Official Gramps' Memorial Eternal OT Thread

[DinkinFlicka]

But would you still do it if Tennessee had risked the death penalty by going to bat against the NCAA for you? This isn’t about money nearly as mush as it is gratitude INO

Your mentality is easy to form from the outside in, but if you were a 20 year old gifted with athletic ability capable of making the money he is, this romanticized level of principle wouldn't really register.

There's no guarantee he plays in the NFL. In football, there's not really a "Turkish" or European league. It's highly likely this will be your only choice to make millions with your football.

Being a VFL sounds great, but when we're talking about making millions more, this is likely it.

 

[Orangeslice13]

Your mentality is easy to form from the outside in, but if you were a 20 year old gifted with athletic ability capable of making the money he is, this romanticized level of principle wouldn't really register.

There's no guarantee he plays in the NFL. In football, there's not really a "Turkish" or European league. It's highly likely this will be your only choice to make millions with your football.

Being a VFL sounds great, but when we're talking about making millions more, this is likely it.

2.5 this year and next year is pretty good. I get trying to make more as time is short but the timing of this seems like a pretty big mistake. I could be wrong, maybe he gets a raise somewhere else but there’s just not many people who need a qb with money to spend.

 

[hog88]

Your mentality is easy to form from the outside in, but if you were a 20 year old gifted with athletic ability capable of making the money he is, this romanticized level of principle wouldn't really register.

There's no guarantee he plays in the NFL. In football, there's not really a "Turkish" or European league. It's highly likely this will be your only choice to make millions with your football.

Being a VFL sounds great, but when we're talking about making millions more, this is likely it.

Nico won’t make “millions” more. He might get a couple hundred thousand more and possibly (depending on his performance) lose millions.

 

[hog88]

Well piss

 

[C-south]

Nico won’t make “millions” more. He might get a couple hundred thousand more and possibly (depending on his performance) lose millions.

Maybe they have something already lined up but it seems nobody is a fan of this guy right now. I mean I have t seen anything that shows anyone bending over backwards for his services and definitely nothing that points to him getting another $2 million.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

2.5 this year and next year is pretty good. I get trying to make more as time is short but the timing of this seems like a pretty big mistake. I could be wrong, maybe he gets a raise somewhere else but there’s just not many people who need a qb with money to spend.

You're right, but I'm saying I see why these guys explore options.

 

[Orangeslice13]

You're right, but I'm saying I see why these guys explore options.

He has to do what is right for him. It’s life changing money we’re talking about. I don’t blame him even if I think he’s misplayed his hand. There is another possibility.

He never renegotiated with us. He has an offer from somewhere else. He wants out and wants to go home.

To me that’s the only thing that makes sense. Hypel said today in his press conference that he had no idea there was a problem till Thursday night. That’s after the report came out about renegotiating. If we were renegotiating I think CJH would have known.

This is where we are now in college football….i guess

 

[McDad]

There is the other side. You make a contract; you honor it; end of story. Nico got a very generous contract, and TN took a real gamble in the courts to back it up. You have to honor that - period. Maybe that view is part of the generational thing I mentioned in the reply to Marcus, but I feel very strongly about agreements and following through. Apparently from several articles I've read, TN scored a lot of points today by not backing down. Those points won't win games, but they do make up for some of the respect that TN has lost in the past few years.

Are you sure he has a contract with UT?

 

[volfanhill]

You're right, but I'm saying I see why these guys explore options.

His timing on this is beyond dumb. Major programs aren't hunting for a QB. If they are, you are walking in to having no clue their system. Set himself up for failure

 

[Orangeslice13]

His timing on this is beyond dumb. Major programs aren't hunting for a QB. If they are, you are walking in to having no clue their system. Set himself up for failure

The more I think about this, the more I believe he has a place to go and there was no renegotiation. The coaching staff was blindsided by this

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Right and wrong way to handle things. He got his bite at the apple during the offseason to review market. He just realized he didnt have the leverage to hold the program hostage the day before the Spring Game....

Potentially a very poor long term financial decision from his family...

