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Josh Heupel avoids falling into a trap after Tennessee’s win over Syracuse that previous Vols coaches did not avoid

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Aug 30, 2025 7:52 PM ET

Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel avoided falling into a trap on Saturday after UT's season-opening win against the Syracuse Oragemen that previous Volunteers coaches did not avoid.

This is the third time since 2012 that Tennessee has played in (and won) the Aflac Kick Off Game (previously sponsored by Chick-Fil-A).

In 2012, Tennessee beat NC State 35-21 to kick off the season. Five years later, the Vols knocked off Georgia Tech in double overtime to get off to a 1-0 start.

After the win in 2012, then-Vols head coach Derek Dooley donned the leather helmet (that's given to the winner) for a photo op.

Michael Patrick, MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL

In 2017, then Tennessee head coach Butch Jones also put on the helmet.

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Jones and Dooley were both fired by Tennessee a couple of months after putting the leather helmet on.

On Saturday, Heupel wisely avoided wearing the leather helmet (his son, Jace, had the honor).

1-0. pic.twitter.com/OjAU7EWHel
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 30, 2025

Heupel obviously isn't on the hot seat and isn't in danger of getting fired. But the leather helmet is clearly bad luck for Vols coaches. Maybe avoiding that awkward photo op will provide Tennessee with some good luck this season.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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