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In the hours since Josh Heupel left the UCF Knights to become the Tennessee Volunteers’ head coach, one potential candidate in particular has gotten the overwhelming support of players past and present to take his place: Ole Miss offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby.
Lebby was at UCF in 2018 and 2019, and oversaw the offense’s transition from Scott Frost’s option-based system to Heupel’s Air Raid. But he was universally loved by his players.
Check out the reaction on Twitter alone:
Gabe Davis
@UCFCartwright I found the new head coach for ucf football @Coach_Leb
— Gabriel Davis (@DavisGB1) January 28, 2021
Jordan Johnson
— Kelton Jordan Johnson Ⓥ (@3rdJohnsonboy) January 28, 2021
Adrian Killins
@UCFCartwright I know a man that’s fit for the job @Coach_Leb ❗️❗️
— AK (@ADRIANKILLINS9) January 28, 2021
Wyatt Miller
Bring back @Coach_Leb @UCF_Football
— Wyatt Miller (@wyatt_miller44) January 27, 2021
NOTE: Wyatt’s tweet was re-tweeted by McKenzie Milton.
Dillon Gabriel re-tweeted a bunch of tweets in support of Lebby:
Big push from former and current @UCF_Football players to get @Coach_Leb to come back to #UCF
— Joe Kepner (@JKepnerWFTV) January 28, 2021
(All of them retweeted by @_dillongabriel_) pic.twitter.com/pnZXUu2lLd
Matt Lee
Come home @Coach_Leb
— Matt Lee (@matt_lee80) January 28, 2021
Sam Jackson
You already know the deal @Coach_Leb ⚔️⚔️⚔️ #GKCO
— Samuel Jackson (@Sam_K_Jackson) January 28, 2021
Michael Colubiale
Come on home @Coach_Leb
— Michael Colubiale (@michael_colub) January 27, 2021
Otis Anderson
Come home @Coach_Leb pic.twitter.com/qIUn4x3ph6
— (@Gumby_football) January 28, 2021
Tre Nixon
Come home big dawg! @Coach_Leb
— Tre Nixon (@tre_nixon1) January 28, 2021
Brett Bell has a birthday wish he’d like to share:
My birthday wish is for @Coach_Leb to come back and make things right and my dawg @LoadholtPhil
— Brett (@BrettBe71) January 28, 2021
Jacob Harris
Just asked @HarrisJacob_16 what he thought about @UCF_Football candidates. On @Coach_Leb : "Lebby would be a perfect candidate....offensively he's a genius." #UCF pic.twitter.com/F4hZqpvDBc
— Pat Welter (@PatrickWelter) January 27, 2021
Come home!! @Coach_Leb
— Jacob Harris (@HarrisJacob_16) January 28, 2021
Cole Schneider
Come on home @Coach_Leb
— cole schneider (@schneidercole14) January 28, 2021
Marlon Williams
@Coach_Leb Come On Home
— Marlon Williams (@TheReall__6) January 28, 2021
Even some non-offensive players got into the mix:
Chris DeLoach
Wyd ? @Coach_Leb
— Christopher Deloach (@Chris_Deloach85) January 27, 2021
I know you see me see you. Your plane ticket booked. The flight leave like NOOOWWWW.... @Coach_Leb pic.twitter.com/vp0XGNrDNu
— Christopher Deloach (@Chris_Deloach85) January 27, 2021
Just wanted to check on you. You ate today? Got your 8 hours of sleep? Need a Head Coaching job? @Coach_Leb
— Christopher Deloach (@Chris_Deloach85) January 28, 2021
Tay Gowan
Come home @Coach_Leb @UCF_Football !!!
— Tay Gowan (@focused_4) January 28, 2021
Mac Loudermilk
@Coach_Leb is the man for the job!
— Mac Loudermilk (@macmilk15) January 28, 2021
To quote Jalen Rose, there’s certainly some champaignin’ and campaignin’ going on here. Lebby certainly should be a candidate for the Knights’ job if he isn’t a clear one already. We’ll keep you posted.