Official Gramps' Memorial Eternal OT Thread

[McDad]

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.

Let's see how you feel about this in a different context.

You have a good job with good wages. You signed a 1 year lease with me 5 months ago. A headhunter contacts you about a job wanting you. It has a 30% increase in pay. You like the area the job is located. Cost of living is a non factor. You pass on the job because of your rental contract with me?

 

[Orangeslice13]

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

At a point the money is everywhere so it becomes less of a determining factor. When will we get there? That’s a good question

 

[McDad]

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.

I think it is unlikely Jake is as good as Nico and puts up similar numbers.
I think it is more likely this team takes a step back this season.

 

[McDad]

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

It is possible to be both grateful for the opportunity and what UT did AND want more money. Gratitude doesn't require loyalty.

 

[Orangeslice13]

I think it is unlikely Jake is as good as Nico and puts up similar numbers.
I think it is more likely this team takes a step back this season.

You should show up for the season prediction thread again. See if you can be first eliminated….again

 

[McDad]

You should show up for the season prediction thread again. See if you can be first eliminated….again

I might. Is the same super-rigid, domineering person doing it this year as last?

 

[Orangeslice13]

It is possible to be both grateful for the opportunity and what UT did AND want more money. Gratitude doesn't require loyalty.

It’s possible…….
That Nico was having doubts about being here. Maybe homesick and looking around. Then a false report comes out about him wanting to renegotiate his deal. VN trashes him big time. His dad denies anything is happening but the damage is done and our reaction pushes him out the door.

We’re never going to know what happened but the evidence shows that the coaches were completely unaware there was a problem till they read the news Thursday that they were in negotiations…..that they had no idea about

 

[Orangeslice13]

I might. Is the same super-rigid, domineering person doing it this year as last?

Rule 6a

 

[McDad]

It’s possible…….
That Nico was having doubts about being here. Maybe homesick and looking around. Then a false report comes out about him wanting to renegotiate his deal. VN trashes him big time. His dad denies anything is happening but the damage is done and our reaction pushes him out the door.

We’re never going to know what happened but the evidence shows that the coaches were completely unaware there was a problem till they read the news Thursday that they were in negotiations…..that they had no idea about

I heard on 104.5 that Nico and UT had been in discussion since December.

Was that refuted?

 

[Orangeslice13]

I heard on 104.5 that Nico and UT had been in discussion since December.

Was that refuted?

CJP said in his press conference yesterday that he found out there was an issue Thursday night.

His position coach had dinner with him Thursday night and said that nothing negative was communicated.

Everyone was shocked he didn’t show up Friday

 

[Orangeslice13]

Now it’s possible, I guess, that Nico was negotiating with the collective and the coaches were not involved, but that feels unlikely

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Comes down to Nico's camp didnt have the leverage they thought they had. They didnt get everything they wanted in December and were shopping him after that. Heup found out from Lanning. The holdout was the final straw...

 

[hog88]

I think it is unlikely Jake is as good as Nico and puts up similar numbers.
I think it is more likely this team takes a step back this season.

It was going to take a step back anyway with or without Nico. Jake might just surprise us.

 

[Orangeburst]

It was going to take a step back anyway with or without Nico. Jake might just surprise us.

Jake wears khakis

 

[marcusluvsvols]

I think it is unlikely Jake is as good as Nico and puts up similar numbers.
I think it is more likely this team takes a step back this season.

Reasonable take on 1st statement. 2nd sentence was gonna happen regardless. Have posted several times that IMO this was a 9-3 bowlgame season WITH Nico at QB and assumed to have improved. Probably 8-4 season now and thats OK. Hubbs and AP said in the post OnW video that l linked above that we are likely picked middle of the pack by SEC coaches at media day this fall. Middle of the pack is what 7th thru 9th out of 16 teams? 8-4 likely finishes 6th or 7th or so in the conference IMO. If we overachieve at 9-3 we barely miss the playoffs and likely end up in a tie for 4th or 5th something like Ole Miss last year. I will be ecstatic if we finish 9-3 since our 7 WRs return a total of 36 catches at UT. From Brazzell and Matthews combined IIRC. We are also replacing 3 out of 5 starters on the Oline. I think they will be as good as last season though except maybe at Center.

It was going to take a step back anyway with or without Nico. Jake might just surprise us.

100%. We were taking a step back regardless IMO. Not much...but theres a big difference between 10-2 and playoffs, and 9-3 or 8-4 and a bowl game. Our WRs are gonna have to grow up in a hurry or our offense will look like last years.Defense may have to carry the team again this year.

Even after having a very average passing offense in Joe and Nicos 2 seasons, i heard on ON3 yesterday that the Tennessee offense is STILL no2 in the nation (or P4?) since Hype has been here. That's crazy.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Damn the zbaseVols bout to give this gsme away late. Rallied to take a 4 run lead in the 5th inning...errors and bad defense. Down 1 now. Snead is pissed but OM got the lead on a wild pitch. Defense needs work man

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Welp Chapman just jacked a 2 run bomb to put the good guys up 1 in the 9th. Talking to myself and whatnot.

 

[hog88]

I’m about getting too old to be a Vol fan. It’s taking years off my life

 

[AM64]

Let's see how you feel about this in a different context.

You have a good job with good wages. You signed a 1 year lease with me 5 months ago. A headhunter contacts you about a job wanting you. It has a 30% increase in pay. You like the area the job is located. Cost of living is a non factor. You pass on the job because of your rental contract with me?

