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Tennessee football: Five reasons Josh Heupel won’t leave for Oklahoma Sooners

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football /
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Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops talks during a press conference in New Orleans, Sunday Jan. 1, 2017. The University of Oklahoma football team will play Auburn in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman368243439b702f7e879153b9ff7e2efe
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops talks during a press conference in New Orleans, Sunday Jan. 1, 2017. The University of Oklahoma football team will play Auburn in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman368243439b702f7e879153b9ff7e2efe /

2. There is lingering bitterness between Josh Heupel and OU.

Let’s not forget how Lincoln Riley became OU’s head coach in the first place. Bob Stoops named him offensive coordinator in 2015 after firing Josh Heupel, the guy who won him his only national championship during his 17-year career with the Sooners. Would Heupel really want to leave Tennessee football for Norman, Okla. after that?

Don’t forget, Heupel had to take an offensive coordinator position with the Utah State Aggies a year later. He then rebuilt his career with the Missouri Tigers, and he wasn’t the hottest commodity when the Vols hired him from UCF last year.

Now, Heupel appears to not be resentful, as he says the firing was the best thing to ever happen to him, and given how he’s developed since then, he probably truly believes it. However, he also recently says he hasn’t spoken to Stoops since the firing, so there clearly appears to be a certain level of bitterness at least directed towards Stoops.

Add in the fact that Stoops is going to coach OU in the bowl game on an interim basis, and it’s very clear where the program’s loyalties lie if there’s a rift between the two. Taking that into account, Heupel may have no interest in OU even if he does want to leave Rocky Top.

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