Vrabel/Heupel

#1

golfballvol

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#1
IMO if we fire Heupel, he will be right back in the national championship hunt with another school, like vrabel has done since the Titans scapegoated him in 2023.

Before you negavols say he hasn’t gotten us in the championship hunt, we were there in 2024, and certainly in 2022. I believe he’ll have us there again. Both vrabel and Heupel were the best coaches the titans and vols have had in a long time. Let’s not make the same mistake Nashville did. Just my opinion.
 
#3
#3
He hasn’t even gotten into the SECCG much less win it. Richt got 10 or 11 seasons at UGA and had to go he could claim playing in championship games at least. Heupel isn’t far away from that In longevity. I’m not calling for his firing this coming season but I don’t see how any HC at Tennessee can hang around 10+ years without hanging some kind of banner. If he puts a team on the field next season that can’t beat a ranked team like this past season, I could care less if he takes his business elsewhere. If the 2027 team plays the same or less he has to go.
 
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#4
#4
With his god awful clock management skills, not likely. I don’t think we should fire him though. He’s just slightly above average in my opinion
 
#5
#5
With his god awful clock management skills, not likely. I don’t think we should fire him though. He’s just slightly above average in my opinion
If you think its not likely that he gets us in a championship hunt and hes just slightly above average, why do you think he shouldn't be fired?

If I felt the way you did I'd want him gone.
 
#6
#6
IMO if we fire Heupel, he will be right back in the national championship hunt with another school, like vrabel has done since the Titans scapegoated him in 2023.

Before you negavols say he hasn’t gotten us in the championship hunt, we were there in 2024, and certainly in 2022. I believe he’ll have us there again. Both vrabel and Heupel were the best coaches the titans and vols have had in a long time. Let’s not make the same mistake Nashville did. Just my opinion.
IF JH has solved our D, no reason we can't be in the hunt. I like our RB room, but think we're going to need them to be really good this year b/c first year starting QB...just not sure the high-end talent is there. Maybe it is.

Edit: Also, besides Vrabel being a good coach, he had a good D and good QB play this year. If we have same, we'll be well in the mix.
 
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#7
#7
He hasn’t even gotten into the SECCG much less win it. Richt got 10 or 11 seasons at UGA and had to go he could claim playing in championship games at least. Heupel isn’t far away from that In longevity. I’m not calling for his firing this coming season but I don’t see how any HC at Tennessee can hang around 10+ years without hanging some kind of banner. If he puts a team on the field next season that can’t beat a ranked team like this past season, I could care less if he takes his business elsewhere. If the 2027 team plays the same or less he has to go.
All of this on JH, but it's different now than it was even 4-5 years ago. The talent spread in SEC now makes it more possible and less possible to win the SEC. JH has been fortunate to have really good QB play in some years and really good D in 2024. Problem is, haven't had really good offense and defense production in the same year. Needs to have this in order to be in SEC CG contention. I think we're in a good spot w/ our D changes, and credit to JH for making the changes.
 
#8
#8
If you think its not likely that he gets us in a championship hunt and hes just slightly above average, why do you think he shouldn't be fired?

If I felt the way you did I'd want him gone.

Timing and Opportunity is the name of the game. I personally think Heupel is going to be here a minimum of 2 more years. He has made good changes to his personal philosophy with staffing changes. Now he has to fix those boneheaded management decisions that really came out of nowhere this year.

So far he's done things to make changes to lead me to think the 2025 season was an off year.

But back to my first point, I don't think we should move on from Heupel without a clear upgrade being a realistic option.

I will say, I'm glad Tennessee didn't have to compete in this latest coaching cycle.
 
#9
#9
If you think its not likely that he gets us in a championship hunt and hes just slightly above average, why do you think he shouldn't be fired?

If I felt the way you did I'd want him gone.
He could get us there if he has really good coordinators and coaches around him. We will see if we’ve upgraded or not on that front within the next few years. I’m optimistic About the defense since many of our transfers already know the new DC’s scheme
 
#10
#10
Timing and Opportunity is the name of the game. I personally think Heupel is going to be here a minimum of 2 more years. He has made good changes to his personal philosophy with staffing changes. Now he has to fix those boneheaded management decisions that really came out of nowhere this year.

So far he's done things to make changes to lead me to think the 2025 season was an off year.

But back to my first point, I don't think we should move on from Heupel without a clear upgrade being a realistic option.

I will say, I'm glad Tennessee didn't have to compete in this latest coaching cycle.
Dude I know where you stand on it and I always appreciate your honesty. Thats the biggest thing missing from most of the discussions on this board.

To your point of timing and opportunity. No one gets that more than me but many here don't think like that, they think more with emotions. What we should do and what some want to do is 2 different things. Even with them it is but all they talk about here is what they want to do.
 
#11
#11
Vrabel is indeed an example of boneheaded management and impatience by the “Titans.”

