
"There also has to be player to player," continued Warren. "So that means I've got to respect Joe (Milton). Joe has to respect me. I've gotta respect all my teammates on the other side of the ball. When we're in fall camp, right and you know, things get tough and you're getting tired and you're hot and you don't want to be there, I can't lash out against one of my teammates and become disrespectful because now that breaks the bond that we have. That damages that bond. And then the third one is just coach to player. I've never never doubted, never questioned the respect that Coach Heupel has for me as a person, for me as a player as well. And that goes for all of our coordinators, all of our position coaches, assistants, everything like that. The amount of respect that is circulated around the building is really unmatched. And I think that's the reason why our culture has become [great]."
Respect seems like a simple concept for a college football program. But it's something that's not always present in programs. And if it's not present, then winning a championship is virtually impossible.
Heupel and his staff have made sure that respect is present at Tennessee. And that's especially important in the wake of the hazing scandal at Northwestern that's been dominating headlines over the last couple of weeks.
Heupel is building Tennessee's football program the right way. He's aggressive and competitive. But he also has integrity. And the same goes for everyone on his staff. Heupel isn't taking shortcuts, telling lies, or doing anyone dirty. And that's why fans should feel confident that Heupel's success at Tennessee is sustainable.
Josh Heupel just made Lane Kiffin look foolish and recruits are going to notice
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel just made Ole Miss Rebels Lane Kiffin look foolish and recruits are going to notice
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