Report: Nico Almost Sat Out Playoff Game

[VOLINVONORE]

He played like he had already decided not to play. Just went through the motions. However, the defense didn't look like they wanted to play either. Maybe they knew something was up.

 

[Behr]

We need a separate Nico forum

"We" need to move on.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Good thing the rest of the team - particularly the OL - were oblivious to this consternation. It might have effected their stellar play.

 

[the_todd]

I ask this before. Who was Nico representing,? Who was the money behind his deal.
I never recall seeing him hawking cars or insurance like Bru and some of the other players.

Its been reported multiple times that the businesses he was “representing “ were pissed off because he took their money & then either just refused to show up, or just flat out ghosted them

 

[OrangeInKy]

"We" need to move on.

That’s going to be a while. Not a whole lot else to talk about right now concerning football.

 

[VOLnMiami]

I hope coaches around the nation blackball his ass and use him as an example...Let him go play jr college ball somewhere and pay his own way.

 

[Behr]

That’s going to be a while. Not a whole lot else to talk about right now concerning football.

I was expecting "well you didn't have to open the thread". Lol.

 

[Casual Mustard Yeeter]

Do yard work on Saturdays, watch the NFL on Sundays

I would rather drop football entirely than root for laundry. Unfortunately, college ball is about to be that, too.

I reckon I'll finally pick up some other fall hobby, like pumpkin spice lattes or whatever. I don't really know what people do other than football.

 

[Doctrippin]

I'd say based on his play in the Ohio State game, he was going through the motions most of the game....

And could Nico be the reason Squirrel White left? A QB like that is toxic. To go from a top 10 team to FSU..... something seemed really off there

 

[dduncan4163]

Looks like we just cut out a cancer. We are simply better off without him.

 

[dduncan4163]

Not having Dylan healthy was a big reason in the game. But it does explain why we lost all the wide receivers prior to playoff game and afterwards.

It makes a ton of sense

 

[Other_Guy]

It's not often you see the entire sport world torch a guy like they're doing Nico. But I know it's not as much about him as what has become of NIL

 

[Doctrippin]

They are going to have to pay bonuses for playoff games like the NFL does. The schools do make more money, so they should have more to offer, especially if we get a playoff game in Neyland.

 

[volroadwarrior]

Interesting, I think his running showed he cared. He got beaten up and was laying it out there it seemed to me. That's one of the few games I wasn't mad at him. Maybe I've forgotten some things about the game, which I really wished to do.

Maybe he did care but it was all a huge distraction. The greed and stupidity of the father is breathtaking.

 

[n_huffhines]

Worse than we thought. If this is true, holy cow. The level of greed is insane

In this clip, he says nothing that makes me believe this is true. No mention of sources or anything.

"People said nobody would sit out playoff games!"

Did they? I never heard anybody say that, but guess what? Nobody has sat out a playoff game.

He's just tryin' for eyes and ears

 

[RiseToTheTop]

In this clip, he says nothing that makes me believe this is true. No mention of sources or anything.

"People said nobody would sit out playoff games!"

Did they? I never heard anybody say that, but guess what? Nobody has sat out a playoff game.

He's just tryin' for eyes and ears

nah, Pate isnt like that.


it came out months ago that a playoff team was dealing with this. We just didnt think it was UT back then but it was.

 

[n_huffhines]

nah, Pate isnt like that.

it came out months ago that a playoff team was dealing with this. We just didnt think it was UT back then but it was.

What's the source?

 

[FranklinVFL]

"Screw me once, shame on you.
Screw me twice, shame on me"

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

H


Hell, if this is true we shoulda cut him loose after the season ended.

He showed potential at times, but at no time did he look like a game changer on the field.

I dunno. Cutting him loose this late in the game is more punitive to the - I am a leavin's. He won't be seeing much prime time exposure this fall unless some big name QB has an accident over the summer.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Good indicator of just how far over the head they are in. Total amateur hour

Very typical of lottery winners.

 

[OrangeInKy]

What's the source?

We still not believing anything if we don’t have the name of a source? I thought we got past this last Friday.

 

[GVF]

NIL has already changed the landscape of college football and will only continue to do so, and there's no coming back from it. Nico is a kid who was given a lot of money to come here, had a great freshman debut, played average as his one year as a starter although leading us to the playoff if leading is the correct word not sure it is but, got beat by a better team, and let the money and power and in particular his greedy dad/family get to his head. While Nico definitely made a lapse in judgement by holding out like this, he doesn't get all the blame for it. His company influenced this decision just as much as anyone else. He also cannot be let off without any of the blame. All in all he doesn't deserve all the hate he's getting- I don't care if you're working for the beloved small town company that's been around for 100 years - 99/100 of us are gonna take the opportunity to get more money if it comes. Nico Iamaleava is no longer a factor at the University of Tennessee and there is no point in lingering on it. There's not gonna be a whole lot more of these tried and true to their school guys anymore. The kids want the money. A lot of the posters on here don't get how much that money means to a kid who might not have anything outside of football and a family who's struggling. That's all I've got. GBO

Nico's Family ain't struggling.

Unconsidered factor is the light this will cast on little brother as well. Will he make his mark with actual talent and separate from the family pack, or will he allow pops to ruin his career as well. For the money he was receiving, Nico would be a Whataburger in a world of In N Outs...A Nothing Burger.

 

[volbound1700]

I’ve wondered the same thing. Don’t get me wrong, that OSU team was a true NFL roster and they were damn good once they hit the playoffs, and I’m not saying we would’ve won. But we looked very lost in that game. I felt like something was definitely “off” kinda like the 2022 South Carolina game.

If the rumors were out that Nico was shopping then the team likely had that in the back of their minds.

We were also missing Sampson which was the true heart of our offense in 2024.

 

[GVF]

I ask this before. Who was Nico representing,? Who was the money behind his deal.
I never recall seeing him hawking cars or insurance like Bru and some of the other players.

And that's where NIL will correct it's own market. When the folks pumping the money do not get a return on investment they will turn their pumps off. NIL is pure donor money, or a very large percentage. A fool and his money shall soon be departed.

 

[volfan102455]

They are going to have to pay bonuses for playoff games like the NFL does. The schools do make more money, so they should have more to offer, especially if we get a playoff game in Neyland.

Disagree. NIL should not be about the "school" paying more for success.

Businesses support NIL and in return they expect the player they are providing money to, to do something for them. Playing in a playoff game will benefit both the player and those businesses with the extra exposure that comes from those games. A school having success will benefit those businesses and the players alike.

We need to stop pretending that these players get nothing from the university - because they do - they get exposure! Without that exposure there is no NIL as there is no businesses that are interested is using them to promote their business.