Comment from former Vols QB dispels myth about Tennessee HC Josh Heupel
Over the last three years, Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel has created an atmosphere on Rocky Top that's inviting, warm, fun, and family oriented. Recruits/players seem to love the positive culture that Heupel and his staff have created. The good vibes and positive energy are routinely praised by recruits who visit Tennessee. The seemingly […]
Over the last three years, Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel has created an atmosphere on Rocky Top that's inviting, warm, fun, and family oriented.
Recruits/players seem to love the positive culture that Heupel and his staff have created. The good vibes and positive energy are routinely praised by recruits who visit Tennessee.
The seemingly laid-back atmosphere at Tennessee, though, has caused some opposing fans to suggest that Heupel is a "pushover" who takes it too easy on players.
A recent comment from former Vols quarterback Tayven Jackson, however, blows that theory out of the water.
Jackson, who transferred to Indiana after spending one season at Tennessee, recently appeared on Hoosier Barber Talk and he was asked about the differences between Indiana and Tennessee.
"Coaches coach their way," said Jackson. "Coach (Tom) Allen was a different coach than Coach Heupel. They did things differently. Coach Allen, like he loved everyone. LEO (love each other), like, he was true to that. He loved everyone and we loved him."
"And I love Coach Heupel," continued Jackson. "Coach Heupel was more strict and stuff like that."
So there you have it. Compared to Allen, who was fired as Indiana's head coach after the 2023 season, Heupel is a more strict coach.
Just because Heupel has created a positive culture that's "fun" doesn't mean that Tennessee's program lacks discipline or that he's not tough on players. That's clearly not the case based on Jackson's comments.
Heupel just does things his own way. And it certainly appears to be working. The Vols are in the midst of their best stretch of football since the early to mid 2000s.
Tennessee Vols HC Josh Heupel takes strong stance on ‘wooing’ during Rocky Top
Josh Heupel takes his stance