This. To not show up for practice the day before the OnW game is unforgivable and IMO the exact moment UT football fired Nico. Coach Hype said in his presser today that the coaches/team did not know or expect the No Show at practice today. Also said Nico/his family did not answer the phone when he wasnt there. Coach was super classy, thanked Nico for his time and said "Nobody is bigger than the team. Not even me. " Took the high road and moved on. Said we are bringing in a 3rd QB thru the portal by necessity. IMO this guy backs up Jake. I believe the best QB in the country in HS will be here in December as an early enrollee. We will be absolutely loaded at QB again with 3 guys who were all Elite 11 passers their senior year of HS. Plus whomever we grab from the portal unless he is a 1 year rental. Hope we spend most of the money Nico WAS gonna earn this season on a DTackle or Dback from the spring portal for a difference maker.

There is the other side. You make a contract; you honor it; end of story. Nico got a very generous contract, and TN took a real gamble in the courts to back it up. You have to honor that - period. Maybe that view is part of the generational thing I mentioned in the reply to Marcus, but I feel very strongly about agreements and following through. Apparently from several articles I've read, TN scored a lot of points today by not backing down. Those points won't win games, but they do make up for some of the respect that TN has lost in the past few years.

Heres the thing: Nico was the highest paid college player in history and national media darling when he got his 4 year $8million dollar contract out of HS. All the reports I have seen from national media today said Nico was set to earn either $2.4M or $2.5M this coming season alone. Do the math. Instead of $2M a year Nicos camp seemingly already had renegotiated a NEW deal in the span of less than 2 years consisting of his true freshman year when he never played except the bowl game (2M) and last season when he played all year. (2M) so he ALREADY got a 20% raise to $2.4M OR MORE since his original deal UNLESS you believe that he:

1. Got no signing bonus money up front to commit to UT over everyone else AND

2. N0 Bonus up front AND agreed to be paid LESS than $2M a year in both his 1st and 2nd year at UT such that he had a backloaded contract to make all the money in his 3rd and 4th years...which a 4th year likely never happens if he goes pro anyway.

Bottom line: Nico already got a big raise to be at $2.4M ( or MORE) a year in 2025. Minimum 20% increase in pay. Screw him, his family, or who is responsible for this poor decision. He will likely play ball out west. Best hope for him is UCLA in my opinion if his parents didnt already burn that bridge with his brother Maddox when they stood them up on SIGNING DAY and he went to Arkansas instead.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

The more I think about this, the more I believe he has a place to go and there was no renegotiation. The coaching staff was blindsided by this

Possible. All Coach said is he wouldn't answer the phone after practice. Look what this family did to UCLA on signing day with Maddox to Arkansas.

Next man up. Jake is good. Bet he puts up as good of numbers this year as Nico did last season at 19TDs and 5INTs. Maybe better if the WR can perform. Joe Milton had 20TDs and 5INT in 2023.

I like Jake. Time to shine, kiddo. Wish he had gotten all the 1st team reps this spring like Nico did last year though.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Close to half the impact players didnt play in this game. Like Kitselman TE who lead the team in catches last year and Arion Carter at LB who leads the LB room and defense, CB McCoy who was all SEC and 3rd team AA last year etc. Also missing WR Smith who will have an impact this season too.

Jake threw a couple TDs and a pick.
Gmac about the same
TE freshman Jack Van D had 3 TDs
WR Rodarious Jackson had 2 TDs
The RBs looked solid. Rookie Daune (DeWon) Morris continued to shine with his quickness IMO. What you guys see?

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Wonder how Hubbs will spin not knowing sh*t?

He sure didnt. The 104.5 friday morn radio show with him is available on youtube lmao. Where i heard it. Every week.

Heres todays post game

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Players. LOVE these kids.

If you dont want to be HERE...you don't BLEED ORANGE then GTFO. NO player is bigger than this team. GO VOLS



All these videos may be posted in different threads in the FF guys. I dont go in there much except for Fingers practice notes etc. Just posting here good stuff from my own youtube feed that I would personally like to see 1 of you guys link if I had not come across them...

 

[volfanhill]

Players. LOVE these kids.

If you dont want to be HERE...you don't BLEED ORANGE then GTFO. NO player is bigger than this team. GO VOLS



All these videos may be posted in different threads in the FF guys. I dont go in there much except for Fingers practice notes etc. Just posting here good stuff from my own youtube feed that I would personally like to see 1 of you guys link if I had not come across them...

