Nicco: “Come back home to family”

[VolFreakJosh]

 

[VolPack22]

If it was about family then why was he reaching out to Oregon, Ole Miss, and Miami, amongst other programs nowhere close to LA and they all said “No thanks.”? Some people are so easily manipulated and that’s all that family is trying to do. Master manipulators…

 

[bigalvol27]

If it was a “family” thing, he wouldn’t have gone radio silent. Nothing wrong with being home sick, knew plenty of people who came back home while in college. None of them quit talking to those around them.

 

[sonofUT62]

California is still in the same place it always was in comparison to Knoxville. This was completely about money. He and his family are people of very poor character. The ability to stand in a public forum and tell this lie with a straight face is a level of sociopathy.

 

[CAVPUT]

Per ESPN article Iamaleava: Left Tennessee to come back home and hopes us “fans” understand.

I can understand that. But still, because of the increase demand in money, something still isn’t right about his reasoning.

Homesick is one thing, but you don't do what Nico did. He's not a child at summer camp who wants Mommy to come get him. He's a highly paid professional athlete that has an obligation to a staff and team that's invested a substantial amount of time and money on him. You can't just take your ball and go home. You have to grow up and be an adult.

Regardless, I think the homesick bit is nothing but a lie and excuse to try and rebuild some of his image for his future draft prospects. What he and his family did to Heupel and UT shows a complete lack of character and immaturity....and a substantial amount of greed. Good riddance to the whole lot of them.

 

[Pickinhick]

Apparently, the lack of an extra 2 million dollars causes homesickness.

 

[CINCYVOL]

What? Have you never heard of a 19 year old kid away at college being homesick? It happens all the time!

Did you not read the last part of the post?

His Dad was shopping him around last December. His “family” is his undoing.

 

[adam.vol]

I wish more Californians in Tennessee would get homesick. Thank you Nico for being a fine example.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Looking for money elsewhere WHILE getting away from the pressures of failing to meet expectations at UT is what I think his and his Dad’s drivers were. At least now he gets a do-over with some new excuses.

Could blow up into success. Always had the arms and legs, pressures may have impacted his head and his heart as one of the first big NIL Winners. Maybe just another Cover boy curse.

 

[DaddyChad]

Also per article from their coach:

“We're just excited to have a playoff quarterback," Foster said. "Just being able to come back home and be comfortable and being in a familiar environment, I think the sky is the limit."

Yet, it wasn’t Nicco that got us to the playoff, it was the D and our running game!

No the Oline is the limit. Theirs is terrible and that kid and his dad probably put his career in jeopardy at that joke of a football program.

Hope all NFL execs keep that homesickness in mind when the draft comes around.

 

[DaddyChad]

Looking for money elsewhere WHILE getting away from the pressures of failing to meet expectations at UT is what I think his and his Dad’s drivers were. At least now he gets a do-over with some new excuses.

Could blow up into success. Always had the arms and legs, pressures may have impacted his head and his heart as one of the first big NIL Winners. Maybe just another Cover boy curse.

He also tried to go to UNC and Miami while he was so homesick.

 

[TAF]

And ALL them Rednecks walkin around with his $20 Leis around their necks...didn't make him feel at "home"??!!

 

[apevol]

Per ESPN article Iamaleava: Left Tennessee to come back home and hopes us “fans” understand.

I can understand that. But still, because of the increase demand in money, something still isn’t right about his reasoning.

i said months ago if he'd said this from the start it would have blown over quickly

 

[ButchPlz]

If it was about family then why was he reaching out to Oregon, Ole Miss, and Miami, amongst other programs nowhere close to LA and they all said “No thanks.”? Some people are so easily manipulated and that’s all that family is trying to do. Master manipulators…

Judging by the fact that nobody has bought any of their BS at any stage of this I'm not sure I'd call them masters.

 

[floridavol25]

Wish the best for the kid but if he does get drafted I fear he is gonna get eaten alive by the nfl… especially if someone like the Jets draft him

 

[B81]

I thought he left because of our top 10 mickey mouse offense?

Pick a story and stick with it.

 

[LWSVOL]

Nico sure is in the head of Tennessee fans. Need to not respond to this guy or his family and forget them IMO

 

[knoxvol52]

 

[SubVet676]

Once a quitter…

 

[sonofUT62]

Nico sure is in the head of Tennessee fans. Need to not respond to this guy or his family and forget them IMO

In our defense it’s on front page of ESPN while we’re drinking our coffee. Doesn’t mean you’re not right. But it’s not like we woke up looking to pick a fight.

 

[TNnative]

I didn't GAF before.............and that hasn't changed.

 

[LowKey]

Per ESPN article Iamaleava: Left Tennessee to come back home and hopes us “fans” understand.

I can understand that. But still, because of the increase demand in money, something still isn’t right about his reasoning.

It's obvious what happened. Nico just wanted to play ball, but his family is a group of money hungry d-bags. I hope they realized what they did to him and learn, but people like that seldom see anything wrong in themselves. Best of luck Nico.

 

[VolInDayton]

It was the Defense, running game (Nico included), Nico’s arm, and Donte’s speed that got us to the playoffs.

He was a significant part of the 2024 team.
NOW he isn’t
- that doesn’t mean he never made said impact
- that doesnt mean Tennessee is hurting for QB skills
- and that doesnt mean we can’t make the playoffs.

WE DONT HAVE TO COMPLETELY DELEGITIMIZE a players actual contributions just because he did Tennessee wrong.

What do we do?
We CHEER AGULAR or MERK, or GMAC.

If there was a WAR calculation for SEC QBs his would have been 0 to slightly positive. Will we get average QB play this year? I trust in the coaching staff to get it done. It seems to be their floor of what they put out on the field.

 

[sjt18]

This fanbase needs a Nico enema.

He is an elite talent but mediocre performer. He tried to leverage UT and they called his bluff. He's now trying to rationalize what he did. He's gone and hopefully both sides are better off because of it.

I wish him the best in his professional volleyball career.

 

[DonDiego]

Anytime I looked in the stands during broadcasted games, it looked like he pretty much had his entire family around anyway...and a chunk of his neighborhood.