UT hires Indiana’s Derek Owings as its new S&C coach

#351
#351
VolCalls said:
So he knows what Heupel is about and still wanted to come here. That tells me we don't have to worry about Heupel getting in the way. Maybe Josh has finally surrounded himself with the right people, both on and off the field.
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They paid him coordinator money. Trust me, it’s the best hire of Heupel’s career, I get it. Knowles is 2nd, so it’s obvious he sees the problems (except for his useless OLINE coach). I don’t think folks know how messed up S&C is over there right now. How quick can they fix? We’ll see. All the more reason to add older guys in the portal. They just didn’t add veteran players. With 105 to give, I’d find me 10 lower division guys who eat nails.

Maybe the new strength guy will pay dividends on the line of scrimmage and injury.
 
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#355
#355
wmcovol said:
I love the Vols but Tennessee football ain’t in the same category in FB as Duke is in basketball. Vols would be more Indiana, once a power but fighting to get back in the spotlight.
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Indiana??? Vols are much better football program be real. Duke basketball has been dormant the last 10 years if we are being honest. Vols are a top 15 football program historically Indiana maybe top 40
 
#358
#358
I think, like it or not, next season will be a season for "growth". We'll have the same goals as always (Playoffs, Sec champ, National Champ, etc.) but I think expectations should be a little less. Yeah we could be surprisingly good. But we do have a young group, which is good.

We've got a **** ton of young talent, and if we can keep enough of them around, if they see the value in getting good coaching that will help them get to the NFL, we just hired one of the best S&C coaches in the country, one of the best defensive coordinators in the country (not to mention the other defensive coaches), and we have one of the best offensive minds in the country. We should be excited to see what the next few years bring.

Now if we could only get someone who's a little better at game management... I kid (a little). But seriously, I think having some new faces around (and the experience Knowles brings) can be helpful for Heupel growing as a coach.

I grew up with the Vols in the 80's and 90's and learned how to cuss them through the TV from my dad when they didn't make every play (because they were expected to back then.) And I fell in love. So I spent years losing my mind over how we were playing. A few years turned into a decade and then nearly another. And I learned to temper my expectations.

However these last few years with Heupel have been the first sign of life we've seen in A. Long. Ass. Time. You have to remember he's still growing as a head coach. He got his first opportunity only in 2018-2020 then came here... He's made some good decisions with the staff this off season. And it finally feels like we're heading in the right direction.

Too many on here I feel are from the "instant gratification" generation. Give the guy a little more time. He's earned that at least. Things are so much more rewarding when you have to wait a little for them anyway. Why do you think girls/women tease us? They know...
 
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#360
#360
adam.vol said:
Nobody hates TN. It’s the other fans who I have a problem with.. If your panties drop every time “Indiana” or “Alabama” is mentioned, someone needs to remind you to get it together.
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You mean the national championship winning Indiana? Take a lap, you're in the wrong decade.
 
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#367
#367
Justs ran across this comment from new S&C coach for 1st team workout:
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Tennessee's official social media accounts put out a video of Owings' first workout with the team, and it includes a clip of the Vols' new strength coach addressing the players.

"You cannot be soft when you're going to war," says Owings in the clip. "We've got a long way to go, right? This is day one. But we'll get there."
 
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#368
#368
General Jack said:
Will the current crop of players take hard coaching or take $ and run?
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We about to find out. Hopefully players will welcome the op[ortunety to improve their play and win more games. If not, we needs to recruit players with the attitude that they are here to win and want to be champions.
 
#371
#371
Took Heupel 5 years in to get the right type hire on the defense (been a problem since day one), a strength coach and a top shelf nutritionist? Three years in to realize Nico wasn't going to cut it in the SEC, not sure how long it takes him to drive to the office, but let's be a little more accountable for the tens of millions of dollars he is burning through annually while he figures out what it takes to win big in the SEC and on the road against top teams.
 
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#372
#372
I think this has more to do with why Indiana was so good, not necessarily the S&C coach.

The Indiana Hoosiers football team has gained attention for its unusually high average age, reported to be around 22.5 to 23 years old in early 2026, significantly older than most college teams due to coach Curt Cignetti's strategy of using experienced transfers, resulting in a roster with many fourth, fifth, and sixth-year seniors.
Key Details on Indiana's Roster Age:
  • Average Age: Reports pinpoint the average at about 22.5 to 23 years old.
  • Experience: The team features many "grown men" with extensive college experience, including players in their sixth year.
  • Contrast to NFL: For perspective, this average age is comparable to some NFL teams, with the Green Bay Packers averaging around 25, showing Indiana's roster is exceptionally veteran for college football.
Why the Older Age?
  • Transfer Portal: Cignetti heavily utilizes the transfer portal, bringing in older, proven players.
  • Veteran Strategy: The approach focuses on experience over youth, creating a team of veterans known as "grown man teams"

There's no single "average age" easily available, but the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team generally mirrors typical college football rosters, composed mostly of 18-22 year olds (true freshmen to seniors/redshirt seniors)
 
#374
#374
UTFranklinVol said:
part of IU being more physical comes from sheer age of the players. a 22 or 23 year old is going to be more physically able than an 19 or 20 year old opponent.

their entire starting OL was red shirt juniors or red shirt seniors. their defensive line had one sophomore the rest were redshirt juniors and seniors.

and these aren't "normal" redshirt juniors or seniors. these are the ones like Carson Beck who also have the "free covid year" on top of their redshirt designation.

I hope I'm underestimating him and Tennessee is winning a natty in 2 years.
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You are missing it. IU also went the entire season almost injury free. Whereas we always have tons of injuries. No disrespect hit you seem to just want to find a flaw with this hire. I mean how can you not say this was an absolute home run hire?
 
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#375
#375
temptn said:
I think this has more to do with why Indiana was so good, not necessarily the S&C coach.

The Indiana Hoosiers football team has gained attention for its unusually high average age, reported to be around 22.5 to 23 years old in early 2026, significantly older than most college teams due to coach Curt Cignetti's strategy of using experienced transfers, resulting in a roster with many fourth, fifth, and sixth-year seniors.
Key Details on Indiana's Roster Age:
  • Average Age: Reports pinpoint the average at about 22.5 to 23 years old.
  • Experience: The team features many "grown men" with extensive college experience, including players in their sixth year.
  • Contrast to NFL: For perspective, this average age is comparable to some NFL teams, with the Green Bay Packers averaging around 25, showing Indiana's roster is exceptionally veteran for college football.
Why the Older Age?
  • Transfer Portal: Cignetti heavily utilizes the transfer portal, bringing in older, proven players.
  • Veteran Strategy: The approach focuses on experience over youth, creating a team of veterans known as "grown man teams"

There's no single "average age" easily available, but the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team generally mirrors typical college football rosters, composed mostly of 18-22 year olds (true freshmen to seniors/redshirt seniors)
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Oh look yet another “fan” trying to demean the hire of Owings. Heupel makes two absolutely home run hires and we have fans trying their best to knock it. Sad.
 
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