Nico not at practice today

This is going to be an 8-4 or so year. It was already shaping up to be a little problematic with some of the off season losses. Nico isn't the great QB he was hyped to be but he was probably still our best QB unless on of these backups shows us something we haven't expected like Hooker did.

Who cares? It’s playoffs or bust now anyway and if you get bounced first round it’s not good enough either.
 
This is going to be an 8-4 or so year. It was already shaping up to be a little problematic with some of the off season losses. Nico isn't the great QB he was hyped to be but he was probably still our best QB unless on of these backups shows us something we haven't expected like Hooker did.

Nico has the potential to be a great QB but he will not reach said potential if people around him will not allow him to just focus on ball.
 
Again, that's a pro league not a college league. And aside from the Antitrust lawsuits which would happen until Congress fixes something.....

Should the University of Tennessee own a pro franchise or two or three? Where in the heck does owning pro franchises click with an educational institution?

So "copy what the pros do but don't call it pro ball" is EXACTLY what has been getting the NCAA sued.

Lots of people have bristled at football, basketball, and possibly baseball going pro and being attached to UT. Many have said that flat won't support pro ball.

You cannot have it both ways unless Congress ACTUALLY fixes something. Congress.... fixes something. No. Not usually.
The University of Tennessee already owns a pro franchise in every way except name. In fact, their players make more money than actual pro athletes in minor league systems of other sports like baseball and basketball.

they need to change whatever congress asks them to do in order to get the antitrust exemption.
 
Unless Merk decides to pull a Gibson and try to grab a bag himself. New day for college ball for sure.
They would probably offer him a little more to stay but if he wants to hard ball, there are plenty of other QB's that would love to come here and get their shot in a big time program and still get paid more than what they made elsewhere, even a JUCO QB hit the portal opening and grab you your guy for the season
If I was Merk. I'd tell coach, give me everything you can for me to study over the summer, get me a QB coach and try my best to light it up this season. He balls hard enough to get NFL looking his way it would be worth it or at least show he's the man and get paid one more year to play in TN
 
All I know is we are going to have to get a GM running the team asap. Time for the GM to control the teams budget/contracts. Make all the players sign 2 year agreements. If he has an amazing freshman season understandable to renegotiate but this is not sustainable at all. Eventually the money pit will run dry from all schools just trying to keep players much less gaining new ones.
I'll agree about the GM but without the STUDENTS becoming EMPLOYEES of the school, you'll not force them to stay at your school.

You can't tell someone where to go to school but you can sign an employment contract like Heupel has with buyouts and penalties and incentives and all that good stuff.

So yeah, if you're okay with the player's no longer being students, attending school, etc and becoming pro athletes things can change.
 
Take Nico's money and go get a solid OL, CB, and whatever other position of need we think we need and let's ride with Merklinger the Gunslinger!
Agree. I did not see Nico do anything last year worth $8 million much less more. If someone is crazy enough to give that to him... then play "Money Ball" and let him go. If Merklinger can't handle it then give the Fr a shot. Sounds like UT's run game will be good again...
 
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I'll agree about the GM but without the STUDENTS becoming EMPLOYEES of the school, you'll not force them to stay at your school.

You can't tell someone where to go to school but you can sign an employment contract like Heupel has with buyouts and penalties and incentives and all that good stuff.

So yeah, if you're okay with the player's no longer being students, attending school, etc and becoming pro athletes things can change.
These players are not student athletes anymore. Would love to see the majority of the players majors that make big NIL money. College football has become the NFL G League.
 
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Him staying now is lost cause. It will be a Jarrett Guarantano situation on steroids every time No. 8 messes up. IMO, deservedly so now he’s taken horrible advice from family and/or advisor to be destructive to the team. Or maybe doing it this way was the plan so he can leave a few people really caring.

Tell him to hit the road and use that money for other players.
 
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Screw Nico at this point. He ain’t even worth the money he’s getting paid as is. He can f!ck off if he thinks he can strong arm us. I’m ready to see what Merk has.

But my god, this sport is on a fast track to such an ugly death if we don’t get contracts immediately. This system is unsustainable without something tying these kids to their deals. It’s long past time and if nothing is done then this will only continue to get worse.

I hate what college sports has become so damn much.
 
I'll agree about the GM but without the STUDENTS becoming EMPLOYEES of the school, you'll not force them to stay at your school.

You can't tell someone where to go to school but you can sign an employment contract like Heupel has with buyouts and penalties and incentives and all that good stuff.

So yeah, if you're okay with the player's no longer being students, attending school, etc and becoming pro athletes things can change.
The players can still be students at your university as a benefit of employment. I was a paid professional at a corporation when I was in college at UT AND I got my tuition paid for and that was 25 years ago.
 
The University of Tennessee already owns a pro franchise in every way except name. In fact, their players make more money than actual pro athletes in minor league systems of other sports like baseball and basketball.

they need to change whatever congress asks them to do in order to get the antitrust exemption.
I'll agree that it SHOULD go pro but I'm not sold that UT should openly be in the pro football business despite having a larger stadium than NFL teams.

Personally, I think UT should be an educational institution that licenses the logo, stadium, training facility, etc to a collection of longtime donors who own, fund, and run the franchise.

Let them worry about lawsuits and the league and all that and let the school just rake in a piece of the money.
 
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