When Josh Heupel returns to Oklahoma this season as the Sooners kick off SEC play against Tennessee, it’s sure to bring up plenty of memories for both sides. Most will be fond ones of his time as a player and leading OU to a national title in 2000, but there’s also the elephant in the room.
Before breaking into the head coaching ranks, Heupel was a quarterbacks coach and later co-offensive coordinator at his alma mater under his former head coach, Bob Stoops. But Heupel was fired ahead of the 2015 season after nine years on Stoops’ staff coming off of an 8-5 season.
He made no secret about the fact that he felt spurned by the decision, though it worked out for him since. But it appears things might be getting to a better spot between the two parties. He even admitted at the SEC spring meetings that he is looking forward to returning to Norman.
Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel joined The Paul Finebaum Show on Monday as Oklahoma officially joined the SEC. He revealed where the relationship is at with Heupel and the Sooners ahead of that meeting, saying he wouldn’t be surprised if something is done to honor him.
“I think that will eventually get folded over,” Tramel said. “Heupel will forgive the Sooners and basically Bob Stoops. There’s been some thawing of the ice there, so that’s really good. I think Oklahoma really is looking for ways to honor Josh. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen on that Saturday, but they loved him as a football player. They loved him as a leader. They loved him as a long time assistant coach.
“I think eventually those two entities will get back together, other than of course when the Vols and the Sooners collide on the football field.”
Heupel was the quarterback for the Sooners during Stoops’ first two seasons as coach. He helped lead OU to a 13-0 record in 2000, including a 13-2 victory against Florida State in the national championship game. The quarterback led the country with a 64.7% completion rate that season with 3,392 yards, 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Heupel also found success as a coach at Oklahoma, which never averaged fewer than 32 points per game during his four seasons as an offensive coordinator. He also coached future Heisman winner Sam Bradford as well as Landry Jones, who would go on to become the program’s all-time leading passer.
There’s no question Heupel will always hold a special place in the history at Oklahoma, and hopefully the two sides will be able to focus on all the good times instead of the bad with this SEC move.
OU and Tennessee will face off against each other on Sept. 21 in Norman.
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