Let’s appreciate what we have with Josh Heupel

#1
Big Orange Captain

Big Orange Captain

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#1
Not sure if Heup will ever win a natty but he’s the best coach UT has had since Fulmer, 42-16 thru 58 games. He’s been consistent and stable and Tennessee was in dire need of that after Dooley , Butch and Pruitt. Heupel has exceeded mine and im pretty sure everyones expectations since he became coach in 2021. Heupel walked into a dumpster fire and has made us a relevant program again while programs like Auburn and Florida are still in the dumpster trying to get out. i think sometimes cause im a kinda spoiled and entitled fan that i don’t stop and appreciate the great job that Josh has done here in 4 and a half seasons.
 
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#2
#2
Big Orange Captain said:
Not sure if Heup will ever win a natty but he’s the best coach UT has had since Fulmer, 42-16 thru 58 games. He’s been consistent and stable and Tennessee was in dire need of that after Dooley , Butch and Pruitt. Heupel has exceeded mine and im pretty sure everyones expectations since he became coach in 2021. Heupel walked into a dumpster fire and has made us a relevant program again while programs like Auburn and Florida are still in the dumpster trying to get out. i think sometimes cause im a kinda spoiled and entitled fan that i don’t stop and appreciate the great job that Josh has done here in 4 and a half seasons.
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I'm pretty confident the vast, vast majority of Tennessee fans appreciate Coach Heup.
 
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#4
#4
OffTackleVol said:
I'm pretty confident the vast, vast majority of Tennessee fans appreciate Coach Heup.
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You'd be surprised. There are MANY on here that just don't like Josh Heupel for some reason. Some don't like him because his offense is "gimmicky", some don't like him because he isn't a mouthy coach like Kiffin and is a little awkward in front of the camera, some don't like him because they expect coaches to come into an absolute dumpster fire of a program and immediately recruit top 3 classes, and most are just ungrateful/ drank themselves into forgetting the last 15 years.
 
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#5
#5
Heupel's Offseason Beard said:
You'd be surprised. There are MANY on here that just don't like Josh Heupel for some reason. Some don't like him because his offense is "gimmicky", some don't like him because he isn't a mouthy coach like Kiffin and is a little awkward in front of the camera, some don't like him because they expect coaches to come into an absolute dumpster fire of a program and immediately recruit top 3 classes, and most are just ungrateful/ drank themselves into forgetting the last 15 years.
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Yeah, but you have to remember....those people are stupid. And they'll be stupid no matter who coaches Tennessee. This fanbase (and this planet) is full of stupid people.
 
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#6
#6
The part of these discussions that gets tired is the assumed black and white nature of the feelings towards Coach Heupel. There are some that think what Heupel has done is miraculous and therefore he should not be criticized and others who think he's awful. I'd say both of these camps are wrong. I think where many of the fans are at is recognition and appreciation for what Heupel has done - taken our program from irrelevance to relevance - and hoping that he can get over the hump from good to great and compete for national titles. He's earned the right to have some additional time to get there but I don't think a fanbase has to apologize for having high expectations - Tennessee has all of the resources needed to compete at the highest level.
 
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#10
#10
Heupel's Offseason Beard said:
You'd be surprised. There are MANY on here that just don't like Josh Heupel for some reason. Some don't like him because his offense is "gimmicky", some don't like him because he isn't a mouthy coach like Kiffin and is a little awkward in front of the camera, some don't like him because they expect coaches to come into an absolute dumpster fire of a program and immediately recruit top 3 classes, and most are just ungrateful/ drank themselves into forgetting the last 15 years.
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A lot of people don't like him because they claimed he was gonna be a failure when he was first hired and they'd give anything to be proven right. They don't actually hate him. They hate that he has made them look like absolute clowns.

They never liked the hire and no amount of success will change their mind. These fools are the same ones that cry about anything they see as a mistake or something to hold against him.

@Ulysees E. McGill calls them a big part of "The Idiot Margin". . .
 
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#11
#11
I think something that gets not so much lost but maybe overlooked by us when we think about our appreciation/loyalty/disgust/love/hate of a coach is that the game and the system has changed so dramatically in the last few years that it's almost hard to know what the standards to measure against should be.

Transfer portal, NIL and playoffs were not something that existed before recently. Not to mention conferences swelling in size and in the SEC's case, adding some pretty good competition.
 
