Tennessee & Nico Iamaleava are in active contract negotiations ahead of the 2025 season

[cherokeeeVOL]

It's annoying how much power and influence the media has in cases like this. They take something and run with it regardless of whether there's any truth to it or not. Fans eat it up and become like an angry mob and the media person gets follows and clicks. Rinse and repeat. This exact same thing happened in January...

 

[Hawaiian Hammer]

 

[FBtime]

Staley's dad

 

[CAVPUT]

IMO it feels to me like they wanted more money, got assurances they would get it, and now they are putting this out there because they don't like the bit of backlash they've gotten. I could absolutely be wrong.

I don't blame them. It's the system as it is, get what you can when you can. But it's having an effect on fans. Or me anyway. My first reaction when I read this was "well, that sucks. We can get somebody else." I couldn't have imagined thinking that about Peyton or Casey or Heath, etc.

I'll still watch, of course. But I couldn't name 6 kids we signed this year when I used to know every name. It's just.....different.

Not sure I can buy this. They had to have seen the responses when Gibson reportedly came back for a second bite of the apple. If he got that kind of response, they had to know full well the way this fan base would react to the most important player on the roster doing much the same thing just as we neared the end of spring ball. Something about all this doesn't pass the smell test. Not sure the sources, but I wonder if it's someone trying to stir the pot between this staff and Nico's group? Create a break and try to encourage him to enter the portal? I'm sure there are a lot of teams in need of a QB who would love to get a shot at Nico in the portal.

 

[CAVPUT]

Our best bet to have a great season is if Nico is here. That should be common sense

Yep. It's a rare talent who can jump into the deep end called the SEC in football and excel as a freshman....or even a RS freshman. Our season pretty much hangs on Nico being the QB and his growth since last season.

 

[UneducatedGuess]

Commenting on this thread to come back here and build a list of all the Vol fans who believe everything on the internet and let it affect their lives.

 

[TheVolunteer002]

Talent fee, etc. are part of the upcoming revenue sharing (22%). Football/Basketball revenues covers the cost of basically all the other programs can't expect to give up 22% and maintain the status quo.

Just to be on the same page these increase have nothing to do with NIL.

Lol sure it doesn't.

 

[Hunter10139]

I hope this is bogus but either way college football dies a little more for me every year. It's really difficult to be passionate about all the mercenaries. I don't blame them, I'd do the same in their place, I just blame the system that allows this.

 

[Delmar]

Well somebody is lying here. If Pete Nakos went with his “source” and posted the information without thoroughly vetting it, he should immediately issue a retraction and an apology to Nico and his family. Completely irresponsible if he did that. Clickbait society at its worst.

 

[508mikey]

It's annoying how much power and influence the media has in cases like this. They take something and run with it regardless of whether there's any truth to it or not. Fans eat it up and become like an angry mob and the media person gets follows and clicks. Rinse and repeat. This exact same thing happened in January...

Media has ruined the world the last 5 years Not surprised

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Let him leave. Still have Merkingler and McIntyre with Faizon Brandon coming in next season. It would suck but to pull this crap at this point is ridiculous

Right, we need another inexperienced and unproven QB to be starting. Get new new guy to hate on when he osmt perfect....ASAP

CFB fans are absolutely amazing.

 

[KnoxToTheBoro93]

Love and hate the passion of this fanbase so bad… they think the players don’t see all the bs we post… bash them for no loyalty to a school who fanbase will turn on you over a bs article with no proof… who in they right mind would want to be loyal to that ?

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Crazy but yes he was disappointing last year considering the hype, whether that is fair or not, it is true.

There were 6 qbs SEC better than Nico last year.

Unless he makes a magical jump, he will disappoint again this year.

How many of those 6 led their team to the playoffs?

 

[Sudden Impact]

The fact people are so quick to turn on a mediocre QB, tells that there are some bigger issues lurking under the surface. Lot of people want to see Nico gone, because secretly they kinda want the season to maybe be a disaster so it forces a house cleaning. The Ohio State playoff embarrassment to end the season has shaken peoples confidence in Heupel.

Nico should have transferred on to Miami when they wanted him back in January. It would have started the dominos to falling and would have led to Heupel being on the hot seat where he rightfully belongs, instead of probably winning 8 games and selling everyone on some more false hope for the next season

I will have to say your name (loservol) is a perfect description of your posts. One does not have to read a word of your posts to know it will be negative in some form or the other.

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

Love and hate the passion of this fanbase so bad… they think the players don’t see all the bs we post… bash them for no loyalty to a school who fanbase will turn on you over a bs article with no proof… who in they right mind would want to be loyal to that ?

The only loyalty is to the dollar my man. It doesn matter if it is Nico, A or B Carter, and even Heupel and the staff. They are just here to make a buck and try to make a bigger buck in the NFL.

Take the orange colored glasses off. Nico's dad already shook the staff down for more money last fall, with soft threats to go to Miami.

