LA Times Article (link attached) on the Nico just published "They (UCLA) hire a deserter"

[rikberry31]

UCLA picked up Aguilar, went through spring practice with him, saw all the theatrics playing out here and said that’s our guy. That’s a cold business choice full of questionable reasoning. After we signed Aguilar, if UCLA wasn’t ride or die with Nico before, they’re that much more locked in now. Good luck to them.

I really believe that this is death blow to UCLA. They were already in deep with a bad roster and a worse coach. And now the inept coach goes all in on an unproven and possibly unstable qb. I think they would have been better served to run with Aguilar and not put all the chips on Nico.
I have alway operated as a coach (and elsewhere) as to never be put in the situation of depending on undependable people. UCLA has just violated that, either Nico shines or everybody gets fired. Big gamble.

 

[rikberry31]

Yep. Money isn’t the only cost. Foster is going to have stress dialed up a few notches dealing with these clowns.

Yep, he just reached over and cranked the burner on the hot seat to eleven.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

If Aguilar puts up better numbers than Nico this year, it would ruin the UCLA coach's career. And it's not too far-fetched. Bums don't throw for 3700 yards with 33 TDs like Aguilar did in 2023.

Bums do throw 24 picks in 2 seasons though. Gonna have to clean that up.

 

[Tman44]

I love Bill Plaschke! " UCLA football and Nico Iamaleava are rolling around in the filth" Well said. I hope Joey Aguilar (or Jake/George) absolutely light it up this season. Out with the trash!

 

[Tnphil]

Ouch!

"This is a disappointing outfit desperately in need of a field leader, a staunch huddle general who can command loyalty and model integrity and win the battles.

So what do they do?

They hire a deserter."

 

[Sea Ray]

This has been a huge concern of mine. We are picking up the guy they thought was not good enough after spring practice for the guy who's off the field camp was a huge headache.

The headache of Nico's camp was worth the discount price and subsequent removal of Aguilar to UCLA.

We don't have to start this guy. If he sucks, we have other options

 

[10seV4L]

.

 

[Pride85]

Did UCLA find through spring practice that they needed to go after Nico after seeing Aguilar? If they were happy with Aguilar, why would they pursue another QB?

Same reason that some fans on this site would scream to go after another QB that was higher rated than the one we have just because they became available..........stupidity. Bird in the hand is better than two in the bush mentality rarely plays out these days. Don't jump into the water to chase the bigger bone, Smokey.

 

[rikberry31]

Did UCLA find through spring practice that they needed to go after Nico after seeing Aguilar? If they were happy with Aguilar, why would they pursue another QB?

The desperate coach, just like a turkey pecked at the shiny thing (Nico) in lieu of steady stability. UCLA has gambled biggly and taken the chance on it becoming a huge junk punch.

 

[DaddyChad]

Big Nic has been neutered. He has zero leverage and there is nowhere left to go. UCLA is the dead end he drove the family bus into and there's no way out. Not only has he lost millions with Nico, Madden's value has surely been significantly diminished as well.

NFL contracts will also be diminished. Nico has been labeled a greedy, traitor by national media.

 

[ButchPlz]

I think it was all assumed that if UCLA was going to pay Nico that Nico would be the starter. Aguilar wasn't going to spend his last year on the bench and UCLA knew this when they signed Nico. Nico got his money from UCLA because UCLA knew they weren't going to have to pay Aguilar.

at the end of the day UCLA upgraded for no other reason than Aguilar is a one-and-done QB who was brand new to their system and Nico will most like be around a couple years. that fact alone is worth pulling the trigger if you're UCLA.

Aguilar was never "the solution" because he's a transfer portal senior. just like he isn't the solution for Tennessee's future. he's just a guy coming in to fill a job for one year while the real guys get one more year experience in Heupels system.

Sure, I see all of that, but if Aguilar is actually better (which is possible if not likely) this is peak idiotic from UCLA. I don't know many of their fans that are excited about this.

 

[DaddyChad]

Sure, I see all of that, but if Aguilar is actually better (which is possible if not likely) this is peak idiotic from UCLA. I don't know many of their fans that are excited about this.

