- ABC News
- September 22, 2024
NORMAN, Okla. -- The emotion in his voice and on his face said it all for Tennessee coach Josh Heupel late Saturday night in his much anticipated return to his alma mater. Heupel, who 10 years earlier was stung by his firing as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator, said repeatedly that the No. 6 Volunteers' 25-15 win over the No. 15 Sooners was "never about me" in a game that saw Tennessee build a 22-3 lead going into the fourth quarter and dominate defensively the whole way. When it was over -- with family members, players, former Oklahoma teammates and coaches embracing him before he exited the field -- the normally stoic Heupel was clearly moved as Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava presented him with the game ball on the field. "This game was never about me coming back here, not for this football team," Heupel said in his postgame news conference. "I say all that, but they also understood that this one was a little bit different for me personally...