Trump’s inauguration speech caused josh heupel to react because he had no plans for college football

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, delivering a speech that immediately resonated with many Americans, both positively and negatively. The inaugural address, filled with rhetoric promising to “Make America Great Again” and bring about drastic changes in various facets of American life, was well-received by some, while others expressed concern over its content. Among the reactions from various sectors of society, one notable response came from Josh Heupel, the head coach of the University of Tennessee’s football team. Heupel’s reaction to Trump’s inaugural speech was centered around a particular omission—the lack of any mention or plan for the future of college football.

This response may seem tangential at first, especially given the broader and more urgent political and social issues discussed in Trump’s address. However, upon closer examination, Heupel’s reaction sheds light on the intersection of sports, politics, and leadership in the context of American culture. As a prominent figure in college football, Heupel was concerned with how the future of his sport would evolve under the new administration. College football, a multi-billion dollar industry with a massive fan base, holds significant cultural weight in the United States. With this in mind, Heupel’s reaction was not just about a missing mention of football in a political speech—it was about the broader question of leadership, vision, and the lack of attention to a major sector of American life that directly affects millions of people.

The Context: Trump’s Inaugural Speech

Trump’s inaugural speech focused heavily on themes of nationalism, economic revitalization, and the promise of a new era of American exceptionalism. The speech’s most memorable line was perhaps its call for a “total and complete American renewal,” which resonated with many voters who had supported Trump during his campaign. In this speech, Trump touched on issues like the economy, jobs, education, crime, and healthcare, but conspicuously absent from his address was any mention of college athletics—particularly college football. Given the enormous influence of college sports on American culture and the economy, this omission did not go unnoticed by many involved in the field.

Trump, throughout his presidency, was known for his frequent engagement with sports, often weighing in on various professional leagues and athletes, but college sports, especially football, did not receive the same level of attention. In fact, Trump’s silence on the topic of college football during his inaugural speech would be a defining characteristic of his leadership in this arena over the next few years.

Josh Heupel’s Reaction

Josh Heupel, a former college quarterback who had risen to prominence as a coach, was an active participant in college football’s ongoing evolution. His reaction to Trump’s speech stemmed from a deeper concern: the absence of a clear vision or dialogue about the future of college athletics. As a coach, Heupel understood that the landscape of college football was constantly changing. With issues like player compensation, the NCAA’s governance, and the growing commercialization of college sports, Heupel saw an administration that had yet to acknowledge or address these critical matters.

For Heupel, the omission was glaring. College football, along with basketball, is one of the major collegiate sports in America, attracting millions of viewers and generating significant revenue for universities and their athletic programs. Moreover, the lives of countless student-athletes were intertwined with the outcomes of these changes. How would the future of these athletes be shaped by the new administration? Would the federal government be willing to step in and address the challenges facing college sports, or would they remain the responsibility of universities and athletic associations?

Heupel’s reaction can also be seen as part of a larger frustration that many in the college sports world felt in the years following Trump’s inauguration. College sports, especially football, faced growing issues related to player safety, the demand for reform in the way athletes were compensated, and debates over the influence of big-money contracts and the role of education in the athletes’ lives. These were issues that Heupel and other coaches were well-acquainted with, but despite the widespread public conversation around these topics, political leaders rarely addressed them directly in a meaningful way.

The Political Landscape of College Football

Heupel’s reaction to Trump’s inauguration speech can also be understood within the broader political landscape of college football at the time. College athletics had long been subject to debates over amateurism, athlete compensation, and the role of college sports in the larger educational ecosystem. While the NCAA had made strides in recent years with regards to player welfare and addressing issues like concussions, much of the discourse surrounding college football remained rooted in the question of whether or not college athletes should be compensated for their efforts on the field.

The debate over the commercialization of college sports had intensified during the previous decade. With the advent of lucrative television deals, sponsorships, and the rise of college football’s Playoff system, the financial stakes had grown higher than ever. Universities were making millions of dollars from their athletic programs, but the athletes themselves, many of whom were the stars of the show, were still subject to NCAA rules that prohibited them from profiting off their own likeness or name.

In the years leading up to Trump’s inauguration, these issues had sparked conversations about reform in the NCAA, with figures like former NCAA President Mark Emmert and various coaches advocating for changes in the way college sports operated. However, despite the increasing pressure from players, coaches, and fans for reform, there was little sign that the federal government, under either President Obama or Trump, was ready to step in and tackle these issues head-on.

For Heupel, the lack of focus on these concerns during Trump’s inaugural speech highlighted a broader issue of leadership in the sport. Heupel understood that without the attention of political leaders, the complex challenges facing college athletics would be left unaddressed, leaving players, coaches, and administrators to figure out solutions on their own.

The Future of College Football: A Call for Leadership

Heupel’s reaction to Trump’s speech was ultimately a call for leadership. As a coach, Heupel was acutely aware of the need for a clear vision in order to guide college football into the future. The absence of a national conversation about college football in Trump’s inaugural speech indicated a missed opportunity to provide that leadership. Heupel, like many in the college sports world, wanted to see a commitment from political leaders to the betterment of college athletics. This commitment could have come in the form of policy proposals, federal oversight, or simply a public acknowledgment of the importance of college sports to American culture and the economy.

By not addressing the state of college football, Trump missed an opportunity to engage with a key sector of American society. While many politicians and leaders in the sports world had spoken about the challenges facing college athletics, the new president had not shown a clear willingness to engage with these issues in a substantive way.