Nico’s ceiling is higher if someone can get him there with Nic dragging him down. He also has more eligibility than Aguilar. Madden was in probably part of the deal. It’s still a huge gamble bc Madden or Nico might be busts.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Doesn't mean Aquilar is not a good QB, as some on here think, because UCLA HC signed Nico. A lot of assumptions on here. Be interesting how the real stories play out.

 

[ButchPlz]

Nico’s ceiling is higher if someone can get him there with Nic dragging him down. He also has more eligibility than Aguilar. Madden was in probably part of the deal. It’s still a huge gamble bc Madden or Nico might be busts.

UCLA's staff has demonstrated zero of this ability.

 

[Peradox1K]

Don’t be afraid, it is semi pro ball now. Ain’t it just grand

No!

 

[JBVolunteer]

Big Nic has lost a lot of his bargaining power but with all certainty he will still be a headache for UCLA coaches and their collective. Tennessee’s saving grace was that we were winning. Even with the success of the season and a CFB berth; Nic created a toxic environment. 100%, if UCLA starts stringing L’s together and if his son doesn’t perform; it’s going to get really nasty….

 

[RDU VOL#14]

 

[Mightyvol]

Aguilar could actually be a better fit for CjH’s offense. He isn’t indecisive and doesn’t have “Daddy Nic” in one ears. What goes around comes around and this young man has an opportunity he has probably only dreamed of, playing in the SEC, for a storied program, in front of the best fan base in college sports. I think this young man will light it up!

 

[bpalmer28]

Bums do throw 24 picks in 2 seasons though. Gonna have to clean that up.

Remember, Joe Milton threw more interceptions in 150 attempts at Michigan than he did in over 450 attempts at Tennessee.

Hendon Hooker threw more interceptions in 300 attempts at VT than in over 600 attempts at Tennessee.

Heupel's system guards against interceptions. We just need someone with a strong enough arm to work the boundaries and if he can also connect on the occasional deep ball, we'll return to averaging over 35 ppg.

Also, Joey averaged 425 passes per season at App State. We've never had a guy attempt more than 354 (Milton). In games where Joey attempted less than 30 passes (7 games), he had 22 TDs and just 3 interceptions. Nico attempted more than 30 passes in just 3 games last year. This is why I think Joey will thrive under Heupel.

 

[KTrain]

Honestly I don't think they did. I think Nico probably reached out to them since he had no other options and a team like UCLA would be foolish to turn down a prospect like Nico.

This was probably right, and Madden evidently didn't like Arkansas and basically UCLA was the only P5 team that were able to take the baggage of the Nico clan. UCLA is a also ran organization. I would say Nic sr, said if we are taking a pay cut, we need you to bring Madden back and they took the pay cut rather than go to G% for even less.
Nico may surprise me but as I think back at his 3 years here, you never heard a player say he's a true leader or man Nico just gets us pumped up and even Jalen Hurd who did something as near as I can remember to Nico. Jalen recruited guys like crazy and was a savior for Butch or the recruiting trail. I just don't think Nico has the leadership to turn around a team like UCLA. especially them playing in the B1G. It will be like watching a car wreck. IMO

 

[Tnphil]

I still remember Heupel saying post game of the OSU game that we had some that weren't 'all in.' Wonder who he was talking about?

 

[DaddyChad]

UCLA's staff has demonstrated zero of this ability.

They have a very high potential kid that’s lazy, entitled and has zero self awareness with a parent feeding into that as well. Kid just isn’t going to put in that extra that guys like Hendon did off the field. Also hard to expect a low character, immature kid to be a leader. Long story short I don’t expect anything different.

And the extra fun part if you get the most out of Nico and his ability you’re going to be renegotiating every month.

 

[#1fulmerite]

N

Did UCLA find through spring practice that they needed to go after Nico after seeing Aguilar? If they were happy with Aguilar, why would they pursue another QB?

Nico wasn’t a bad QB. Saying that, he wasn’t worth the $4M price tag. In the grand scheme of things, UCLA comes out better. Nico is probably better of the two plus UCLA gets him at a discount.

 

[volfeeva]

I'm waiting for the next clown world headline about Nico and Family= BREAKING NEWS= NICO IMALEAVIN REFUSES TO PLAY UNLESS THE NATION GIVES HIM MONEY . What a circus. Will we hear that he left the Vols because JH refuse to come over and clean his apt ?

 

[txbo]