Josh Heupel unlocks salary bonus after Alabama win
Rock Top might quite literally be on fire right now, as Tennessee is celebrating its first win over Alabama since 2006. Over 15 years of waiting for the Vols all came to an end at Neyland Stadium as head coach Josh Heupel helped his team improve to 6-0. While that might not be the end goal in Knoxville, Heupel will have interest in the sixth win.
Tennessee is now bowl eligible, no matter what happens the rest of the season. As part of his contract, Heupel has unlocked a $100,000 bonus according to Front Office Sports. Meaning, the Volunteers could lose the final six games of the season and Heupel will still have a fun payday. But with how the program is rolling, you have to think a few more bonuses are on the way.
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Of the six wins Tennessee has had, half of them have come against SEC opponents. Of course, Alabama by far is the biggest but Florida was another rivalry Heupel was looking to take care of. LSU just a week ago was an easy one for the Volunteers, winning by 27 points.
Heupel will now appear in two bowl games in two seasons while in Knoxville. Phillip Fulmer was the last Tennessee head coach who could claim the same feat. A nice bonus indeed for the Vols’ head coach.
Josh Heupel loving college football after upset win over Alabama
After 15 long years, Tennessee fans can light their cigars. The Volunteers defeated Alabama — and Josh Heupel had an emphatic reaction after the game.
“Rocky Top, this is college football at its absolute best,” he told CBS’ Jenny Dell.
Neyland Stadium was rocking all day long as the No. 6-ranked Volunteers took on No. 3 Alabama Saturday afternoon. All 102,000 people in attendance saw a thriller as both teams traded scores all game long. But one team had to come out on top, and thanks to the leg of Chase McGrath, Tennessee fans got to celebrate.
“Our team competed 60 minutes,” Heupel said amid the field-storming. “These fans were phenomenal. What an environment, man.”
It’s hard to state what the win means for Vol Nation. Tennessee’s last victory over Alabama came in 2006 — one year before Nick Saban arrived at Alabama. The Volunteers started out hot on offense and never looked back, putting up more points than any Saban opponent during his time at Alabama.