If I had $100 for every time I’ve written how tough Tennessee’s football schedule, my agent would be negotiating with my company for a ridiculously large raise.
UT’s schedule is certainly tougher than the last two. And I’m not about to change my schedule assessment as we move closer to the season opener.
However, if Tennessee fans are at the top of their game in the right games, the schedule could prove less challenging.
The Vols will play four of the nation’s top 13 teams in the preseason coaches poll: No. 4 Texas, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 11 Alabama and No. 13 LSU. Of those four games, only Texas A&M is on the road.
Neyland Stadium often has been a plus for Tennessee during the Josh Heupel era, though you couldn’t prove it by UT’s last two SEC home
games when it lost to Oklahoma and got embarrassed by Vanderbilt. Before that, the Vols won 26 of 28 home games. Their only losses during that stretch were to Georgia.
Fans often wonder if their team will be “up” for a game. But if fans are “up” for those games against Texas, Alabama and LSU, they also could factor into the outcome.
And there’s reason to believe Tennessee fans will be ready to raise the volume.
Heupel could help with that. Perhaps, he’s preparing for the task by being more outspoken.
At the SEC media days, Heupel mentioned golf balls and mustard bottles in reference to former UT coach Lane Kiffin’s visit to Neyland in 2021.
“I certainly hope our fan base hasn’t cooled off … whether it’s the grocery stores being fully stocked with mustard or our sports stores making sure they’ve got reinforcements on the golf balls, hopefully Knoxville’s ready for his arrival,” Heupel said.
Just kidding, he added later. But you can be sure Tennessee fans got the message. Count on them being at their loudest when Kiffin brings his LSU team to Knoxville on Nov. 21.
Heupel’s comment was not in character. He also was as angry as I’ve ever seen him over the NCAA’s uncalled for two-game suspension of linebacker Arion Carter.
Maybe, that was just a warmup for the season to come.
Tennessee’s first big home game will be against Texas on Sept. 26 (noon, ABC or ESPN). My guess is won’t Heupel won’t have any problem rallying the troops – fans and players alike – for that game.
Having played and coached at Oklahoma, Heupel knows all about Texas. My guess is he will share that knowledge by mentioning: “Texas thinks it’s better than Oklahoma. It thinks it’s better than everybody. And it’s laughing at the idea that Tennessee calls itself ‘UT.’
“We need to shut Texas up.”
Heupel doesn’t have to say anything about Alabama, Tennessee oldest rival. But he might cite the Tide’s losses to UT at Neyland in 2022 and 2024 just as a reminder that “Our days of losing to 'Bama at Neyland are over.”
Then, light up a cigar before the Vols take the field.
Heupel also shouldn’t have a problem coming up with appropriate visuals for his Kiffin rematch. Why not bring a mustard bottle to his Monday media availability? No comment would be necessary.
And during the opening minutes of the first practice for LSU – when the media is allowed to shoot video – Heupel could drop back into an imaginary pass pocket and throw a golf ball as far as he could.
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: Is Josh Heupel preparing Tennessee football fans by being more outspoken? | Adams
