Josh Heupel, former Oklahoma sensation leads Tennessee vs. Sooners
Former Oklahoma Sooners All-American quarterback and national champion Josh Heupel returns to Norman on Saturday to lead his top-ten-ranked Tennessee Volunteers football squad against his alma mater.
- Date: Saturday, Sep. 21
- Time: 6:30 PM CST
- TV: ABC
Heupel began coaching as a graduate assistant at OU in 2004 and was co-offensive coordinator for the Sooners from 2011 to 2014.
As reported by Oklahoma Sooners on SI and told to John Hoover, Heupel said this about Oklahoma ahead of Saturday’s matchup, “There’s so many people that have been a huge part of my journey that I … hopefully get a chance to say hi to a bunch of them. I wouldn’t be here today at Tennessee if I didn’t have all those experiences. So, tremendously grateful for all those people.”
As a player, Heupel began his college football career at Weber State and later ended up at Oklahoma in 1999 to play for first-year head coach Bob Stoops.
Josh Heupel and The Conquest of Norman
As a team captain, Heupel’s second season with the Sooners in 2000 was one for the ages. Heupel led the Sooners to an undefeated season (13-0). He completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,392 yards, 20 touchdowns and 14 INTs. As a result, Heupel was runner-up to Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke in the Heisman voting that season.
From Heisman snub to BCS “dub”
In the BCS title game in the Orange Bowl, the Sooners faced off against heavily favored Florida State. The Seminoles averaged 42 points per game during that 2000 season and scored over 50 points five times, including two games of 63 points each.
Oklahoma’s defense held that vaunted FSU offense out of the end zone for three quarters, allowed just two points total, and forced two INTs by Heisman winner Weinke in a 13-2 Sooners victory. Heupel was 25 of 39 passing for 214 yards. The Sooners were the champions of college football.
The awards and accolades for Heupel were numerous in that 2000 season, including the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. Consensus All-American, and Walter Camp Award.
Heupel Ascending Rocky Top
During this season’s 3-0 start, Heupel has Tennessee ranked No. 6 in the country and running like a pack of scalded Bluetick Coonhounds, averaging a whopping 63 points per game on offense and allowing a stingy 4.3 points per game on defense. They rank in the top five nationally in both of those categories.
The Vols will be tested on Saturday by an aggressive Oklahoma defense. The Sooners allow 11 points per game. In addition, Oklahoma ranks in the top ten in sacks and turnover margin. However, the Sooners defense has yet to face an explosive offense like Tennessee’s.
As of this writing, Tennessee is favored by -7 points over 15th-ranked Oklahoma, according to Draftkings.com. Will the Sooner faithful express adulation toward their former favorite son on the opposing sideline on Saturday?
We shall see.
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Tony, I thought this article on the Tennessee coach was very informative and well written. I look forward to reading your future articles. Keep up the good work.