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#12
#12
Heupel's Offseason Beard said:
You'd be surprised. There are MANY on here that just don't like Josh Heupel for some reason. Some don't like him because his offense is "gimmicky", some don't like him because he isn't a mouthy coach like Kiffin and is a little awkward in front of the camera, some don't like him because they expect coaches to come into an absolute dumpster fire of a program and immediately recruit top 3 classes, and most are just ungrateful/ drank themselves into forgetting the last 15 years.
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If the General came back from the dead to coach UT and hired Jesus as his recruiting coordinator the negavols would pick it to death.
 
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#13
#13
I wish everyone would stop saying he is the 'best coach since Fulmer.' That is such a low bar it has no meaning. What I believe has held Heupel back is that his recruiting, by SEC standards, has been average for the most part. He had a lot to overcome in this regard but the 2025 class was really good and the 2026 class is looking even better. Classes like these build on each other. It is taking a while but Heupel is building a program that will compete for championships year in and year out. To be completely honest though, talent and depth at the safety and LB positions cannot come soon enough cause we ain't got it now.
 
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#14
#14
jackaro said:
I wish everyone would stop saying he is the 'best coach since Fulmer.' That is such a low bar it has no meaning. What I believe has held Heupel back is that his recruiting, by SEC standards, has been average for the most part. He had a lot to overcome in this regard but the 2025 class was really good and the 2026 class is looking even better. Classes like these build on each other. It is taking a while but Heupel is building a program that will compete for championships year in and year out. To be completely honest though, talent and depth at the safety and LB positions cannot come soon enough cause we ain't got it now.
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Average?? Recruiting is getting better each year! He imo has surpassed what most of us expected!

When he got here we barely had a roster, not easy to get elite recruits to buy in to that situation..
 
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#15
#15
After many false alarms and throwing our support at the next in line savior to take us to the top of the mountain, Coach Heupel has been consistently inconsistent - but in a good way. He is affable (aka likeable) and has brought us back to relevance. At times though, it is more like 2 steps forward and 3 steps backwards but, it is not always due to him. Lord knows he and the team has had their share of injuries and in retrospect, he really has done a pretty good job in keeping the players in line OFF the field, which is sometimes harder than coaching players on the field. Soooo many temptations are available to these young men and the HC and staff just simply cannot walk every step with the players. While I was not around when General Neyland walked the sidelines, I wish he could come back and provide CJH with some pointers on field management.

It has been a very good ride since Heupel came to Knoxville, and I for one would like to see him stay at least a few more years. Go Vols!


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#19
#19
RandomUTfan said:
I don't care who you are or what situation you are in, you should ALWAYS be grateful for all of your blessings and not pine for what you don't have. It's a Life Hack. The more gratitude you show, the more reasons you will be given to be grateful.
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#21
#21
I'd say 99.8 percent of us appreciate coach Heupel....I'm also one that if you're making 9 million per year to coach a football team you need to do your job and win games that will get us to the next level. I've never been a coach lover....they are being paid very handsomely to do their job.
 
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#22
#22
OffTackleVol said:
I'm pretty confident the vast, vast majority of Tennessee fans appreciate Coach Heup.
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For now, yes. But at SOME point, not saying this year, not saying next year, but at some point, fans will no longer be content with simply winning 8-10 games a year and getting into the playoffs once every 3-4 years. Eventually Huepel will need to win something significant. A conference championship, a natty, something. Otherwise he could wind up in a James Franklin situation.
 
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#23
#23
Brave Volunteer said:
For now, yes. But at SOME point, not saying this year, not saying next year, but at some point, fans will no longer be content with simply winning 8-10 games a year and getting into the playoffs once every 3-4 years. Eventually Huepel will need to win something significant. A conference championship, a natty, something. Otherwise he could wind up in a James Franklin situation.
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3 points away from playing in the NC game 10 months ago....and he's fired. AD said it wasn't enough....ouch!
 
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#24
#24
Brave Volunteer said:
For now, yes. But at SOME point, not saying this year, not saying next year, but at some point, fans will no longer be content with simply winning 8-10 games a year and getting into the playoffs once every 3-4 years. Eventually Huepel will need to win something significant. A conference championship, a natty, something. Otherwise he could wind up in a James Franklin situation.
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You could say that about every single coach at all the blue blood programs.........
 
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#25
#25
RandomUTfan said:
I don't care who you are or what situation you are in, you should ALWAYS be grateful for all of your blessings and not pine for what you don't have. It's a Life Hack. The more gratitude you show, the more reasons you will be given to be grateful.
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Yes. You are correct. The problem is, entitlement & gratitude don't mix...
 
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