The Tennessee Volunteers football program managed to avoid any punishments too severe in the fallout of the recent NCAA violations ruling. But while Jeremy Pruitt will ultimately get the worst punishment, Josh Heupel is still feeling the residual effect.
Appearing on the Paul Finebaum Show, the Tennessee head coach made it clear that nobody on his staff was a part of the Vols program when the violations occurred. He lamented that some people have used that against them in recruiting but that their focus is now on winning a title.
“It had nothing to do with our current staff, we weren’t there. People tried to use it against us in recruiting. Now it’s over and we have to opportunity to go compete for Championships,” Heupel said.
Tennessee managed to avoid a bowl ban and the dreaded death penalty despite the NCAA noting “over 200” violations during Pruitt’s tenure. However, with Tennessee noted as being cooperative and having already self-imposed some punishments, they got off with some far more manageable penalties.
“It had nothing to do with our current staff, we weren’t there. People tried to use it against us in recruiting. Now it’s over and we have to opportunity to go compete for Championships.”
–@coachjoshheupel on his Vols avoiding a bowl ban in today’s NCAA ruling
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) July 14, 2023
Josh Heupel, meanwhile, is coming off a wildly successful second year at the helm with the Vols. He led them to a stunning upset win over arch-rival Alabama and went on go 11-2 with an Orange Bowl win over Clemson.
The Vols are undoubtedly thinking that they’re College Football Playoff-worthy this coming year.
Can they do it?