Longtime Oklahoma reporter sends strong message to Sooners fans about Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel left the field in Norman on Saturday night just like he has many times before — as a winner. Heupel, who took over as Tennessee's head coach in early 2021, led the Vols to a 25-15 win against the Oklahoma Sooners. It was Heupel's first time returning to Oklahoma […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel left the field in Norman on Saturday night just like he has many times before — as a winner.
Heupel, who took over as Tennessee's head coach in early 2021, led the Vols to a 25-15 win against the Oklahoma Sooners. It was Heupel's first time returning to Oklahoma since he was let go by Bob Stoops as the program's offensive coordinator after the 2014 season (Heupel's contract wasn't renewed).
Oklahoma has a good team under head coach Brent Venables, who was the defensive coordinator on the Sooners' national championship winning team in 2000 that was quarterbacked by Heupel. But it was clear after Tennessee's win on Saturday night that the Sooners probably won't be competing for a national championship in 2024. Oklahoma's defense might be elite, but the offense, so far, is a disaster.
Longtime Oklahoma reporter/columnist Berry Tramel suggested after the game that Sooners fans should root for Heupel and the Vols this fall.
"Well, he's (Heupel) not a real overtly emotional guy, but he is an emotional guy," said Tramel (via The Tulsa World). "You've seen it from time to time, we've been watching the guy for 25 years. And the truth is, even die-hard Sooners who are distraught about the quarterbacking, who are distraught about the offense, who are distraught about being 0-1 in the SEC, you gotta be happy for Josh Heupel.
"Josh Heupel is a Volunteer and not a Sooner because somebody at OU decided they didn't want him here anymore. So it's not Lincoln Riley going to USC. This is a guy that after he got here, he dreamed of being here forever and being the head coach and all of those things. He's doing great things at Tennessee. The truth is, you gotta be happy for Josh Heupel. And here's what I would say — he's in a league with Alabama, Georgia, and LSU. If this team (Oklahoma) can't rally and challenge for the SEC title, which I sorta think this team can't rally and challenge for the SEC title, then I think all Oklahomans oughta get on the Josh Heupel bandwagon and say hey, go Vols."
Tramel is right — the only reason that Heupel isn't at Oklahoma is because he wasn't wanted anymore. Heupel didn't choose to leave Oklahoma. It was Oklahoma that left Heupel.
But if one thing was obvious on Saturday night after Tennessee's win, it's that Heupel still has a lot of love for his alma mater. Oklahoma is a huge part of who he is a person, a husband, a father, and a coach. And that will always be the case.
So if the Vols are in the hunt for a championship in December and the Sooners aren't, Oklahoma fans might as well heed Tramel's advice and jump on the Tennessee bandwagon. I'm sure Vols fans will welcome them with open arms (no seriously, they will…I'm sure of it).
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