In one of the strangest twists and turns in Tennessee football history, Tennessee and quarterback Nico Iamaleava have parted ways. Let’s dispense with the blame and just agree that all parties are better off now that the supposed chosen one will play his college football elsewhere.
The split was first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed his team that the Vols were “moving on” from Iamaleava. Kudos to Heupel. He had no choice but to boot Iamaleava after he was a no-show during practice on Friday.
Why is the best move for all parties? The Iamaleavas just aren’t tough enough, and, whether or not he likes it, Nico is a part of that camp, which happens to be the same camp that seems to like holding the Volunteers hostage.
Iamaleava and his camp had every opportunity to avoid the divorce from Tennessee. All he had to do was show up at practice on Friday. Instead, the Iamaleava camp got their feelings hurt about a report claiming the quarterback was negotiating for more NIL cash earlier this week. That’s not a good sign.
Although he clearly has a skill-set that would make most coaches fall all over themselves to land him, Iamaleava has one trait that has recently become most prominent. He(or at least those around him) is soft. They don’t like the criticism that comes with being one of the more prominent college football players in the country. Well, toughen up buttercups. Perhaps the SEC isn’t the right conference for you.
If Iamaleava and his camp can’t handle criticism from fans following this week’s public relations debacle, then how can anyone expect them to handle the criticism that is sure to come when things don’t go well on the football field. It’s just better for all parties to go their own way.
Last season, Iamaleava got a pass when he struggled. Fans were willing to look the other way when he jumped out of bounds against Arkansas with no time left on the clock. That was an unforgivable sin for former Tennessee football quarterback Joe Milton III, who did the same thing against Ole Miss in 2021. To their credit, Tennessee fans were willing to look the other way for Iamaleava because he was young, and they wanted to believe. Those days are over.
Fans wouldn’t have given any grace this year, and they shouldn’t have. Instead of bickering about what he’s getting paid, Iamaleava and his camp should have been preparing for the season, not the spring transfer portal.
Some will immediately jump to criticize Heupel, who is ultimately responsible for all of this mess. However, I’ll commend him. Heupel took a stand and was willing to lose one of his most ballyhooed players despite the negative press that will surely follow – if there is any.
One thing that Iamaleava and his camp never understood is that Tennessee football fans, like most, are always looking for the up-and-coming overachiever. Just ask former Tennessee safety Will Brooks or current tailback DeSean Bishop. Both had impacts last season despite being walk-ons. They also both had bigger impacts than Iamaleava, who was little more than a caretaker for Tennessee’s offense for much of the season. Fans clamored for Brooks and Bishop while they tolerated Iamaleava.
Tennessee has options. The Vols can go with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger or freshman George MacIntyre for the time being. Or the Vols can pick up a quarterback in the spring transfer portal. That, however, seems like a waste considering the Vols have competent quarterbacks on their roster. Besides, any quarterback joining the Vols in April would have a mighty hurdle to overcome in order to see the field this season.
No matter who plays quarterback for Tennessee football this season, the Vols are better off without Iamaleava for two reasons. First, he and his camp could have never endured serious, in-season criticism, and second, Heupel has firmly established himself as the unquestioned leader of Tennessee’s football team.
