Josh Heupel talks Tennessee preparation for Clemson in Orange Bowl
No. 6 Tennessee takes on No. 7 Clemson in a much anticipated Orange Bowl showdown Dec. 30 as part of the New Year’s Six bowls. While both teams missed out on a chance to get to the College Football Playoff, Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel brought Tennessee back to the forefront with a 10-2 season. Now, he gets weeks to prepare for the Tigers and Dabo Swinney to end the 2022 campaign on a high note.
“Yeah, at the end of the day, the game is the most important thing,” Heupel said, via Volquest. “It’s the most memorable thing of all the week of festivities. I think it’s important that you enjoy the build up and enjoy the opportunity to see a new place and the new culture and enjoy the festivities of the week. But at the end of the day, the most important thing is the game and so when it’s time to lock into your game preparation your practice, you got to be completely, completely invested in those moments.”
In Heupel’s first season with Tennessee, the Orange Bowl was not a thought as the Volunteers finished 7-6, which was good for third place in the SEC East behind national champion Georgia and Kentucky.
“And at the end of the day, at the end of the week, man, you’re gonna get an opportunity to play in a very special game,” Heupel said. “This is an historic and iconic game. A lot of these guys have grown up in an era of watching the importance of this football game. I know that I grew up in that as well and this is a special opportunity. You’re gonna have the entire country watching this football game when this is slotted here on TV and it’s a special opportunity, a special moment. (It’s a) memory that you’ll have forever.”
Heupel knows the Orange Bowl very well. The Tennessee head coach won this very game to win a national title as a quarterback with Oklahoma during the 2000-01 season.
“Yeah, there’ll be things that will spark memories for instance, as a coach, being back in Miami but certainly as a player too,” Heupel said. “It absolutely will bring back a lot of great memories, and (I’m) really excited about having an opportunity to lead a program in this football game. This game is extremely special to me. A lot of great memories and I’m really looking forward to that opportunity. Already have teammates that will be able to come to the ballgame, guys that shared the field with me and really looking forward to that opportunity.”
No. 6 Tennessee and No. 7 Clemson face off in the latest edition of the Orange Bowl Dec. 30 at 8:00 p.m E.T.