Josh Heupel: Running through the T 'as good as it gets' in college football

Josh Heupel was quite clear in his segment on SEC Network this past weekend: Running through the T is different from any other pregame tradition.

In fact, there’s nothing like it.

“Man, unbelievable,” Heupel told SEC Network’s Marty Smith. “The pomp and circumstance, the buildup, the energy… there’s nothing like the T splitting and running out of that T. It’s college football as good as it gets.”

There’s nothing like running through the T in Neyland Stadium.@coachjoshheupel | @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/TZPeNwGUUi

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) August 16, 2022

The Vols are set for a strong season in 2022. They just missed the cut in the Preseason Top 25 AP Poll released Monday, coming in at 26, and return several capable playmakers on offense in wide receiver Cedric Tillman and dark horse Heisman candidate Hendon Hooker.

The key will be keeping the crowd from falling asleep when the defense is set to take the field. Tennessee returns a good chunk o talent from a defense that was not bad, not great in 2021. A 10-win Tennessee at the end of 2022 will rely on the defense taking a step under defensive coordinator Tim Banks and Josh Huepel’s 2nd year command.