There’s one thing Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel has executed during the last 18 months — truly, it’s one thing he hasn’t executed — that hasn’t acquired sufficient reward.

When Heupel took over at Tennessee, this system was at all-time low. The Vols had been coming off a 3-7 season they usually had been pressured to fireplace head coach Jeremy Pruitt as a consequence of an NCAA recruiting investigation.

On account of the poor season and the investigation, Tennessee misplaced quite a few gamers to the NCAA switch portal.

To say it was a less-than-desirable state of affairs that Heupel took over can be an understatement.

However one factor that Heupel has by no means executed is use the investigation and the unfavorable state of affairs as a crutch.

Heupel has by no means thrown shade at Pruitt or the earlier workers. He’s by no means complained concerning the investigation or the influence it has or hasn’t had on recruiting. As a substitute, Heupel has merely described the investigation as a pace bump.

Simply check out the way in which Heupel answered a query on Sunday concerning the investigation.

“There’s been a lot dialogue and communication between our administration and the NCAA, but additionally to us and the place we’re at,” stated Heupel. “So a number of the issues that hit publicly are issues that we haven’t been in a position to discuss, that we knew was coming. And we’ve been very clear and open with our present roster, our recruits. That’s why I feel we’ve positioned ourselves extraordinarily properly. You have a look at a number of the issues which have come out of that, simply the NCAA speaking about us being a mannequin of the best way to transfer ahead for universities after they’re coping with one thing.”

“That’s why I’ve stated from the very starting, it’s only a pace bump for this program. Between our administration, from Donde (Plowman) all the way in which right down to Danny (White), and what we’re doing on the soccer aspect of it, I feel we’ve positioned ourselves extraordinarily properly to swallow issues up right here early and be capable to transfer and compete for championships right here as we transfer ahead.”

As a substitute of specializing in the negatives and blaming others, Heupel is trying on the positives. And that’s the fitting method as a result of as soon as he turned the pinnacle coach at Tennessee, no matter issues existed there turned his issues. It doesn’t matter who’s guilty for the issue — that’s irrelevant at this level — all that issues is that the issue is handled.

This will likely not look like an enormous deal, however it reveals Heupel’s maturity, management skills, and his character. Tennessee has a head coach that handles himself the fitting manner. He’s not going to embarrass the fan base. And he’s going to do proper by the gamers coming into this system.

Mix that with Heupel’s means to place an offense on the sphere that scores an insane quantity of factors and you may actually see why Tennessee followers are so excited concerning the future.

Featured picture through Saul Younger/Information Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK