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NORMAN, Okla. – Josh Heupel waited nearly a decade for this day.
They say revenge serves best as a cold dish, but Heupel’s moment finally arrived on a day when the mercury nearly struck 100 at Heupel’s alma mater.
With the heat sufficiently cranked, Heupel’s No. 7 Tennessee Vols cooked No. 13 Oklahoma, 25-15, at the Palace on the Prairie.
Heupel once thrilled the fans here as the star quarterback on Oklahoma’s last national championship team. He quieted those fans Saturday while making his return triumphant and souring the Sooners’ SEC debut.
Heupel’s the one who got away from Oklahoma – the one Bob Stoops sent away – and he became the one who saved Tennessee from the doldrums.
Heupel rebuilt his career after Stoops fired him from his staff after the 2014 season. He traveled three time zones to do it.
He became a better coach. He even built a defense.
The Sooner Schooner that cruised the field during Heupel’s playing career might as well have rested on flat tires, because it sat motionless for most of the night while the Sooners stumbled, bungled and fumbled on offense.
The Schooner finally shifted into drive after Oklahoma’s two fourth-quarter touchdowns – the only touchdowns Tennessee’s defense has allowed this season.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee show they can win with defense
Tennessee (4-0) assembled a fierce defensive front and unleashed it on the overmatched Sooners.
Oklahoma (3-1) entered the SEC with a defense that looks the part and an offensive line and starting quarterback who are out of their element.
Sooners fans cheered when highlights of Southern California’s loss appeared on the videoboard, but when Lincoln Riley left town, he took OU’s offensive swagger with him.
These Sooners would benefit from a quarterback that either Riley or Heupel developed.
Heupel has molded another talented…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/josh-heupel-shows-oklahoma-missing-034936426.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-09-22 03:49:36
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