Josh Heupel: "Connection, committedness, care factor" key to Tennessee football success

Josh Heupel joined SEC Kickoff and SEC Media Days in Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday morning. He opened his speech by addressing Tennessee football's brand and culture heading into his fourth season as the Vols' head coach. 

Heupel has done a great job developing players on and off the field and creating a culture of competition on Rocky Top. That is why he has won 27 games in his first three seasons at Tennessee. 

He will look to do the same this year, with training camp only a couple of weeks away. Tennessee's team will be mixed with some younger players and veteran players as they look to reach 10+ wins again under Heupel. 

Heupel's speech opened with him touching on the Tennessee brand. Tennessee is no better place to be, between the football program and the success the Vols have seen on the baseball diamond and basketball court. 

"You look at the success that our brand, our logo has had recently with baseball, with basketball during the course of the winter, and you look at all of the team sports across the board in postseason play really speaks to the trajectory of our university, our athletic department, where it's going, but it also speaks to the leadership that we have there.

"[I'm] so fortunate to work with Danny White, our athletic director, Chancellor Plowman, and President Boyd. They'revisionaries, they've given us all the tools to compete, and have created an unbelievable experience for our student athletes."

He also mentioned spending time with Rick Barnes and Tony Vitello and witnessing the baseball program's national championship earlier this summer in Omaha. 

"What an unbelievable experience and opportunity to watch [the College World Series] with Coach Barnes, Danny [White], our athletic director, and get a chance to be on the field to celebrate that."

Next, he moved to the football program's culture. Heupel is big on culture and developing a positive culture within the locker room, which is a big reason he has been so successful early in his tenure at Tennessee. 

"So proud of what our players and staff have built. The connection, the committedness, the care factor that they have for each other and the program. Twenty wins over the past couple of years and top three in the league is the best that its been in 20 years on Rocky Top. The future is extremely bright."

Heupel also talked about the different areas where his players do things the right way. Success on the field is not just about the field but also about off the field. Heupel's Vols do things the right way between the lines and in the classroom. 

"We have unbelievable players that care about the people around them and attack every single day the right way. They do it right on the field, they do it right in the meeting room, but they do it right in the classroom as well and in our community.

"We have shattered every record [academically] over the last three years, reset that record for Fall GPAs. We had 63 individuals that were recognized by the conference at the end of the regular season and we are fortunate to have some of those guys with us today. 

Heupel and the Vols will kick off the 2024 football season on August 31 against Chattanooga in Neyland Stadium. The Vols' first SEC game will be against SEC newcomer Oklahoma on September 21.