'25 Portal Thread

#14,503
#14,503
I have a family reunion at the lake tomorrow. So, any updates on
1. Is Nico at the O&W “game”
2. Fan reaction if he is and/or reaction if he’s not
3.How is his family(especially dad) received
4.How is the teams overall mood
So, much drama😡
I know this much, you can only threaten to leave so many times before it changes from ”please don’t go” to “I‘ll help you pack”
 
#14,504
#14,504
Checker_the_Shire said:
I’m sorry, but come on on now. If he’s been sitting out practices, there’s absolutely 0% chance it’s looked over and not reported on. And we’re also supposed to believe Dan Lanning took the call and, instead of looking into it, says “nah, I’m calling my boy Heup and not taking this into consideration”?

This bball insider is either mistaken, mishearing/misreporting information, or full of it.
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Or someone leaking what UT wants out there as a possible narrative. Big money business moves
 
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#14,505
#14,505
Jackcrevol said:
Im not sure what you're saying.

Many have said these contract negotiations were out there for months.

Should Tennessee have been out in front more? Probably. None of us but Eric know.

@Ericvol2096
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I'm saying that a couple years ago these negotiations were made public and fans were mostly saying "pay him! We can't lose him" but now a lot more are ok with telling them to kick rocks. I don't think the strategy of using fans for pressure is beneficial for the player side anymore.
 
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#14,509
#14,509
Nico is done and we need to cut bait now! So We need a portal qb. I’m curious who will be out there and can they learn Heup’s system quick enough to take the reins this fall.
 
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#14,510
#14,510
Walkman said:
Nico is done and we need to cut bait now! So We need a portal qb. I’m curious who will be out there and can they learn Heup’s system quick enough to take the reins this fall.
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I'm not sure we need a portal QB, if you mean as a starter, unless it's a slam dunk kid. If it's a fringe SEC-level guy, then maybe as a backup, but I think Merklinger, with a year in the system and playbook, offers as much or more. Having no spring practice to go thru to at least expedite learning the offense would really hinder the development of a new guy trying to learn it in a summer. Merk doesn't have the in-game experience, but he has some talent and knowledge of the system. That trumps anyone else outside of a handful of guys, I think.
 
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#14,519
#14,519
TrippieRedd said:
Tell me, because I know you’re connected.

Was our terrible portal haul due to these negotiations with Nico? Or was our meh haul always expected
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I’m not connected enough to answer this as well as some others on the board. I don’t think it’s as black and white as the question.

Who was the ground breaking WR (other than Branch) that was going change our outlook? Our work with Tate didn’t happen. We kept Boo on offense. Our portal RB was underwhelming to many, I understand that. Instead of breaking bank for Thompson, we got 2 solid guys. Defense feels like we have enough bodies/talent stacked up to some extent.

But did Nico cause the lackluster haul? I don’t think so. I just don’t think he loves it here (not UT specifically, just east coast, environment etc). And I think the kid is good, his advisors- of which there are many- are trying to squeeze the juice. So this is where we are at.
 
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#14,521
#14,521
99vawl said:
I’m not connected enough to answer this as well as some others on the board. I don’t think it’s as black and white as the question.

Who was the ground breaking WR (other than Branch) that was going change our outlook? Our work with Tate didn’t happen. We kept Boo on offense. Our portal RB was underwhelming to many, I understand that. Instead of breaking bank for Thompson, we got 2 solid guys. Defense feels like we have enough bodies/talent stacked up to some extent.

But did Nico cause the lackluster haul? I don’t think so. I just don’t think he loves it here (not UT specifically, just east coast, environment etc). And I think the kid is good, his advisors- of which there are many- are trying to squeeze the juice. So this is where we are at.
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Interesting thoughts...thanks! He must really not like it, too, considering he's been given every resource and opportunity to be successful. It's interesting that it took two years for him to fall out of love with this place, so I have a theory on that. From a football standpoint, I'd have thought this realization would have come to a head when he barely sniffed the field as a freshman and wasn't really given a chance to win the job. So, the idea that this decision comes when he's the unquestioned starter makes me wonder if he just doesn't like the pressure of being the starting QB at a place with a fanbase as passionate as ours. I could see how that could wear on a laid back kid from California as it isn't for everyone.

Like you, I don't see how this gets walked back. All this charade has done is rapidly increase the pressure on him going into next season. It just seems like this situation is past the point of no return. Dad overplayed his hand, but likely did so knowing they were fine if Tennessee called their bluff if Nico wasn't dead set on sticking it out, anyhow.
 
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#14,524
#14,524
Alright I gave in here yall go

Alright so here is where we are at. Nico went from attending a QB dinner last night to no showing at practice this morning. So where is he? Is he at his place? Is he on the way back to Cali? We are working to figure that part out. We don’t believe anyone from Tennessee has heard from Nico and his camp today. They have reached out and come up empty. I’m not ready to report he is definitely going to the portal but it’s trending that way in my opinion. Working on a new deal while you practice is one thing. Just no showing the day before the spring game and not answering calls from coaches is another. There were several key leadership players not happy with Nico’s no show today.
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-AP 45 min ago
 
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