Just How Good Is This Heupel Guy?

[posivol]

Haven't watched FSU this year , but I think their players are really down as a result of being screwed out of the playoffs last year. Thet have lost games this year to teams they shouldn't have.

no..they brought in a crappy qb in dju

 

[greenbacknative]

maybe they’re just a really bad football team?

Geez they were a 12 win team last year. and now they probably couldn't beat Maryville College..

 

[DaddyChad]

Geez they were a 12 win team last year. and now they probably couldn't beat Maryville College..

Well competition isn’t much period in any year. They did have a great qb last year, this year they’ve got DJU. Huge step down in qb play.

 

[JohnWardForever]

All due respect to Heupel, who I do think is a great coach and doing a great job for Tennessee, this isn't really a full picture of the situation unless it also includes transfer portal information. Tennessee's NIL outfits have been recognized as doing an excellent job, and some of that money has gone to bringing in transfers who could make an impact on Tennessee but who aren't reflected in the traditional recruiting rankings.

This year, McCoy huge! And MOI

 

[Heupel's Offseason Beard]

Consider this…

Team	AP Rank	2024 Class Composite	Range (rank-comp)
Alabama	1	1	0
Texas	2	4	-2
Ohio State	3	3	0
Tennessee	4	17	-13
Georgia	5	2	3
Oregon	6	6	0
Penn State	7	11	-4
Miami	8	14	-6
Missouri	9	19	-10
Michigan	10	16	-6

The ceiling is high for Tennessee. Doing a lot more with a lot less. (Coach Dork is doing surprisingly well, too)

It also helps that, for the most part, Heupel targets high character guys who rarely transfer. Sure a top 3 recruiting class looks good, but not when half of the guys leave the program. See Georgia's 2020 class or A&Ms 2022 class

 

[aRmo]

Florida State is the 13th most talented team according to 247. They are 1-4. Talent helps but you need a coach that can bring it all together.

Yep, not just a coach, you need culture and kids who care and have pride for the program they play for. Not the paycheck they are getting.

 

[adam.vol]

The problem I see with composite rankings, they neglect to address the average age of the teams. Bama and Georgia are losing Juniors to the NFL every season while TN has 6th year starters. How many of those Bama and Georgia guys are freshmen and sophomores? That probably explains the closeness in performance, despite composite discrepancy.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

The problem I see with composite rankings, they neglect to address the average age of the teams. Bama and Georgia are losing Juniors to the NFL every season while TN has 6th year starters. How many of those Bama and Georgia guys are freshmen and sophomores? That probably explains the closeness in performance, despite composite discrepancy.

Definitely has some impact, we seem to do on retaining overall. We have lost a few but our retention is high because of good coaching and communication among staff and players. Having coaches that can coach up and motivate players is a great thing. Everybody buys in! GBO

 

[adam.vol]

Definitely has some impact, we seem to do on retaining overall. We have lost a few but our retention is high because of good coaching and communication among staff and players. Having coaches that can coach up and motivate players is a great thing. Everybody buys in! GBO

I am glad to see that we have not squandered this opportunity that Covid has given us. It was difficult for foresee closing the gap with Georgia and Bama prior to NIL and an extra year. We would be in a bind without Bru and Cooper this season, probably talking about “what if” instead of “we can”.

However, if we win in the playoffs, we should be able recruit with the best of them under Heupel as head coach.

 

[EZE]

For those who don’t think having a good coach is paramount, how do you explain great programs like Tennessee going from great to multiple losing seasons after replacing Fulmer?

At Tennessee, the stadium, weight room, practice facility, etc. all stayed the same or actually upgraded. But, yet, would anyone disagree that the Tennessee culture changed for the worse through those multiple coaching changes?

Or Florida going from multiple titles to the trash bin after terrible hire after terrible hire?

Or Alabama sucking for decades and then winning multiple national titles after one coaching change?

And the list goes on and on.

Bottom line…. The HC sets the tone for EVERYTHING in the program, including the intangibles off the field and in the off-season.

My last example…Tony Vitello. Oh, and let’s not forget Rick Barnes.

Heupel, Vitello and Barnes all took over mediocre or worse programs and elevated them into the Top-10 and higher. And they all deserve the bulk of the credit.

Coaching most certainly matters.

 

[EZE]

Consider this…

Team	AP Rank	2024 Class Composite	Range (rank-comp)
Alabama	1	1	0
Texas	2	4	-2
Ohio State	3	3	0
Tennessee	4	17	-13
Georgia	5	2	3
Oregon	6	6	0
Penn State	7	11	-4
Miami	8	14	-6
Missouri	9	19	-10
Michigan	10	16	-6

The ceiling is high for Tennessee. Doing a lot more with a lot less. (Coach Dork is doing surprisingly well, too)

Our current staff most certainly develops players. One of their biggest strengths IMO.

 

[casual-observer]

For those who don’t think having a good coach is paramount, how do you explain great programs like Tennessee going from great to multiple losing seasons after replacing Fulmer?

At Tennessee, the stadium, weight room, practice facility, etc. all stayed the same or actually upgraded. But, yet, would anyone disagree that the Tennessee culture changed for the worse through those multiple coaching changes?

Or Florida going from multiple titles to the trash bin after terrible hire after terrible hire?

Or Alabama sucking for decades and then winning multiple national titles after one coaching change?

And the list goes on and on.

Bottom line…. The HC sets the tone for EVERYTHING in the program, including the intangibles off the field and in the off-season.

My last example…Tony Vitello. Oh, and let’s not forget Rick Barnes.

Heupel, Vitello and Barnes all took over mediocre or worse programs and elevated them into the Top-10 and higher. And they all deserve the bulk of the credit.

Coaching most certainly matters.

...or maybe...

Just how good is this Danny White guy?

 

[vavolfan6]

People overlook that Tennessee is still facing the consequences from a terrible 2021 recruiting class and a ratings wise, 22md ranked 2022 class. We were short a few scholarships too.

But the last two classes along with the 2025 class are all around the top 10. By the time Faizon Brandon steps on campus, Heupel should have a stable of top classes that he has been able to fully develop. By then we should be in top 10 Blue Chip ratio.

 

[EZE]

...or maybe...

Just how good is this Danny White guy?

He is great, too, but he only hired one out of those three.

Even so, he gets all the credit in the world for retaining them and making UT a place they want to coach.

 

[Volfan1000]

Consider this…

Team	AP Rank	2024 Class Composite	Range (rank-comp)
Alabama	1	1	0
Texas	2	4	-2
Ohio State	3	3	0
Tennessee	4	17	-13
Georgia	5	2	3
Oregon	6	6	0
Penn State	7	11	-4
Miami	8	14	-6
Missouri	9	19	-10
Michigan	10	16	-6

The ceiling is high for Tennessee. Doing a lot more with a lot less. (Coach Dork is doing surprisingly well, too)

Heupel has a chance to become Neyland 2.0 before he is finished at Tennessee.

 

[EZE]

Heupel has a chance to become Neyland 2.0 before he is finished at Tennessee.

I agree. If CJH can get the first one under his belt (always the hardest), I can see him winning multiple titles.

Of course, it’s possible he’ll never get over that first bump. But I wouldn’t bet against him.