Meh. A very small percent would be here without money.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Your mentality is easy to form from the outside in, but if you were a 20 year old gifted with athletic ability capable of making the money he is, this romanticized level of principle wouldn't really register.

There's no guarantee he plays in the NFL. In football, there's not really a "Turkish" or European league. It's highly likely this will be your only choice to make millions with your football.

Being a VFL sounds great, but when we're talking about making millions more, this is likely it.

Two point five mil a year guaranteed isn’t something to be thrown away lightly. Most HS kids would LOVE to have that kind of problem. Once again, ingratitude and a lack of thankfulness IMO

 

[volfanhill]

Two point five mil a year guaranteed isn’t something to be thrown away lightly. Most HS kids would LOVE to have that kind of problem. Once again, ingratitude and a lack of thankfulness IMO

That's nonsense. Paid what you are worth. We decided no. Are you an ingrate if you want more from your employer? He screwed this. But "ingrate and lack of thankful" is dumb. It's a job.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Meh. A very small percent would be here without money.

That describes every single school in the P4 now, especially SEC and B10 schools.

That said, I automatically pull for instate kids who have worn Orange for their whole lives more than other players. They definitely have a different level of commitment than the others. Also guys like LB Telander. Watched him on Mike Keiths show #3 and he is All VOL and a leader on defense. Was offered by Hype at his 1st camp here in HS, before thw other bigtime programs offered him...and he said he knew he was a VOL from his 1st visit. Committed soon after. Hes from a smaller town in NY but acts like a Tennesee boy. Love that dude. Coaches son.

 

[volfanhill]

That describes every single school in the P4 now, especially SEC and B10 schools.

That said, I automatically pull for instate kids who have worn Orange for their whole lives more than other players. They definitely have a different level of commitment than the others. Also guys like LB Telander. Watched him on Mike Keiths show #3 and he is All VOL and a leader on defense. Was offered by Hype at his 1st camp here in HS, before thw other bigtime programs offered him...and he said he knew he was a VOL from his 1st visit. Committed soon after. Hes from a smaller town in NY but acts like a Tennesee boy. Love that dude. Coaches son.

Yep that's great. But it doesn't really matter

 

[OrangeTsar]

That's nonsense. Paid what you are worth. We decided no. Are you an ingrate if you want more from your employer? He screwed this. But "ingrate and lack of thankful" is dumb. It's a job.

We provided him hundreds of thousands if not millions in free legal representation just so he could GET paid (at great risk to the program). So yeah, big time ingratitude. There would be no eight million dollar NIL deals if Tennessee hadn’t went to bat for him.

 

[volfanhill]

We provided him hundreds of thousands if not millions in free legal representation just so he could GET paid (at great risk to the program). So yeah, big time ingratitude. There would be no eight million dollar NIL deals if Tennessee hadn’t went to bat for him.

So no one would offer him what we did? Great. We are morons. Is that your argument?

 

[AM64]

In what sense ?

Articles I read today mostly said TN did the right thing. One said that several coaches or GMs backed us on the matter. Another had a ton of comments - most thought we did the right thing. In one major outlet (maybe NBC or CBS) article the writer even owned up to being a Gator fan and praised the TN position; he said Nico was not on par with some past FL QBs or even Lagway (think that's the right spelling).

 

[AM64]

Are you sure he has a contract with UT?

I'm pretty sure the contract is with Spyre and not UT. Seems like schools have to work through collectives for the time being. I still think even if it is an agreement rather than a written contract that you honor it. Nothing wrong with asking about renegotiation in some circumstances, but just because a couple of other QBs with proven records and more experience made moves that earned them more doesn't mean there's a real solid trend that's been set. Have to say that Nico might also not be the real villain; he could have had bad advice from the people representing him - or even family, but in the end he followed their lead if so.

 

[OrangeTsar]

So no one would offer him what we did? Great. We are morons. Is that your argument?

I am sorry i am not getting my point across very well. All I can say is that Nico (or his family) should feel some measure of gratitude to the program (in my humble opinion). If you feel otherwise then that’s fine