Heupel Doubts or No?

[Volizona]

Some of our fans are dumb. We’re way ahead of where I thought we would be as a program when he was hired. He basically was down an entire class of talent on the roster when he came and took over. Hooker, Hyatt, Tillman, Velus, Bru all those guys did little to nothing before Heupel as well.

Wah, wah, wah. Poor coach, he doesn’t have his players yet. Wah, wah, he was left a dumpster fire. Wah, wah. We have chosen 5 idiot coaches in a row. He needs 5 more years. We are UT and we have pride. Quit the excuses and get the job done. You have more resources and support than just about any other program. We have definitely regressed this year. 8-4 is fine but to get absolutely blown out by decent teams is NOT. Get the job done. 20 years is long enough.

 

[BP4Prez]

Depends on what he does in the off season. Our secondary is awful. Offense is terrible. He has to know that himself. I just don’t know if he has CEO mentality or if he’s the type of coach that just rides with his guys. As much as I hate to say this, I just don’t see him getting past last season’s record. We will never be elite without better recruiting.

That’s why you have the same 4 teams winning every year. Because they dominate recruiting.

 

[volfeeva]

We started this season off with a 5th year senior qb who has played many games at different schools. And all of our biggest rivals --- Ga, Fla, Bama were starting with qb's that were not their starters last year or before. This should have been our year to knock off at least 2 of the 3, but instead, once again, teams playing a rookie qb beat a Vols team that was playing with a " seasoned" qb. All 3 of those schools will be harder to beat next year with their QB having more experience. Disappointing season, yeah

 

[General Jack]

We will likely go 8-4 with a thin roster, few if any NFL prospects (for this year) and subpar quarterback play. Not sure how many coaches could pull that off in the SEC.

And the thin roster is because of the condition of the program he inherited.

 

[Jackcrevol]

This thread, like its posts, are really bad takes. Do you guys remember how bad we sucked for two decades?

Ill remind you, we sucked. Heup is the man.

 

[Cartervol]

Im pretty sure we’re no longer close to being behind Florida this cycle.

Probably doesn't matter either way with them does it? They could hobble a one legged gimp out there at QB and somehow win..

 

[Jersey Moonshine]

Has the regression this season caused you to have any doubts about Heupel and his future? In my case, the answer is yes, sort of. I did not think we would see 3 disheartening losses in year 3 of this staff but here we are. I am NOT calling for Heupel's head but I wonder if I'm alone in hearing a little voice in my head that says "this may not be what we thought it was going to be." I hope I'm wrong but I have some experience with the little voice. I have learned to not ingore it.

These are my sentiments, exactly. We’ve actually had four disheartening losses--Florida, Alabama, Missouri, and Georgia. I would use other adjectives, however. Alarming and/or devastating seem more appropriate. I still think Heupel is a good coach but he’s not the wonder boy we thought he was and the shine is definitely off the apple.

 

[General Jack]

Not being competitive isn't a good look.. Hard to spin anything about that positive..

Hard to be competitive when you’re playing third team DBs and O-line. That said, after next year any depth issues are on Heupel.

 

[DaddyChad]

Wah, wah, wah. Poor coach, he doesn’t have his players yet. Wah, wah, he was left a dumpster fire. Wah, wah. We have chosen 5 idiot coaches in a row. He needs 5 more years. We are UT and we have pride. Quit the excuses and get the job done. You have more resources and support than just about any other program. We have definitely regressed this year. 8-4 is fine but to get absolutely blown out by decent teams is NOT. Get the job done. 20 years is long enough.

Lol yeah dude you have pride. I can tell by the way you post. Never said he needs five more years.

 

[UTblood4life]

Yes. We are not even competitive against good teams. CJP is showing signs of Butch and Pruitt stubbornness, no adjustments made, no improvement and insisting on his offensive system regardless of personnel. All of the goodness from last year had been cancelled out this year. And please don’t tell me I need to be patient, I think 20 years of patience is enough. It’s time to get the job done. I’ve pretty much lost interest in this Football season. Time to move on to basketball.

Next year's schedule is brutal

 

[turbovol]

Why is this a thread….
I understand to be frustrated and annoyed after the past 2 games, and the loses have happened, but like come on.
This progam was left for dead when he took and now look. 7-6, 11-2, and more then likely 8-4.
1. Its stability. Instead of falling off a cliff. Managed to go 8-4 and not be a laughing stock like it use to be.
2. Recruiting is fine, NIL is setup to make moves, and we all know an upgrade at qb.
3. The future is bright for this program. This was a Bridge year. Lost to much talent, still not enough depth, and having to work with a limited offense.
Doubt levels should be low to none at all.

Ha: Depth will always be a problem. There will soon be 16 teams in the SEC, and that's just our conference.

Not a laughing stock? No, but today was pretty funny.

