Many Tennessee football fans favor Josh Heupel. Others, not so much | Adams
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The Tennessee Vols have had a bye week, followed by a noneventful 42-9 victory over outmanned New Mexico State. But my literary contributors understand that every email matters, even if the game doesn’t.
Craig writes: Thanks for your rational and respectful take on the current angst of some fans(?)/critics of coach Josh Heupel.
I suspect there are many others, like myself, who have been wondering when these hyper-naysayers would hear a more reasoned perspective on Heupel’s overall performance.
My response: Fans care deeply and passionately about Tennessee football. Those fans also are having to spend more than ever to be a part of the football experience at Neyland Stadium.
Fans pay more while players make big bucks and coaches make bigger bucks. So, fans have good reason to vent when things don’t go as well as they would like. That’s why I provide a forum in my email column.
But schools can ill afford to act on immediate fan reactions following losses.
Doak writes: I read your column about some UT fans wanting Josh Heupel fired. I agree with your underlying point: be careful what you wish for.
Like you said, no coach is perfect. Good coaches, in every sport, must continually learn from their own mistakes, just like they expect from players.
Heupel has done a very good job so far; not great, but very good. He’s smart and he’ll continually learn.
Of course, we still need good recruiting, a strong NIL budget and successful transfer hauls to remain competitive, but I think his coaching skills have evolved and will continue to evolve.
Let’s let him do his thing and see how the next 3-4 years go.
My response: Like most coaches, Heupel needs to improve in roster management. The deeper we go into the NIL/transfer portal era it becomes more apparent you need to identify and pursue the best players in the portal.
James writes: Your readers need to lighten up on Heupel. Two missed field goals would have made a real difference in the season.
Let’s be realistic: playing Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and another good SEC team every year is a challenge. Vols personnel has improved but not to the level of the top teams.
My response: You’re right. The talent gap has narrowed.
But Tennessee needs to do more in the portal.
Steve writes: The very small minority of fans who want Heupel fired obviously do not see the big picture and are laboring under a great misapprehension. Here’s an idea: let’s fire the disgruntled fans, give them no buyout, and allow them to go to another team.
My response: Kudos for thinking outside the box. But if you fired all disgruntled fans, you might not fill up Neyland Stadium – or, even worse, make your NIL payroll.
David writes: Heupel, like Moses, has led us out of the wilderness. Want to return to the likes of Dooley, Jones, Pruitt and even Fulmer’s last years? Have fans forgotten the stadium three-fourths full, losing seasons and embarrassment.
Want to emulate programs like Florida, Auburn and LSU? Not me.
My response: Many fans think the way you do. However, as a columnist, I sometimes miss the chaotic and comedic days of Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt.
Clown shows make for good column fodder.
I got a couple of columns a year out of Jones’ s catchphrases alone. Also, his explanation of how defensive tackle Shy Tutle injured his eye (by falling on his helmet in the locker room) made for a hall of fame press conference.
And Pruitt’s abject failure as a cheater in a conference known for cheating will forever be a part of SEC lore. He even included his babysitter in his rogue recruiting.
Jimmy writes: Up 14-10, Kirby Smart went for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 36, then again on fourth-and-5 on his own 49. Georgia scored and went up 21-10, then successfully executed an onside kick, followed by another touchdown.
Contrast that with high-floor, low-ceiling Heupel and you see why one is a championship coach, and the other one never will be.
My response: Smart gives Georgia an advantage on game day against everybody. He’s especially gifted at knowing when to take chances.
The onside kick was a risky move, but it paid off. My guess is Smart and his staff saw something on Texas video that indicated the onside kick would work.
He’s the best in the business.
Sam writes: That was an excellent article you wrote on the Vols’ game against New Mexico State.
The Vols can’t cut it. The best chance they had of winning a championship was when Hendon Hooker was the quarterback. They couldn’t do it then and they can’t do it now. If they lose the next two games — and they easily could — Vol fans will want the coach fired.
My response: No matter how the Vols fare in their last two games, the majority of fans won’t want Heupel fired. But my inbox will fill up quickly.
Baker writes: Without a doubt, those were the ugliest uniforms ever. Yuck.
My response: I don’t care about game-day attire. But those uniforms would have been more appropriate for Halloween or the aforementioned clown shows.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Many Tennessee football fans support Josh Heupel. But it’s not unanimous
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