Tennessee Volunteers football wandered for over a decade in the self-inflicted coaching wasteland between Fulmer and Heupel and most certainly will not fall victim to impatience and stupidity so soon after that debacle.
 
#12
#12
He could get us there if he has really good coordinators and coaches around him. We will see if we’ve upgraded or not on that front within the next few years. I’m optimistic About the defense since many of our transfers already know the new DC’s scheme
Just sounds like talking out of both sides of your mouth. If hes not likely to get us there and hes just a little above average he needs to go because that is not going to beat half the SEC.
 
#16
#16
Reading all this I think UT is in the middle of the pack as player talent in this league. I’d put UGA Tx Bama A&M LSU in the top tier. UF UT OU MZ AU VN then bottom tier for rest. We lost to UGA in OT my UGA friend said Kirby coaching malfeasance misused his talent should have blown out UT. Probably true we struggled with ArkMSU & blown out by VU . With extra teams in SEC TX & OU it makes it harder to get to the SECC game I mean A& M has a SECC season but left out. So it’s different than it was in 90s with less teams then & just 3 or 4 top HCs rest terrible HCs. It’s just different world & when Vrabel got better players the results changed. Better players with a top coach or you’re gonna be an also ran. That’s why Kiffen is spending OSU money for a team to buffer his HC skills kind of like Heupel great OC but so so HC.
You got to have the best players. Auburn won the whole thing with a terrible HC as did Miami back in the day those were player led teams.
 
#19
#19
I’d like to hear the names of “elite” coaches that would come to Knoxville to replace him. Be careful what you wish for. I’m sure that Auburn, Florida and Penn St fans thought that “elite” coaches would be lined up at their doorstep too. Josh made the tough decisions in the off season on defense that everybody said were needed. Let’s see how that goes before going crazy.
 
#20
#20
I’d like to hear the names of “elite” coaches that would come to Knoxville to replace him. Be careful what you wish for. I’m sure that Auburn, Florida and Penn St fans thought that “elite” coaches would be lined up at their doorstep too. Josh made the tough decisions in the off season on defense that everybody said were needed. Let’s see how that goes before going crazy.

You, sir, are no toad!
 
#21
#21
I think many don't realize how much College Football has changed. However, the fanbase has changed expectations in a very complex way. Every year we want a National Championship and we should but the years of dynasties are long gone.

Now if you want a NC you better out bid the other guy for players, coaches and staff. Even if you do, one or two games will make a difference.

Notre Dame got a gimme which should never have happen. Should not have handed it out.

The CFP selection rests upon the whim of humans and in some cases are just punching a resume' ticket. ESPN caters their needs for viewership and $$$$$ with their bias slants as well.

The NCAA has lost control on monitoring, governing the College Athletics.

Right now we have CJH and he appears to have a long term plan but some put him on a short leash. His biggest jobs are retention, recruiting and development.
 
#22
#22
He hasn’t even gotten into the SECCG much less win it. Richt got 10 or 11 seasons at UGA and had to go he could claim playing in championship games at least. Heupel isn’t far away from that In longevity. I’m not calling for his firing this coming season but I don’t see how any HC at Tennessee can hang around 10+ years without hanging some kind of banner. If he puts a team on the field next season that can’t beat a ranked team like this past season, I could care less if he takes his business elsewhere. If the 2027 team plays the same or less he has to go.
This is going to become harder and harder as the SEC keeps expanding. I think when I started watching the Vols, the SEC was only 12 teams. We still could barely make it in….These days, ha….going to take a miracle.
 
#24
#24
Dude I know where you stand on it and I always appreciate your honesty. Thats the biggest thing missing from most of the discussions on this board.

To your point of timing and opportunity. No one gets that more than me but many here don't think like that, they think more with emotions. What we should do and what some want to do is 2 different things. Even with them it is but all they talk about here is what they want to do.
You nailed the “emotion” part. I guess it’s the thing I dislike most about Volnation. It’s clear so many take this thing so personally that do not possess the ability to think rationally. It’s all emotional responses(a massive sign of immaturity) I have several blocked who are completely out of bounds. However there’s a good core of posters who DO have rational and unemotional post, which I greatly appreciate!
 
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#25
#25
He hasn’t even gotten into the SECCG much less win it. Richt got 10 or 11 seasons at UGA and had to go he could claim playing in championship games at least. Heupel isn’t far away from that In longevity. I’m not calling for his firing this coming season but I don’t see how any HC at Tennessee can hang around 10+ years without hanging some kind of banner. If he puts a team on the field next season that can’t beat a ranked team like this past season, I could care less if he takes his business elsewhere. If the 2027 team plays the same or less he has to go.
Would have been in the SECCG in 2022 if we weren’t in divisions. Ole Miss went to the semi finals and Miami went to the finals and neither played in their conference championship game this year.
 
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