The definition of the word growth is “the process of growing”. And that’s what the last 338 days have been about for the Josh Heupel led Tennessee football program.
“Coming off of last year, we were all falling apart,” departing senior Theo Jackson explained. “As soon as Coach Heup and his staff got here, it just started. That was way higher than what we had it. Just growth. The young guys, I've seen a change in them, just like doing what the older guys, myself and Hendon and Ced are doing. Just extra stuff. Growth is really the biggest thing.”
Returning receiver Cedric Tillman, who had 64 catches for 1,041 yards and 12 touchdowns, agrees.
“Theo mentioned earlier, truth be told, we were just falling apart. Coach Heupel came in here, set a standard. He's done so much for me and my teammates. I try to play my butt off for my teammates and him. I think I grew a lot this year. One thing I really take from this year is how much the team grew.”
The growth of this program in right at a year has been impressive and the appreciation for departing seniors Jackson, Alontae Taylor, Matthew Butler, Velus Jones, etc should be significant. They paved the way for 2021’s success. Heupel and company produced good results and records in many categories (including points scored). They certainly generated much needed excitement.
Thursday’s loss to Purdue shouldn’t hamper that excitement in any way, but that loss, along with what we saw from two of Tennessee’s annual opponents on Friday, are reminders that the adjective used to describe Heupel Year One is growth. The process of growing. Not grown. Not by a long-shot.
As the book is closed on the 2021 team and the focus shifts to 2022, the theme remains the same. How much can and will Tennessee grow over the next 12 months?
The next phase of growth is harder.
I liken it to a golfer. If you are a starting out as a weekend hacker, you are going to shoot triple digits. With some practice and maybe a lesson or two, your “falling apart” game that has you mad and throwing clubs will quickly fall below 100. But to get to 80 requires a lot more work and growth.
To me that’s what year one was about. Heupel took a group of players with no confidence and even less enthusiasm and made the game fun. It wasn’t “A juice box and participation trophy mentality”, but the first step in growth was to create enjoyment in the Anderson Training Center.
But now as you move into year two, the growth is in exceeding the year one standards and some sudden expectations.
With a returning quarterback, top receiver, all the tight ends, running backs and four starters on the offensive line, expectations are going to be high for Vol offense 2.0 under Heupel and offensive coordinator Alex Golesh.
Expectations for the defense will be to be improved in the second year under Tim Banks. The schedule looks like this team should be a bowl team next year.
But the program has to continue to grow.
Offensively, they must have answers to the adjustments defensive coordinators are going to spend the summer finding. Defensively, they must play more people. They must use every opportunity to get guys experience because they are on the field a lot …and that’s not going to change. Tennessee had four wins this season where the game wasn’t in doubt in the second half, yet the 6 defensive backs behind the starters got little time. Tim Banks has to build depth. So does the offense. Let’s face it: this team was pretty injury-free this season which was good fortune and essential for success.
Later this month, the Vols will replace their departing seniors with at least 13 newcomers maybe more depending on the transfer portal. Those new faces should have the program continue on a path of growth that in reality of where you are trying to get to just scratched the surface in year one.
Thanks to Josh Heupel and his staff, the Vols aren’t entering 2022 falling apart. That’s a huge win. But because of Tennessee’s solid work in 2021, everyone is paying attention which makes continued growth more challenging. Year two will be harder for Josh Heupel and staff. If they continue the growth in 2022, then Tennessee Football suddenly has something good going again.
