Clark Lea, head coach of Vanderbilt University’s football team, offered a supportive and thoughtful message to Tennessee’s Josh Heupel as…

Clark Lea, head coach of Vanderbilt University’s football team, offered a supportive and thoughtful message to Tennessee’s Josh Heupel as…

Clark Lea, head coach of Vanderbilt University’s football team, offered a supportive and thoughtful message to Tennessee’s Josh Heupel as the Volunteers’ program continues to be discussed in the context of the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture.

Lea, who has experience both as a coach and player, emphasized the importance of focusing on the present and maintaining a long-term perspective when navigating the often-challenging discussions surrounding playoff contention. “The journey to the CFP is an incredibly challenging one,” Lea said. “There are so many factors that go into it, and while the ranking systems and playoff criteria can be difficult to navigate, the best thing a coach can do is to keep their team focused on the task at hand—winning games and continuing to improve.”

Lea’s message to Heupel was rooted in the mutual respect that exists between the two coaches, as Heupel has also been lauded for his ability to turn around Tennessee’s program and make it competitive at the highest levels. Lea acknowledged the success that Tennessee has achieved under Heupel’s leadership, noting how the Volunteers’ offense, led by Heupel’s fast-paced system, has been a driving force in the team’s resurgence.

“I have a lot of respect for what Josh and his staff have done at Tennessee,” Lea added. “It’s not easy to bring a program back to national prominence, but they’ve done it. I think any program in the SEC has to deal with high expectations, and Tennessee is no different. What’s important is focusing on the next game, controlling what you can control, and letting the chips fall where they may.”

While the spotlight shines on programs like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State, Lea stressed that every team is subject to fluctuations and setbacks throughout the season. The volatility of rankings, the significance of conference championships, and the unknown factors that arise in big games all contribute to the suspense surrounding the playoff picture.

Lea, in particular, expressed a broader perspective, recognizing the weight of college football’s postseason as not just a goal, but a reflection of the culture each coach builds. For Heupel, Lea emphasized that despite external expectations or debates, his work at Tennessee will always be defined by what his teams accomplish on the field and the values they embody.

“The message is simple,” Lea concluded. “Stay true to your program, stay true to your players, and keep putting in the work. If you do that, the playoff talk will take care of itself.”

Lea’s words were a reminder that, in the high-stakes world of college football, the focus must remain on growth and consistency, regardless of what rankings or discussions swirl around the team.