Josh Heupel's Triumphant Return to Norman a Decade After Firing
Why the tension will be high Saturday, September 21st
Once upon a time in Norman, Oklahoma, in a world where punting wasn’t as cool as punt returns, Bob Stoops, head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, made a phone call that would change the course of history. No, he wasn’t calling for a pizza, although after the Sooners’ 40-6 drubbing by Clemson in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl, he might have needed comfort food. Instead, Stoops reached out to longtime assistant Cale Gundy with an invitation to Bison Witches, a popular sandwich joint in downtown Norman. There, over deli meats and dismay, Stoops delivered the news: he was firing offensive coordinator and Sooner royalty, Josh Heupel.
The news was like a fumble at the goal line – shocking, painful, and oddly poetic. The Sooners had just wrapped up their worst season under Stoops, complete with upsets from TCU and Kansas State, a Baylor beatdown, and Oklahoma State’s Tyreek Hill running circles around their special teams to secure a Bedlam victory. But the final nail in the coffin was Clemson’s brutal takedown, led by then-defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who was sharpening his Tiger claws for future head coaching roles.
"Bob had to make a change," Gundy recalls, as if recounting a bad breakup. “It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done.” Firing Heupel wasn’t just cutting a colleague loose – it was firing the guy who literally quarterbacked OU to its last national championship in 2000. OU hadn’t even sniffed a national title since, making Heupel a living legend on campus. But legends, apparently, are not immune to coaching carousels.
From Heisman Hopeful to Heave-Ho
Josh Heupel wasn’t just a former star quarterback. He was the man who orchestrated the Sooners’ offensive juggernaut in the 2000s, mentoring two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, Jason White and Sam Bradford. By the time he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2011, Heupel was the golden boy of the OU program. But by 2014, the offense had lost its spark, and Stoops, in what he later called the "worst day" of his coaching career, decided it was time for a change. Goodbye Heupel, hello East Carolina’s Lincoln Riley.
To say the firing hurt would be like saying the sun is a little warm. But if Heupel was bitter, he didn't show it. “Tremendously grateful” was how he described his time at OU when asked about the situation years later. “I wouldn’t be here without those experiences.” And by "here," he means leading Tennessee, currently a top-ten team, back into national prominence.
Heupel’s football journey is like a redemption arc from a Hollywood sports movie. Saturday, he returns to the stadium where he became a legend, only this time, he’s wearing orange and white instead of crimson and cream, as his Tennessee Volunteers take on the Sooners in their first SEC conference matchup. Cue the dramatic music.
The Quiet Confidence of a Champion
Heupel’s arrival in Norman back in 1999 was less celebrated and more “Wait, who’s this guy?” When Bob Stoops took over a floundering OU program, he brought in Air Raid offensive mastermind Mike Leach (yes, the pirate himself), who needed a quarterback that could run his system. Enter Heupel, a little-known JUCO transfer from Utah’s Snow College.
Heupel wasn’t the prototypical quarterback. No rocket arm, no ability to evade defenders like Barry Sanders. But what he could do was throw accurately and make smart decisions – two minor details that happen to be important in football. "Josh was a QB rat," Gundy says. "He lived and breathed football, which made him the perfect fit for Leach’s system." Heupel’s work ethic was more meticulous than a clockmaker's, and it paid off big time.
By the time 2000 rolled around, Heupel wasn’t just leading the Sooners – he was inspiring them. Before their first practice, Heupel delivered a speech that has since reached mythical proportions. “Why not us?” he told his teammates, daring them to dream big. Gundy, standing at the back of the room, nearly choked on his coffee when Heupel uttered the words "national championship." But Heupel wasn’t delusional – he was determined.
And in the end, Heupel's vision came true. The Sooners ripped through their 2000 season, including a three-week stretch dubbed "Red October" in which they annihilated Texas, beat second-ranked Kansas State, and knocked off No. 1 Nebraska. Their reward? A trip to the Orange Bowl, where they faced heavily favored Florida State for the national title. Heupel didn't win the Heisman that year – Chris Weinke of Florida State took that – but OU got the last laugh with a 13-2 victory, making them national champions and cementing Heupel's place in Sooner lore.
The Return of the King (But with a Twist)
Fast forward to 2024. After years bouncing around coaching jobs – including a stop as offensive coordinator at Missouri and head coach at UCF – Heupel is back in Norman. Only this time, he's coaching the enemy. Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers are hot, with a shiny No. 6 ranking, and the matchup against his alma mater has all the makings of a Shakespearean drama. Will the hometown hero receive a warm welcome, or will the Sooner faithful greet him with the frosty chill reserved for exes who left without saying goodbye?
For Heupel, it’s likely to be a bittersweet moment. He’s already downplayed the emotional weight of the game, but anyone who’s seen a rom-com knows that deep down, he’s got to be feeling something. After all, it was Oklahoma that gave him his start, both as a player and a coach. And sure, they fired him. But that just gave him the chance to prove himself elsewhere, leading Tennessee to new heights in the process.
In the words of Heisman-winning former Sooner Jason White, “We lost a great coach with unlimited potential.” But the truth is, Heupel didn’t lose anything. He gained a fresh start, a new team, and a chance to make his mark in the SEC. And now, after a decade of twists and turns, he’s back where it all began.
As Heupel steps onto the field Saturday, it’s more than just a game. It’s a reunion, a clash of past and present, and a testament to the idea that sometimes, you need to lose everything to find out what you’re really made of. Oklahoma may have fired Heupel, but they couldn’t extinguish his fire. Now, with Tennessee at his back, Heupel's ready to show the Sooners just how far he’s come.
And in case you were wondering – yes, he’s still aiming for a championship. Only this time, it’s in orange.