The first game of the football season couldn't have come quicker for Josh Heupel. He needed to put the drama of the offseason in the rear-view mirror.
Whether it was the never-ending issues with Nico Iamaleava or the more recent issues with Boo Carter or just the fan base questioning his every move, the normally stoic Heupel seemed to be a little on edge by his standards. And according to one former player, that could be a good thing for the Vols in their hunt to win a championship.
'He's kind of pissed off...he wants to run the score up' - Former Vols standout says Josh Heupel has a different mentality in 2025 https://t.co/1EUQ7ntNkv
— Vols Big Orange Podcast (@BigOrangePod) September 3, 2025
Marlon Walls, who played with the Vols from 2009-2013, said that he saw something in Heupel's coaching from last Saturday's 45-26 win over Syracuse that signaled a new attitude from the coach.
“Josh Heupel is going to coach this season a little bit different than he ever has before because of that chip on his shoulder,” Walls said. “When he came out and said — I think a reporter asked him, ‘Hey, Josh Heupel, can you comment on the Nico situation?’ He corrected him right away and said, No, it’s the [Joey] Aguilar situation.’ That told me right there he’s kind of pissed off."
Doubt Heupel's desire to win at your own risk
If there's a criticism of Heupel, it's that at times he seems like he doesn't show the emotion that fans like to see. That criticism was something he dealt with at UCF, where his more straightforward approach to dealing with the media was in stark contrast to the way the fiery Scott Frost acted.
But make no mistake about it, Heupel is competitive as hell, and he is dangerous when he's being doubted. He wants to win at Tennessee, and he wants to win big. He believes this team has a shot at competing for a championship.
It's not hard to paint the similarities between Heupel and his new quarterback, Joey Aguilar. Both came up through the college ranks the hard way. Heupel went through the FCS ranks at Weber State, then junior college before ending up at Oklahoma. Aguilar also had to go through junior college and prove himself at App State before ending up in Knoxville.
The journey means a lot to Heupel. He earned his shot the hard way and was doubted up until the minute he led Oklahoma to a national title. Now Heupel has the opportunity to help Aguilar create a similar story, and he wants it to end with a championship.