What Josh Heupel has already mastered at Tennessee that Lane Kiffin, Butch Jones didn't | Toppmeyer

He doesn’t wear orange pants, he knows how to conjugate verbs, and he has never accused the media who cover his Tennessee football program of dispensing “fake news.”

Come to think of it, I can’t recall an instance through 2½ years in which Josh Heupel attracted flak from the media or invited scrutiny from a rabid fan base for something he has said or done at the mic.

The Vols attract an almost unparalleled level of media attention. The pressure cooker baked some of Heupel’s predecessors. I’ve seen Butch Jones get so red in the face at a presser, I thought his brain might boil.

Media in this state cover the Vols like they’re the New York Yankees —– because to Tennesseans, the Vols are the Yankees.

Coaches’ words and even their physical appearance and attire are dissected on Knoxville’s three radio stations that air local sports talk, and they’re scrutinized by #VolTwitter. Pages of newsprint are dedicated to Vols coverage. And the national media stand ready to swoop in.

A glance around the room Tuesday at Tennessee’s preseason media day illustrated the amount of attention the Vols receive. Thirty-one media members were seated during Heupel’s news conference, questioning him on topics ranging from Joe Milton’s development to the program’s trajectory to the backup center competition. Five cell phones placed on tripods recorded his comments. In the back of the room were five television cameras and two photographers.

You can see how a coach prone to gaffes at the mic would be a magnet for scrutiny.

That’s not Heupel. He handles news conferences with clinical precision. A former Oklahoma quarterback, he's no stranger to pressure.

Subscribe to SEC Football Unfiltered
iTunes | Google Play | Spotify

I often describe Heupel, a South Dakota native, as having a classic Midwest demeanor. He’s polite but not loquacious. He’s not going to show his cards. He doesn’t ooze faux charm like some of these football coaches who could impersonate tent revivalists. Contrary to what you might have heard, there is such a thing as a stupid question, but I’ve never seen Heupel lash out at a reporter.

Sarcasm is his humor language, but he uses it in limited quantity.

Heupel’s answers Tuesday included mundane phrases like “We’ve come a long ways in a short amount of time,” and “We’re continuing to take strides,” and “This is the time of year you’ve got to go out and earn it.”

To put it bluntly, a Heupel news conference is pretty boring. By the 20-minute mark, my attention wanes. I find myself checking my fantasy baseball lineup.

My bosses might frown upon this lapse in focus, but Heupel’s probably fine with it. A columnist checking his fantasy lineup is preferable to a columnist preparing to lambast a coach for inserting his foot in his mouth.

“I hardly ever worry (about what Heupel might say),” said Bill Martin, UT football’s communications director and spokesman. “He’s got a great feel for the moment and understands what’s necessary.

“He always talks about not getting too high or low in a game. Well, that’s him at a press conference, too.”

Heupel’s ability to avoid controversy leaves room for players and staff to command some spotlight.

Unlike some SEC coaches, he regularly makes his assistants available to the media. I envision Joey Halzle, Tennessee’s quotable 37-year-old offensive coordinator, becoming a media favorite.

Players, including freshmen, get a voice, too. Five-star freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was among a dozen players to talk with reporters Tuesday.

“Ever since (Heupel) got here, he understood the magnitude of this brand and this market, and giving access and being open and hospitable to media is an important part of rebuilding a program,” Martin said.

SEC FOOTBALL COACH RANKINGS: Kirby Smart passes Nick Saban; where's Josh Heupel?

TOPPMEYER: As realignment carousel twirls, SEC must stay vigilant, with eye toward the ACC

Martin has worked throughout SEC terrain during his communications career, making stops at Florida, LSU and Mississippi State. He describes the Vols as enjoying “an NFL media market.”

“It’s a monster operation,” he says.

If a coach isn’t careful, that monster can swallow him whole.

Jones came unglued in the weeks before his firing. During his infamous “fake news” rant in 2017, he lamented “this place, with the drama,” and he pondered whether he had somehow found himself cast in a reality TV show. Never mind that Jones attracted scrutiny with his endless supply of stupid clichés or tall tales about a player suffering a black eye after he “landed on a helmet.”

Jones' skin had the thickness of papier-mâché. That doesn’t fly in this market.

Lane Kiffin had no filter. In a speech to Tennessee fans, he accused Urban Meyer of breaking recruiting rules. That earned Kiffin a reprimand from the SEC. His wit and love for the limelight make him something of a media darling, but he probably would have burned too hot at Tennessee – if he had stuck around long enough.

Derek Dooley turned on the flamboyance. He paired orange pants with World War II analogies and theories about proper shower technique. What a goof.

The less said the better about Jeremy Pruitt’s oratory performances. He once compared his program to the Titanic.

Winning cures all, of course, and Heupel’s popularity is boosted by last season’s 11-2 record. But a coach’s media presence either attracts or deflects heat, and his even-keel approach at the mic works.

By winning games and avoiding gaffes, Heupel found comfort in the spotlight.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, considera digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it. Also, check out his podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered, or access exclusive columns via the SEC Unfiltered.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football: What Josh Heupel mastered that Lane Kiffin didn't