I'd tell you what my deal is and ask if we could amend the lease. If you say "No", then my decision is whether the move (and what I perceive the future to be) balances out what I have to pay for the existing and a new lease - and possibly can I sub-lease. That's the way of things; we don't have a vision into the future when we make decisions, but that doesn't make my choice your issue. Nico got a good deal; he might not get a better deal - or he might have been offered one before entering the portal - it's a problem if that happened. It's not at all clear that Nico is the equivalent of Carson Beck's worth to Miami which seems to be the basis for the increased valuation. Maybe I just have a hang up about honoring promises/obligations.

There's some really weird crap about NIL and the sponsoring organizations like Spyre. Hard to believe that anyone actually believes that a deal with a nebulous outfit that supposedly has no ties to a school somehow ties a player to a school. That's a stretch that equals no players being payed when paying players was illegal. Hard to see much about NIL as it exists as not a scam. The other big question is who (if anybody) is really driving this and what's in it for them - possibly agents looking for a bigger payday, family wanting to get back to CA, another school poaching a supposedly upcoming new talent. In any case it's certainly not a lesson in ethics, commitments, or values.

 

[AM64]

I heard on 104.5 that Nico and UT had been in discussion since December.

Was that refuted?

The part that makes no sense is that Nico's deal is with Spyre and according to Spyre

In early 2022, independent of the University of Tennessee or anyone associated with its athletics program, Spyre Sports entered into a mutually beneficial contractual relationship with Nico lamaleava that involved a limited assignment of his NIL rights, no matter which school he chose to attend. Such "representation agreements" have become increasingly common. The parties agreed that their contractual rights and obligations would be governed by California law, which freely allows prospective college athletes to enter into such agreements.

The commercial reasonableness of the agreement between Spyre and Nico was evidenced by a recitation that Spyre anticipated Nico would eventually be drafted by an NFL team. The agreement also specifically acknowledged the restrictions prohibiting the use of any school's or team's "logo or insignia."

The agreement required Spyre to protect the value of Nico's NIL rights and specifically stated that "nothing in [the] agreement constitutes any form of inducement to ATHLETE to enroll at any school and/or join any athletic team."

In short, the agreement was fully consistent with then existing NCAA NIL "guidelines" and had nothing to do with recruiting Nico to the University of Tennessee or any other school.

Spyre Sports and the Vol Club currently represent more than 100 college athletes and are proud to have helped them maximize the value of their legally protected name, image, and likeness.

If UT isn't paying Nico and Nico is free to choose any school, how exactly does UT get involved in how much Nico gets paid or in negotiations over pay and benefits. Further, as I recall, schools are still forbidden to pay players, so how could UT have been in discussion with Nico and his agents? This is as shady as paying players when players didn't get paid. Seems like NIco is still stuck with what Spyre is paying Nico unless the whole NIL agreement is a lie and the funds are just laundered through Spyre ... and Spyre doesn't tell Nico where to play.

 

[McDad]

I'd tell you what my deal is and ask if we could amend the lease. If you say "No", then my decision is whether the move (and what I perceive the future to be) balances out what I have to pay for the existing and a new lease - and possibly can I sub-lease. That's the way of things; we don't have a vision into the future when we make decisions, but that doesn't make my choice your issue. Nico got a good deal; he might not get a better deal - or he might have been offered one before entering the portal - it's a problem if that happened. It's not at all clear that Nico is the equivalent of Carson Beck's worth to Miami which seems to be the basis for the increased valuation. Maybe I just have a hang up about honoring promises/obligations.

There's some really weird crap about NIL and the sponsoring organizations like Spyre. Hard to believe that anyone actually believes that a deal with a nebulous outfit that supposedly has no ties to a school somehow ties a player to a school. That's a stretch that equals no players being payed when paying players was illegal. Hard to see much about NIL as it exists as not a scam. The other big question is who (if anybody) is really driving this and what's in it for them - possibly agents looking for a bigger payday, family wanting to get back to CA, another school poaching a supposedly upcoming new talent. In any case it's certainly not a lesson in ethics, commitments, or values.

You wouldn't be living up to your contract with me. Isn't that a gripe you have about Nico?

 

[McDad]

The part that makes no sense is that Nico's deal is with Spyre and according to Spyre



If UT isn't paying Nico and Nico is free to choose any school, how exactly does UT get involved in how much Nico gets paid or in negotiations over pay and benefits. Further, as I recall, schools are still forbidden to pay players, so how could UT have been in discussion with Nico and his agents? This is as shady as paying players when players didn't get paid. Seems like NIco is still stuck with what Spyre is paying Nico unless the whole NIL agreement is a lie and the funds are just laundered through Spyre ... and Spyre doesn't tell Nico where to play.

I think the context of Nico discussions since December were about getting him better receivers and better OLine.

 

[AM64]

You wouldn't be living up to your contract with me. Isn't that a gripe you have about Nico?

I guess I wasn't clear enough that the lease is not the part in question. The part in question was could I change jobs knowing I had an obligation to your lease. If it's not worth paying for two places or you don't want to amend the lease, I stay put and consider what might have been. Those are lessons learned about choices and obligations.

 

[AM64]

I think the context of Nico discussions since December were about getting him better receivers and better OLine.

Yep, that's what I remember, too. Seems like some things got morphed.

 

[Vol423]

I think it is unlikely Jake is as good as Nico and puts up similar numbers.
I think it is more likely this team takes a step back this season.

I disagree. It isn't like Nico tore it up last season. If Jake can complete any deep passes whatsoever, he could torch Nico's stats.