Tennessee football is back! What is the reason for this resurgence? What has propelled Tennessee from a wasteland to a college football playoff hopeful? Josh Heupel. Since his hiring, Heupel has gone 13-6, including 6-0 this season. However, it is not winning that has changed for the Tennessee football program. Heupel has changed the culture.
Any college coach in America can have a good season, it is the Sabans, Smarts, and Swinneys that change the culture of a team. Now Heupel can be added to that list. In 2020-2021, the Vols went 3-7. The proud Tennessee football culture was dead and due to previous failures at head coach, it appeared the Vols would never be back to the college football mountain top. Then came coach Heupel. With his fast-paced offense and attack-first-and-often mentality, he has brought excitement back to the program. Tennessee ranks 1st in yards per game, 5th in passing yards per game, and averages over 200 yards per game rushing.
Heupel’s love for Knoxville and football is felt in his interviews, actions, and coaching style. While names like Fulmer and Majors come to mind as truly great Vols coaches, Neyland stands out the most. Neyland was 173-31-12 as a coach at the University of Tennessee. He won four national titles and many would consider him the greatest coach not only in Tennessee history but also in college football. However, what makes Heupel greater than that legendary coach is the state of the Vols when the coach inherited the team.
Neyland was hired following three successful head coaches. Clevenger, Bender, and Banks all boasted a 0.600 winning percentage before Neyland took over in 1926. Barnhill had the record of 32-5-2 between Neyland’s stents as head coach. The Vols were successful before and after Neyland. However, Heupel came to the Tennessee program following coaches with a 0.417, 0.557, and 0.457 winning percentage. These are the 5th, 7th, and 12th worst winning percentages in Tennessee football history.
Not to mention Jeremy Pruitt’s antics following his dismissal from Tennessee. Heupel inherited a loser, to be frank. The fans were more disengaged than ever. Rival teams had no fear when they played Tennessee. Since the year 2000, the Florida Gators were 17-3 against the Vols without Heupel, the Alabama Crimson Tide were 16-4, and the Georgia Bulldogs were 15-6. This shows how DOMINATED the Vols have been. However, with coach Heupel, Tennessee will no longer be the punching bag. Look out SEC and look out college football! Here comes Tennessee!
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