Media reacts to reports of Tennessee finalizing deal with Josh Heupel

Multiple outlets are reporting that UCF’s Josh Heupel will be Tennessee’s next head football coach. An announcement is expected Wednesday.

Heupel heads to Knoxville after a 3-year stint at UCF where he was 28-8 overall. In 2020, Heupel and the Knights finished 6-4. The Vols new head coach is known for his offenses, and the Knights averaged around 42 to 43 points per game during his tenure.

The SEC, however, is a whole new ballgame compared to the AAC, but a strong defensive coordinator hire (Kevin Steele is already on the coaching staff) would complement Heupel’s offense.

Reactions from media members are pouring in after reports of Tennessee hiring Heupel. Below is a sampling of the reaction:

The trajectory of Josh Heupel’s three years at UCF:
2018 – Great!
2019 – A bit better than mediocre
2020 – Decidedly mediocre with a dash of team dysfunction

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 27, 2021

An underwhelming hire. But the job wasn’t that attractive https://t.co/852juUIBoQ

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 27, 2021

This seems like an underwhelming hire, which given the way coaching hires go means he’ll probably do really well. https://t.co/HSJtPqqoCu

— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) January 27, 2021

So Central Florida is about to get $6 million in buyout money from Tennessee for an AD and a head coach and they are going to hire a better coach than Tennessee to replace Josh Heupel with that money. Typical Vol football.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 27, 2021

Per @sinow sources, Heupel is the choice after White took some swings and misses elsewhere. Clemson OC Tony Elliott likely gave the job the most serious consideration before opting to stay put.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) January 27, 2021

Danny getting band back together https://t.co/yNcs3Ws69N

— Booger (@ESPNBooger) January 27, 2021

The irony of this is that the Tennessee job would have been 10 times more attractive if the school had just fired Pruitt and paid him rather than digging in the dirt and creating an NCAA cloud. Truly one of the great self-owns in college football history.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 27, 2021

You never even reach out to Kiffin, Freeze or Chadwell. You let it come down to money over Franklin and you pay $6 million in buyout dollars for UCF’s AD & coach? Absolute & utter incompetence. I feel sorry for Tennessee fans to have to deal with 15 years of this.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 27, 2021

Under circumstances Danny White did the best he could Hired someone who looked at this job as a promotion regardless of sanctions, can create offense with less , and can get a qb based on what he has done in the past

— Booger (@ESPNBooger) January 27, 2021

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.