Josh Heupel discusses relationship with Oklahoma, going to Norman in 2024

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is set to take his squad back to his old stomping grounds of Norman, Oklahoma in 2024, per the SEC’s first schedule release that will include the Sooners and fellow Big 12 migrator Texas.

Of course, more seasoned college football fans remember Heupel the player, who was a rockstar quarterback for OU at the turn of the century. He won just about every honor a player could in his 2000 season… except for the Heisman Trophy. Florida State’s Chris Weinke took home the honor that year, but Heupel extracted revenge when his Sooners triumphed over the Seminoles 13-2 in the national title game, holding the Weinke-led offense to zero total points.

Even after his illustrious playing days, Josh Heupel returned to Norman on a couple occasions for stints on the coaching staff. He was a grad assistant in ’04 and later returned as quarterbacks coach for a while before being promoted to co-offensive coordinator for four seasons prior to his head coaching career.

Norman is nothing but a home to Coach Heupel and he showered the place with love when asked about a scheduled return for 2024 with his Vols at SEC Media Days. Here was that answer:

“The relationship with Oklahoma really isn’t complicated. I’ve got great memories of the people and my time there. I certainly do and it’s a huge — you know, I got a chance to talk about Mike Leach a few minutes ago backstage and in an interview. And, you know, everybody there helped shape who I am and where I am today and still got a lot of great friends and teammates who live back there.”

Nothing but love between Heupel and the place he called home for more than a decade of his life. He wishes OU had to come play in big Neyland Stadium first, but it still happy for what will be an emotional day come next fall.

“So the opportunity to go back to Oklahoma, yeah I wish they were coming to Knoxville first — I say that jokingly — but looking forward to that opportunity, and that’s a long ways down the road man. I’m focused on ’23. But that will be a unique day in my career obviously to go back there.”

You won’t hear Tennessee’s head coach badmouth this particular Big 12 defector. As for the Texas Longhorns, well, Heupel sure did share some spicy words over the arrival of the Longhorns and their much gaudier orange color scheme.