Josh Heupel, in his Oklahoma comeback, becomes emotional as Tennessee wins.
NORMAN, Oklahoma When Tennessee coach Josh Heupel visited his alma mater late on Saturday night, his expression and voice conveyed a lot of passion.
After losing his job as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator ten years prior, Heupel frequently stated that the No. 6 Vols’ 25-15 victory against the No. 15 Sooners was “never about me” in a game in which Tennessee dominated defensively the whole time, building a 22-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
The generally unflappable Heupel was visibly moved when Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava gave him the game ball on the field after it was finished, with coaches, players, family members, and former OU teammates embracing him before he left the field.
“This was never about me coming back here, not for this football team,” Heupel stated during the news conference following the game. “I say all that, but they also realized that, for me personally, this one was a little different. Although it wasn’t the main point, I certainly value their acknowledgement.”
In the locker room, he became even more upset, pausing several times when addressing his team.
With the players applauding and clapping, Heupel stammered out, “I appreciate you all having a little extra for me.” “I cherish each and every one of you. That’s what I truly mean. I’m happy for you. I’m pleased with your development. We still have our finest work ahead of us.”
Upon being asked where he would put the game ball, Heupel replied, “It will go in the office for sure.”
Tennessee (4-0) had the highest-scoring offense in the nation going into the game, and even though the Vols could only muster two field goals in the second half against a formidable Oklahoma defense, Tennessee’s defense is what makes this Heupel’s best team since coming to Knoxville in 2021. After Iamaleava lost fumbles in his own end, the Vols defense forced two turnovers on the very next play, finished with 10 tackles for loss, and limited the Sooners to minus-4 yards in the second and third quarters.
Until Oklahoma’s two scores in the fourth quarter, the final one coming with 1:01 remaining, Tennessee’s defense had gone 19 quarters without giving up a touchdown. Jackson Arnold, the Sooners’ starting quarterback, was benched in the second quarter and replaced with Michael Hawkins Jr. for the remainder of the contest.
After observing how his defense controlled the line of scrimmage, Heupel admitted that the Vols called the offense a little differently and more cautiously in the second half of the game. Additionally, he wanted to be cautious not to put Iamaleava in too many dangerous positions because Tennessee played a large portion of the game with backup offensive tackles. In the first quarter, Iamaleava scored a touchdown throw to Dont’e Thornton Jr. for 66 yards, bringing his total passing yards to 194. Additionally, Iamaleava was fired three times.
“At the end of the day, if you want to play really high-level football, you’re going to have to have a high-level defense, and our guys are playing really well,” Heupel stated. “They’re excited about the way they’re playing, but they also know that there’s more out there, and it’s been fun seeing this group continue to grow.”
The Oklahoma offensive managed just 36 rushing yards and went 3-of-15 on third down, but Tennessee’s defensive line, which boasts the depth and quality it hasn’t had in 20 years, wore them down.
Junior defensive lineman Joshua Josephs, who made a tackle for loss and forced two fumbles, said, “Seeing our offense score, honestly, is just another chance for the defense to come out there and play.” It simply gives you energy. We adore it. We enjoy being out on the field. Playing is what we love to do, and as a D-line, we have so much depth that it’s enjoyable to see our guys create plays. Observing Jaxson Moi perform is entertaining. Watching Jayson Jenkins perform is entertaining. It’s entertaining to see this.”
OU had six consecutive offensive possessions with three plays or fewer at one point. Additionally, the Sooners failed to gain a yard on 10 consecutive plays in the first half.
“In this league, you’ve got to be able to win different ways as the season unfolds,” Heupel stated. Every game, opponent, matchup, and detail is unique. Every Saturday, we have to be the most aggressive football squad on the field. That’s one of the essential elements needed to succeed.”
In front of 84,701 fans at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where Heupel shined as a player and quarterbacked the Sooners to a national championship in 2000, it was a dismal SEC start for Oklahoma (3-1).
Brent Venables, who was OU’s co-defensive coordinator in 2000 when Heupel was playing, said of Josh, “Josh is a great coach.” “I don’t believe that has ever been questioned; he has always been successful wherever he has been. I’m happy for all of his accomplishments. That’s just part of the territory, but it’s not one of those times when you’re glad for him because you’re not. They will triumph in numerous games.”
Since defeating Georgia in 2006, Tennessee had not triumphed on the road over an AP top-15 squad.
Ken, Heupel’s father, attended the game with a large group of family members and still resides close to Edmond, Oklahoma. Cindy, Heupel’s mother, passed away earlier in the year.
Heupel remarked following the game, “She was here, watching down from heaven.”
Heupel thanked everyone of his old teammates who had gotten in touch with him during the week before concluding his news conference.
“I didn’t get back to many of you. Heupel again became upset and his eyes began to well up. “I will on the plane ride back, but you guys have changed my life and my family’s life forever, and I’m eternally grateful for all of you,” he added. “There are a lot of former players as well that I should mention.”
He continued: “The second thing is, I’ve gotten a chance to meet a lot of the people that had an impact on my mom while she was here, and I just want to say thank you for the relationships and what you meant to her.”