Josh Heupel proves how excited he is about Tennessee Vols baseball immediately upon taking the stage at SEC Media Days
Josh Heupel was unquestionably all in for the Tennessee Vols' first-ever baseball national championship last month. The Vols' head football coach was together with Rick Barnes in Omaha to witness the Vols knock off the Texas A&M Aggies in Game 3 of the College World Series championship series. The head coaches even had company of their […]
Josh Heupel was unquestionably all in for the Tennessee Vols' first-ever baseball national championship last month. The Vols' head football coach was together with Rick Barnes in Omaha to witness the Vols knock off the Texas A&M Aggies in Game 3 of the College World Series championship series.
The head coaches even had company of their own in Peyton Manning and Morgan Wallen to cheer on the Vols' huge win. They made their way down to the field for the celebration afterwards, embracing Tony Vitello amidst the Big Orange euphoria.
Well, it seems that excitement hasn't worn off much for Heupel as SEC Media Days continue in Dallas. Heupel took to the stage on Tuesday morning, and the first comments during his opening statement were directed right as the Tennessee baseball team.
"Thank you, commissioner (Greg Sankey), for that nice introduction. He mentioned that the last chance I got to see him was in Omaha, and as I was getting ready to come here, I got a chance to see Coach Vitello on the MLB Draft a couple of nights ago. Obviously, the All-Star Game is here tonight, and this is the first time I've had an opportunity to talk since I had the chance to go to Omaha and watch C-Mo, and Coach Vitello, and Blake bring home a championship to Rocky Top.
"What an unbelievable experience. Opportunity to watch the game with Coach Barnes, Danny (White) our athletic director. Good chance to be on the field and celebrate that moment. Really proud of what they did, bringing home a national championship to Rocky Top. What Coach Vitello has built there. Have an opportunity to have my son with me and really my entire family. So, a great night."
But Heupel wasn't done there, noting the success that Tennessee Athletics have had across the board over the last year.
"You look at the success that our brand, our logo has had recently with baseball, but [also] basketball during the course of the winter, and you look at all of the team sports across the board being in postseason play. I think it really speaks to the trajectory of our university, our athletic department, where it's going. It also speaks to the leadership that we have there. So fortunate to work with Danny White, our athletic director, Chancellor Plowman, and President Boyd. They're visionaries, they give us all the tools to go compete, and have created an unbelievable experience for our student-athletes there on campus.
"The brand is stronger than it's ever been. Really excited about where we're at on the football side of it [and] where we're going."
Well, he's not wrong. Tennessee football, baseball, and basketball – on a collective level – has never been at the level together that it is right now. Football is one year removed from an Orange Bowl victory over Clemson. Tennessee basketball reached its first Elite Eight in almost a decade and a half and looks to be retooling for another run next season. And of course, Tony Vitello just won it all.
Softball earned a #3 national seed. Lady Vols basketball just added a new leader in head coach Kim Caldwell. Even rowing and golf managed to turn in top 10 finishes nationally.
Indeed, Tennessee largely was a do it all school in 2023-24, punctuated by the Base Vols' national title. We'll see if Heupel can get the Vols working towards a memorable season of his own for Tennessee fans this upcoming season.
Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols score a significant offseason win over Alabama and Georgia on Saturday night
Tennessee picked up a big commitment over the weekend
