Stetson Bennett: 3,609 total yards, 27 total touchdowns and six interceptions
Hendon Hooker: 3,565 yards, 32 total touchdowns and two interceptions in two fewer games than Bennett
Pretty obvious which one deserves to be a finalist. Voters got it wrong.
Hendon Hooker is the first SEC QB to be named SEC offensive player of the year and not be named a Heisman finalist while another SEC QB is named a finalist.
Louisiana native and former LSU student
@TheoVon
is officially a Vols fan after hanging out on the sidelines for the Florida game as a guest of Josh Dobbs
Georgia fans are throwing shade at Tennessee for tearing down the goalposts after beating Bama
Also Georgia fans after beating a 2-2 Tennessee team that was ranked No. 21 (Georgia was ranked No. 19):
"Lots been made about the culture in the locker room -- this is a culture win" -- Josh Heupel firing back at ppl like Kirk Herbstreit who recklessly spread rumors all week.
One of the all time best Mike Leach stories: The time he dropped a fake script and Texas picked it up believing it was real. I’d love to hear a version of this story from
@coachjoshheupel
since he was Oklahoma’s QB that day.
Tennessee broke out some “real football” against Kentucky with this punishing 15 play drive that was mostly the Vols abusing the Wildcats on the ground. It was very much a “just because we can” vibe from UT.
So in 17 games, Josh Heupel has won 11 times, beat Florida, beat three ranked opponents (two on the road) and is about to have the Vols in the top 10. Can't say I expected this in January 2021 when the program was at rock bottom.
“The expecation and the standard is to play elite defense here, not just good defense. This is the home of Eric Berry, Al Wilson, Reggie White. The standard is to be elite.”
It's November in year two of the Josh Heupel era and Tennessee is 8-1 with wins over Alabama, Florida and LSU. Every single UT fan would've signed up for this. And most would've told you that this scenario was very unlikely to happen. Losing sucks, but keep it in perspective.
This is incredible. As soon as Hooker got up, everyone already knew what to do. Hooker never blinked, caught Kentucky off guard bc of his composure and ability get everyone set, and picked up the first at a pivotal point early in the game.
23 years ago today: Tennessee beats Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl, capping a perfect 13-0 season and claiming the first ever BCS national championship
This Mike Leach story from Hal Mumme could be a book. It has everything. Road trip, Jimmy Buffett, Key West, pirate talk, origin story of the air raid offense. Quintessential Mike Leach.
If we never see Hendon Hooker take the field in a Vols jersey again, man what a ride it's been. A special player, a special human, a huge reason why Vols were back in the national spotlight this season. My 11 year old looks up to him & I gotta say, it's a good guy to look up to.
24 years ago today: Tennessee beats Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl, capping a perfect 13-0 season and claiming the first ever BCS national championship
How much fun was this? One of the best sequences of the year. Muffed punt by Alabama leads to a TD where Tennessee huddled, went under center, and scored on a fullback run.