 

[Orangeslice13]

Vols fans are stupid

 

[Rocky Top T]

Just think about this. He's making 9 million a year. Ridiculous

 

[D3Athlete]

It’s a thread because there’s legitimate reason for concern. A UCF poster came on here the day of the hire and said Heupel was terrible in short yardage/ high leverage red zone situations and game management. Well…..guess what????

I guess last year never happened then….

 

[T-for-Tennessee]

I bet Danny White is watching closely....... At least I hope he is.

Heupel is White's guy...lock stock and barrel. It will be interesting to see this play out if the time comes when a change is obviously needed.

 

[knox73]

No. Now that the Milton year is over - whatever infatuation Josh had with Joe just served up Josh's worst offense as far as production ever. Surely Nico and the true freshman coming in will be SEC caliber quarterbacks and Josh can resume his fast paced nightmare creating offense. There is serious work ahead to defeat Vandy, compete in a bowl game and recruit - but I feel this season was a low point that is an aberration. Anyway - building talent and depth could return the Vols to the upper division of the SEC in 2024.

 

[Sarms58]

No. He’s definitely not bad enough to even consider throwing the program back into the dumpster fire - we lived there for the better part of a decade. He has a better record after 3 seasons than ever coach since Bill Battle with the exception of Fulmer. We’ll see how the next couple years play out. Next year might be another tough year - we really don’t have much of that last Pruitt class left so we could a be very young team next year. Definitely need more portal help and maybe some NIL money to keep some of the seniors who have the option to return. We need to close the talent gap but that’s tough to do when Bama and Georgia keep landing top 5 classes.

 

[Switch 625]

Yes. I see no player development or willingness to replace non-performers.

 

[Pickle1]

Wah, wah, wah. Poor coach, he doesn’t have his players yet. Wah, wah, he was left a dumpster fire. Wah, wah. We have chosen 5 idiot coaches in a row. He needs 5 more years. We are UT and we have pride. Quit the excuses and get the job done. You have more resources and support than just about any other program. We have definitely regressed this year. 8-4 is fine but to get absolutely blown out by decent teams is NOT. Get the job done. 20 years is long enough.

I’m with you, and Heupel is definitely not getting it done! He is no better than Butch! But everything is going at a really high level though, and I am Spartacus!

 

[The_topis_Rocky89]

At this point I have come to realize we may have the dumbest fan base in college….. We regressed what is sticking out this year that didn’t happen last year????? Idk know maybe that this team was bit by the injury bug….. I wonder how much of the play book had to be trimmed by losing Bru and then Thorton right as he was starting to really come on….. The defense was top 25 before Hadden went down and has declined bc we can’t pay man with Hadden…. We as fans may not like it but giving NIco time to learn the playbook will be massive

 

[D3Athlete]

Ha: Depth will always be a problem. There will soon be 16 teams in the SEC, and that's just our conference.

Not a laughing stock? No, but today was pretty funny.

What in the world…. Depth problems is not conference related. It’s related to still not being able to have a 85 full man scholarship team. Like come on.

 

[bpalmer28]

We will likely go 8-4 with a thin roster, few if any NFL prospects (for this year) and subpar quarterback play. Not sure how many coaches could pull that off in the SEC.

And the thin roster is because of the condition of the program he inherited.

Well when you put it like that it doesn’t sound so bad. But 0 second half points against Bama, Missouri, and Georgia is pretty bad.

 

[508mikey]

We will likely go 8-4 with a thin roster, few if any NFL prospects (for this year) and subpar quarterback play. Not sure how many coaches could pull that off in the SEC.

And the thin roster is because of the condition of the program he inherited.

Beldar Cornbread

 

[Majors]

No. Key injures on defense at LB and DB, WR that wouldn’t start on most teams (Bru excluded) OL that below the standard and no depth for the SEC.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

If we still don’t have the talent to be competitive in those games in year 4, that’s a major red flag.

Competitive, perhaps, but saying a 10 win season next year should be given is a pretty big stretch.

GA and Bama are recruiting and coaching machines. Two long-term Hall of Fame coaches who recruit at the very, very highest level and have for about a decade....... those are extremely hard Ws.

Oklahoma is only a slightly less effective recruiting school and they have had some coaching turnover but they've managed to stay in the top 20 except the year Riley ran off with a few players. They are by no means an easy W.

Saying Heupel has to win 10 or his seat heats up just isn't realistic. We're the "new guys" to SEC and national success compared to those 3 above.

I'll grant OU could be very competitive next year but GA and Bama aren't showing signs of weakening much. If anything GA is becoming the menace to the SEC that Bama has been with recruiting and winning.

There's limits to what can be expected when two big rivals have more stable programs, arguably more talented coaching, and historically the strongest recruiting programs in the country.