On Monday’s episode of the Nonstop podcast with Kirk Herbstreit and Joey Galloway, Herbstreit delivered a passionate, fired-up rant after hearing some Tennessee fans online calling for major changes to be made inside the program. In particular, he was talking about fans who wanted to put head coach Josh Heupel on the hot seat.
Herbstreit’s 90-second rant covered his response to fans calling for Josh Heupel’s job, where the program was before he took over, obstacles that the Vols have had to surpass this season, and more.
“Tip of the cap to the fans, to the game ops at Tennessee,” Herbstreit said. “It’s as good of a scene, to me, as there is in the country when they’re rolling. And, I think – I heard some nonsense from Tennessee fans about, ‘Josh Heupel’s got to go! Everybody’s – Whoever loses has got to go.’ Man, bull****. Have you thought about where Tennessee’s football program was? Before Josh Heupel got there? Have you thought about how many years you were irrelevant, off-the-field issues, BS, all going – this is a good football team that lost, maybe, the two best corners on one team (Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson). They didn’t even get a chance to play together. And, somehow, Tim Banks is holding on, trying to put a defense out there. You should be just, like, ‘Lock Josh Heupel and his staff down for 100 years.’ You can’t win every game. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a good coach. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a good program. You’re lucky to have Josh Heupel. You’re lucky to have this program. You’re lucky to have the AD (Danny White) you have. You guys are heading in a great direction. Be grateful. It’s going to come. You can’t win them all, and when you lose one, it doesn’t mean you need to fire your coach.”
It’s as fired-up as we’ve seen Herbstreit on his Monday night podcast so far this season through its first eight episodes. Herbstreit, clearly, had something he wanted to get off his chest. And he let it rip.
Watch the full 90-second rant below by clicking on the play button:
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Herbstreit, who was on the call for Tennessee’s loss to Oklahoma alongside Chris Fowler on Saturday night in Knoxville, shared high praise for the Vols’ environment. Herbstreit has been on several Tennessee calls and has been to Rocky Top a handful of times over the last few years with his role for ABC and his hosting duties on ESPN’s College GameDay.
“We always debate, college football, the atmospheres, they’re great. Where’s the best? And I feel like, because Tennessee, before Josh Heupel got there, they were struggling, obviously, for a number of years. He’s gotten them back,” Herbstreit said on the show. “And I know they didn’t win the game, but I’m just going to tell you, if you get a chance to go, and they’re ranked and the opponent they are playing is ranked, going to Knoxville is an electric, as good as there is, atmosphere when the host, especially a night game in the SEC.”
Tennessee lost to Oklahoma by a score of 33-27 on Saturday night in Knoxville. The loss was the Vols’ third loss of the season, essentially eliminating UT from playoff contention. We’ll find out more about how the committee views Tennessee in the inaugural CFP Rankings on Tuesday night, but it’s hard to think that the Vols will be in many of the top conversations.
Now, though, it’s about finishing the year. As Herbstreit alluded to in his long message, Tennessee has had to fight through some massive obstacles, including working in a new quarterback and injuries to two elite cornerbacks. Does Tennessee rally to beat both Florida and Vanderbilt and land in one of college football’s top non-playoff bowls? Do the Vols lose both SEC rivalry games to end at 7-5? Does the answer land right in the middle?
Those are the questions that we’ll soon find out answers to over the span of November.
No. 23 Tennessee is on an open date this weekend and will return the following week to close out the regular season with a slate that includes games vs New Mexico State, at Florida, and vs Vanderbilt.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Football coverage.
