How does he "own it"? Is there a formal declaration? And if he doesn't "own" it, what happens? That just seems like a nebulous declaration on your part..."I'm not blaming him for doing what any high level coach would do, but if it doesn't work out, he owes me this undefined thing I'll call 'owning it.'"
If it doesn't work out, Tennessee loses a talented player. That's the consequence. At that point, Heupel should move on and not look back because he's in charge of something much bigger than one player.