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Paul Finebaum believes Tennessee can sustain success under Josh Heupel

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•07/22/23•

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Josh Heupel looks on during Tennessee's Orange & White Game (Matt Ray/Volquest)

One year of success at Tennessee has to feel good in Knoxville. For the first time in a long time, the Vols are moving in the right direction. Josh Heupel was able to win 11 games, capped off by a monster Orange Bowl performance against Clemson. The dreaded losing streak to Alabama was snapped and there were College Football Playoff hopes.

After years of being below standard, Tennessee has it going. Heupel deserves a lot of credit for a successful 2022, earning respect throughout the SEC.

“Tennessee has it going,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum said. “All of a sudden, it just clicked at Tennessee. I think Heupel is a genius when it comes to offensive plays. They’ve got a lot of good compliments on that program.”

More than just one year of success is needed at Tennessee, though. Everything Heupel worked for last season can be washed away in the blink of an eye. College football can be a cruel sport, especially when having the schedule the Vols do on a yearly basis.

Last year’s crop led by Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt is gone, beginning life in the NFL. Tennessee cannot let them take the winning mentality with them. That needs to stay in Knoxville to continue building toward sustained success and winning some kind of championship, as everyone in the program keeps discussing.

Thankfully, Finebaum believes in Heupel and what he is building. To him, Tennessee is here to stay on the national stage and will follow up 2022 with a successful 2023.

“They need to follow it up, though,” Finebaum said. “You don’t need to go from a record-breaking year and a huge bowl win and slip back to 8-4. I don’t think they will.”

Success over a long period of time would be nothing new. You can just go back to the Phillip Fulmer days to find it. Tennessee won a national championship during the BCS era and made five SEC Championships over the course of a decade.

“We forget that Tennessee has always been a major power in college football,” Finebaum said. “But they’ve fallen so far off the stage. It’s not as difficult for Tennessee to suddenly get everything clicking because they have the infrastructure there.”

If Heupel can replicate results this upcoming fall, those on Rocky Top will be dreaming of a similar type of run.