Popular college football host reveals how opposing coaches view Tennessee Vols HC Josh Heupel
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel apparently has quite the reputation among opposing coaches. CBS Sports' Josh Pate joined Off the Hook Sports this week to discuss Tennessee's huge showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners and he was asked about Heupel's reputation in coaching circles. Pate was quick to point out that Heupel is viewed as […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel apparently has quite the reputation among opposing coaches.
CBS Sports' Josh Pate joined Off the Hook Sports this week to discuss Tennessee's huge showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners and he was asked about Heupel's reputation in coaching circles.
Pate was quick to point out that Heupel is viewed as an "assassin" by rival coaches.
"They think of him as an assassin offensively," said Pate. "There is probably no one they universally respect more. It's (Lincoln) Riley and it's Heupel. Those are the two in terms of game day offensive, tactical play calling that everyone fears when they have the right personnel. The other thing they do is they negative recruit [against Tennessee] on the idea that it's just a shot offense, it's just a vertical offense. And they negative recruit offensive linemen that way. They negative recruit running backs that way. And they just hope you're dumb enough to buy into it. Because if you watch Tennessee football, you understand how effectively Heupel's teams have run the ball every year, and they're doing it again this year. They will always do that."
That last part from Pate is notable. The fact that other programs are negative recruiting against Tennessee shouldn't come as a surprise. We've heard for the last three years from folks in the media that Tennessee's offense doesn't effectively prepare players for the NFL.
And that's obviously a bunch of nonsense. Sure, players might learn some things from being in other offenses that maybe they wouldn't learn at Tennessee, but the opposite can be true, too (little things, like getting the ball to the official quickly during a two minute drill, are things you see from former Vols in the NFL).
Ultimately, players need talent and an elite competitive mindset to be successful in the NFL. I'm not sure there's anyone in college football that's more competitive than Josh Heupel. And that's something that's reflected in his players. If that doesn't prepare players for the NFL, I don't know what will. There isn't a more important trait for a player to have.
Oklahoma reporter drops interesting nugget about relationship between Josh Heupel and Bob Stoops
Well that’s interesting information
