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Tennessee football: Ranking head coaches on Vols’ 2022 schedule

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (left) and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel (right) meet at midfield after the game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (left) and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel (right) meet at midfield after the game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 15, 2018; Bloomington, IN, USA; Ball State Cardinals head coach Mike Neu applauds his team after the score in the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2018; Bloomington, IN, USA; Ball State Cardinals head coach Mike Neu applauds his team after the score in the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Ball State Cardinals. 7th season. Mike Neu. 11. player. 2246

28-41

There’s a lot of excitement behind Mike Neu and the fact that he has taken the Ball State Cardinals to two straight bowl games. Tennessee football fans can have a bit of excitement for their Thursday opener against this team beyond just the fact that it’s the start to Josh Heupel’s second season on the job.

Honestly, though, Neu may be a bit of an overrated head coach. He had a losing record each of his first four years at Ball State and then had a dramatic turn in 2020, when they went 7-1, won the MAC Championship and finished in the top 25. However, that was the COVID-shortened season, and all results that year should be taken with a grain of salt.

Last year was Neu’s first legitimate bowl season, and with one of the most experienced teams in MAC play, he still went just 6-7 and lost his bowl game to the Georgia State Panthers. With lots of talent gone now, there is reason to be skeptical that Neu can continue this success.

Considering the fact that previous Ball State coach Pete Lembo went 9-4 and 10-3 in 2012 and 2013, Neu still hasn’t met the success of his predecessor. Now, to be fair, Lembo went 5-7 and 3-9 his past two years, so he took a downturn, but Neu still has a lot to prove.

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