Track record of the great coaches - and Heupel is measuring up

[General Jack]

While admittedly in a hazy orange afterglow, another reason to be historically excited about the direction of our program is the trend of great coaches proving themselves by year 2 (see below). The ineptitude of our recent coaches has been a common topic of discussion on this board over the painful past 14 years.

No Tennessee coach since Fulmer has beaten one of the big 3 in their first or second year, the lone exception being Kiffin beating Georgia in his only year. Fulmer did it in 1992, but even he benefited greatly from the top 10 program Majors had created for him to inherit. Butch beat florida and georgia in year 4 after accumulating, and later squandering, the most talented Tennessee team since 2001.

While his second season at Tennessee is only 4 games in, Heupel has already managed to beat 2 ranked teams, including a road victory - and more importantly, has already taken down one of our big 3 rivals. This is despite being only 17 games in taking over this program in just about the worst shape it had been in since Majors took over in 1977. Heupel didn't offer any excuses coming in (Year 0) or create distractions (brick by brick).

Heupel is doing what great coaches do - produce immediate results. The great ones show greatness by year 2 and I think we are seeing greatness. There's still a chance that he falters, but the early indicators are that he's going to be a big time winner here at Tennessee. Some examples of greatness by year 2....

Nick Saban, LSU
2000 (8-4)...2001 (10-3) and an SEC Championship

Nick Saban, Alabama
2007 (7-6)...2008 (12-2) achieved #1 ranking an won Sugar Bowl (and had some additional success after that...)

Urban Meyer, Utah
2003 (10-2)...2004 (12-0) and a Mountain West Championship

Urban Meyer, Florida
2005 (10-3)...2006 **(13-1) and a SEC Championship and National Championship

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
1999 (7-5)...2000 **(13-0) and a Big 12 and National Championship

Pete Carroll, USC
2001 (6-6)...2002 (11-2) and a PAC 10 Championship

Kirby Smart, Georgia
2016 (8-5)... 2017 (13-2) and won SEC East

Mark Richt, Georgia
2001 (8-4)...2002 **(13-1) and a SEC Championship

Bobby Bowden, Florida State
1976 (5-6)...1977 (10-2)

Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee
1992 (4-0) as interim HC...1993 (10-2)

Jim Tressel, Ohio State
2001 (7-5)...2002 **(14-0) and a Big Ten and National Championship

 

[General Jack]

Yes, I'm bumping my own post after the LSU.

Heupel's second year heroics are tracking with many of the great coaches. Now he has beaten 3 ranked teams and we have a legit chance of finishing with 10 wins and maybe better.

 

[McDad]

Yes, I'm bumping my own post after the LSU.

Heupel's second year heroics are tracking with many of the great coaches. Now he has beaten 3 ranked teams and we have a legit chance of finishing with 10 wins and maybe better.

I don't know if Heupel will end up being one of the greats. But I am enjoying what he has done and where we are right now.
It is fun to not be vexed about our coaching. It is fun to see a good product (not perfect) on the field.

 

[General Jack]

I don't know if Heupel will end up being one of the greats.

This is fair and I agree, but thankfully he's shown the right trajectory thus far.

 

[General Jack]

bump

 

[DaddyChad]

Would love to know the roster numbers on a lot of those coaches when they come in. Heupel was dealing with a bare bones roster of numbers and a looming investigation. The program was also at 3 wins the year prior to him arriving. That has to be one of the great rebuilds in modern college football.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Coach Heupel is Coach Doug Dickey 2.0