National media outlet hits Tennessee HC Josh Heupel with a dose of disrespect early in the year
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel still has plenty of doubters in the national media despite his success during his first three seasons at UT. Heupel took over a program that was left for dead in 2021 and he's since gone 27-12 while leading the program to three straight bowl games. Entering the 2024 season, […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel still has plenty of doubters in the national media despite his success during his first three seasons at UT.
Heupel took over a program that was left for dead in 2021 and he's since gone 27-12 while leading the program to three straight bowl games.
Entering the 2024 season, the Vols are expected to compete for a national championship. Tennessee won't be the favorite — that will likely be Georgia — but they have a strong shot to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff. And in this new age of college football, just getting in the dance gives you a chance.
Despite Heupel's accomplishments over the last three seasons, which include beating Nick Saban, Brian Kelly, and Dabo Swinney, he wasn't included on 247Sports' list of seven coaches that could win their first national championship in 2024.
Heupel was listed among those who "just missed the cut".
Instead of including Heupel, names like Kalen DeBoer, Mike Norvell, and Lane Kiffin were included.
Leaving Heupel off that list is laughable. I don't know how they can include DeBoer, who hasn't coached a game yet in the SEC and has lost most of the talented players he inherited at Alabama to the transfer portal, while leaving Heupel off the list.
And putting Kiffin over Heupel just because of his portal additions seems unwise, too. Culture matters. And Ole Miss has no culture. Instead, they have a large mix of players coming from other cultures that will somehow have to co-exist in 2024. The Rebels' roster might look good on paper, but paper can be deceiving (just ask the 2023 New York Mets how looking good on paper worked out).
We know that that Heupel keeps receipts. And I'm sure he's aware of the hype surrounding other coaches.
For the Vols, that's a good thing. It seems like Heupel's teams are at their best when they're doubted. Tennessee has a solid roster entering the 2024 season with potentially one of the best quarterbacks in the nation leading the offense. The sky is the limit for the Vols next fall. And I'm sure Heupel is eager to prove the doubters wrong.
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