Lets be real though: its life changing money. Of course these families are going to try to maximize it. However, it lease the rest of us who want to be passionate about our favorite teams and school a little soured to the whole thing.

 

[joevols89]

None of the local media pushed back when on3 dropped this story, which is telling. Instead we wait 10 hours later for a family friend to comment on this and then Nico’s dad. They are mad this got leaked.

 

[Go47]

The only loyalty is to the dollar my man. It doesn matter if it is Nico, A or B Carter, and even Heupel and the staff. They are just here to make a buck and try to make a bigger buck in the NFL.

Take the orange colored glasses off. Nico's dad already shook the staff down for more money last fall, with soft threats to go to Miami.

Lets be real though: its life changing money. Of course these families are going to try to maximize it. However, it lease the rest of us who want to be passionate about our favorite teams and school a little soured to the whole thing.

 

[Vol865]

Jesus man. We’ve got a poster who’s resorted to screaming/ name calling and the bottle and you’re worried about my emotions. Whether or not he was a RS Freshman had nothing to do with whether or not someone else could put up the same stats this year that he did last year. You’re comparing apples to oranges and I can’t help you.

Yeah let's start all over with another freshman and get the same production. Great idea.

Also, blaming the QB for everything is an extremely casual outlook.

 

[KnoxToTheBoro93]

The only loyalty is to the dollar my man. It doesn matter if it is Nico, A or B Carter, and even Heupel and the staff. They are just here to make a buck and try to make a bigger buck in the NFL.

Take the orange colored glasses off. Nico's dad already shook the staff down for more money last fall, with soft threats to go to Miami.

Lets be real though: its life changing money. Of course these families are going to try to maximize it. However, it lease the rest of us who want to be passionate about our favorite teams and school a little soured to the whole thing.

Misplaced anger.. it should be at the ncaa for robbing players for years.. this should’ve and could’ve easily been prevented years ago but the greedy people making all the money let it get to this point and now it is the reality… 90% of complainers won’t stop watching college football though it is what it is… you can check my posts I’ve been anti bash player before and after NIL… just don’t see any benefit that comes from bashing players just because they did something you don’t like or agree with.. entitled players or entitled fans?

 

[OrangeInKy]

It’s a moot point as it’s already been proven it was a clickbait article anyways

Hasn't been proven to be true or untrue. No real way to prove it one way or another. Nico's people saying it's not true hours later isn't proof. It may have been true or may have been false, but it's not proven either way, it's a matter of who people believe. I don't know if it's true or not, but I know Nico's Dad rubs me the wrong way.

 

[Sudden Impact]

A lot of mistrust and a basic lack of loyalty.
A lot of truths and a lot of misinformation passed out
A lot of misdirection and a lot of facts missing
Social Media a lot of click bait being handed out for $$$$
Some would not believe the truth if they were told it.
The people (players) that know it laugh at it if it is not true.
Nico is a great example. Sitting out of practices??? Demanding more $$$$$? Family shopping him around???

People good and bad create drama, this is drama filled with few facts and lots of assumptions/opinion.

Find another team that does not have it. When you can make $$$$$ on a rumor, you are going to do it and if you miss out no damage to you because can always misled another.

Right now, expect NICO to be the starting QB and being paid the same Amount.
OBTW, Gruden will be the Head Coach. Just waiting on the announcement, Soon.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Dude the second we ran out without shirts on… I looked at my buddies and said we just lost
That was the stupidest/fake tough guy thing you could do… it’s their home stadium.. like who were we trying to be. Shame on Josh for letting that happen honestly. That’s not being focused on the prize and it showed

For me, I knew we were losing when the sideline reporter was going on and on about how much special equipment we ordered to sew into Nico’s jersey because he was cold, and then the camera showed Will Howard and he was wearing short sleeves. I told my brother right then that we were losing that game.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

Let him leave. Still have Merkingler and McIntyre with Faizon Brandon coming in next season. It would suck but to pull this crap at this point is ridiculous

Right now, Tennessee has 3 qb's on the roster, Nico, Merklinger , and MacIntyre, a true freshman. If Nico were to leave, do we go into the season with only 2 qb's , or try to find another one in the portal? In that situation, a transfer wouldn't have any experience in Heupel's offense. Seems like that would be a recipe for disaster.

 

[joevols89]

Right now, Tennessee has 3 qb's on the roster, Nico, Merklinger , and MacIntyre, a true freshman. If Nico were to leave, do we go into the season with only 2 qb's , or try to find another one in the portal? In that situation, a transfer wouldn't have any experience in Heupel's offense. Seems like that would be a recipe for disaster.

Someone decent would gladly take Nico’s deal. But Merk could be good enough to where you take a potential backup or someone who isn’t afraid to compete for the starting job.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Can’t spell “Nico Iamaleava” without “I’m leavin’.” I’d let him walk so fast and use that money on someone at a position of need who has proven they are actually good at football. Dude went a month without scoring a point in the first half, we could get someone to pay us and do that.

Nico I am a leava