As a coach-quarterback tandem, Josh Heupel and Hendon Hooker have guided Tennessee to a meteoric rise in national prominence.
The Volunteers won just three games in 2020, when Jeremy Pruitt was in his third and final season as coach and Jarrett Guarantano, J.T. Shrout, Brian Maurer and Harrison Bailey took turns at quarterback. Heupel and Hooker have provided a stable foundation and an exciting brand that has Tennessee 5-0 and ranked sixth in the country.
Imagine what a win Saturday over No. 3 Alabama would do to further enhance their respective legacies in Knoxville.
“This is why you come to Tennessee,” Heupel said Monday in a news conference. “We’ve got a big-time matchup this weekend, and we’re really excited. Our players have earned the right to play in a game like this.”