Tennessee's Josh Heupel talks about returning home to Oklahoma and Bob Stoops on College GameDay

It's a strange path that led Josh Heupel back to Norman.

The Vols head coach, an Oklahoma legend himself as he won the Sooners' last national championship as quarterback, will harass the opposing sideline on Saturday at Gaylord – Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. And while he will wear the Tennessee orange with the clear goal of beating the Sooners, his return is a mixed bag because of his past.

Heupel, of course, was fired along with Jay Norvell as co-offensive coordinator by Bob Stoops after a disappointing 2014 season with the Sooners. Oklahoma averaged 423 yards per game, ranking 52nd in the FBS. From there, he rebuilt his career with stints as an assistant at Utah State and Missouri before leading the UCF Golden Knights to national prominence and then taking over the Tennessee program.

At “College GameDay” on Saturday, Heupel talked about his winding road back to Oklahoma and the complicated emotions his return evokes.

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“There are guys on their team in Oklahoma that I coached,” Heupel said. “Guys that were at my wedding. And I went back to see the family that still lives there but couldn't make it to Norman. And for us, opening in the SEC, that's why you want to be in Tennessee, you want to coach in Tennessee and get the opportunity to play against a really good football team.”

When Rece Davis asked him about his memories of Oklahoma, Heupel was consistently positive, but also admitted that the whole thing was bittersweet.

“There are so many great memories of me as a player. Of my teammates. What we were able to accomplish as a team. What we accomplished as a team during my time there at Oklahoma. I'm really proud of what we accomplished. It didn't have the ending I wanted, but welcome to life and welcome to college sports.

Finally, Davis and Heupel mentioned a name that plays a big role in Oklahoma football history: Bob Stoops, who hired Heupel and fired him 15 years later.

“Bob was a great mentor, he was my coach and I worked with him for a long time,” Heupel said. “And I picked up so many things from him that are part of what we do here at Tennessee. His passion and energy as a young coach had a big impact on me as well.”

The Vols and Sooners are both off to a 3-0 start to the season and are hoping to pick up a win in their SEC opener.

This article originally appeared in the Oklahoman: Josh Heupel talks about Oklahoma's homecoming, Bob Stoops on “College GameDay”