Audio/Quotes: National, Regional, Sports Animal Reaction to Josh Heupel; Several Interviews on UT’s Hire

KNOXVILLE, TN – January 27, 2021 – Head Coach Josh Heupel during his introductory press conference as Tennessee football Head Coach at the Stokely Media Center in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports

Here are some of the quotes and reaction that I ran across today on the University of Tennessee’s hiring of Josh Heupel from UCF as the new head football coach.

The quotes below are only part of what each spoke about in interviews on the SEC Network about Heupel to Tennessee. These were just a few of the things that stood-out, both positively and negatively. It was a mixed bag, overall. It was a little more of a positive lean, in my opinion, based largely on Heupel’s success with offenses, familiarity with the SEC and even more due to the difficult circumstances to try and hire a head football coach for the Vols right now. Take it all for what it’s worth.

There are tweets included below, as well as full interviews you can listen to from our station about Josh Heupel, with Josh Heupel and his introductory press conference.

Rece Davis – ESPN/ABC
“Solid, not spectacular.”

Paul Finebaum – SEC Network/ESPN
“This was a comfort hire.”

Booger McFarland – ESPN
“Tennessee did the best they could.”
“Danny’s (White) outstanding as an AD. I think that (White) was a homerun hire.”
“I like the hire of Josh Heupel.”
“I have no doubts that Tennessee is going to be able to get some dynamic skill players and a quarterback. What’s going to separate him in the SEC is can you stop people.”

Chris Doering – SEC Network
“He wasn’t always the most welcoming. Was a little stand-off-ish. Didn’t necessarily show who he was.”

Gene Chizik – SEC Network
“He can change that narrative (Doering’s above.) He has to be very authentic. Culture is everything.”

Peter Burns – SEC Network
https://twitter.com/PeterBurnsESPN/status/1354451246720151557?s=20

Barrett Sallee – CBS Sports
https://twitter.com/BarrettSallee/status/1354446423065026569?s=20

David Cobb – CBS Sports

The Josh Heupel hire bears similarities to the Bryan Harsin hire at Auburn.

Both are offensive minds who won between 77-79% of their games at G5 powers while struggling to reach the impossibly high bars set by their predecessors.

DC hire will be absolutely critical for Heupel.

— David Cobb (@DavidWCobb) January 27, 2021

Blake Beddingfield – Titans NFL Director of Scouting
https://twitter.com/BlakeBedd/status/1354446167329935364?s=20

Aaron Torres – National Fox Sports Radio
https://twitter.com/Aaron_Torres/status/1354430494234972166?s=20

Brett McMurphy – Stadium
https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1354468895982317568?s=20

Zach Tibbs – High School Coach
https://twitter.com/Z_Tibbs/status/1354502120121266176?s=20

ESPN Stats & Info
https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1354443275348926475?s=20

SportSource Analytics
https://twitter.com/SportSourceA/status/1354441636147851280?s=20
https://twitter.com/SportSourceA/status/1354507682061971462?s=20

Jimmy Hyams – 99.1 The Sports Animal

Heupel was 28-8 at Central Florida (12-1, 10-3, 6-4). UCF lost three games by one possession this season and also lost about 10 players who opted out for COVID reasons. UCF QB Dillon Gabriel led the nation in passing yards per game: 3,570 yards, 29 TD, 7 picks.

— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) January 27, 2021

Josh Ward – 99.1 The Sports Animal

I'm not sure if Danny White realizes he said he tried to not hire Josh Heupel but that Heupel was also their No. 1 option.

— Josh Ward (@Josh_Ward) January 27, 2021

Will West – 99.1 The Sports Animal

https://twitter.com/WillWestWNML/status/1354462820247740422

Brian Rice – 99.1 The Sports Animal

Nobody has to love the hire, you should have a healthy skepticism about it. But ignoring his numbers while also ignoring the situation this program is in with the sanctions it is facing is a waste of energy.

— Brian Rice (@briancrice) January 27, 2021

Tyler Ivens – 99.1 The Sports Animal

Back in October we were receiving multiple tweets and calls wondering why the offense wasn’t to the level of “those other schools like UCF.”

Now that the author of said offense is here the fan base is unhappy?

— Tyler Ivens (@TylerIvens) January 27, 2021

Eric Cain – 99.1 The Sports Animal