HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
I think your viewpoint is overblown. It is one NIL negotiation, to a player that already agreed to a deal previously. It seems he had issue with the skipping workouts, practice, etc. and not the actual NIL deal.
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Love of the Game.
- Thread starter reinell30
- Start date
live4dagriz
Well-known member
It’s nice to think that Heupel took his stand or whatever you want to call it for “the love of the game” but the cynical reality is probably that he felt those $4 million could be better spent elsewhere and/or they were unwilling to go that high for business reasons. The angels didn’t let Ohtani sign with the Dodgers because the love of the game, they did it because they were unable or unwilling to spend that much.
Not a perfect analogy but you get what I’m saying.
Not a perfect analogy but you get what I’m saying.
IdaGriz01
Well-known member
Actually, not entirely alone. Several coaches/ADs have supported him publicly. And, so far, teams have not lined up ... ready to bid for Nico's services. Link:
Nico Iamaleava's transfer options: Latest on QB's future
Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is headed to the transfer portal, but he might not have the market he expects.
The feeling seems to be that a market will develop as more teams get desperate for a big talent, but they are staying clear right now. (Understandable, given all the current hoopla.)
Hints in the article that he won't get anything like he and his advisers think he should. Serious doubts that he will have time to find a place with good tools around him, master a new system (offense), and win over a locker room. Obviously there are programs out there that don't seem to mind burning through money. But millions on a one-shot deal that could go down in flames? Maybe not so much.
Very much so in so many ways. Ask an old what CFB used to be like, and you may hear a romantic tale about hard-nosed kids just playing for puppies, ice cream, and the love of the game. There may not be any mention of abusive coaching practices, racism, or CTE.
In reality, a lot has changed for the better in CFB, and, maybe foolishly, I’m willing to take the good with the things I may not view as ideal, you know, for the love of viewing the game. I try not to tilt at windmills.
There will be a tipping point - sooner now than later where fans of college football turn sour.
Players sitting out. Contract disputes. Bidding wars. In-season tampering.
I know my view of the game is turning more and more negative as stories like this come out.
TV ratings and season ticket sales will play a factor in how this shakes out.
Players sitting out. Contract disputes. Bidding wars. In-season tampering.
I know my view of the game is turning more and more negative as stories like this come out.
TV ratings and season ticket sales will play a factor in how this shakes out.
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
The thread title for the QB should be: "For the Love of the Money".
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IdaGriz01
Well-known member
The Nico vs Tennessee story is (realistically) far removed from FCS/Griz football. However, we know there will likely be a trickle-down impact. So here we go. FWIW: The claims (it wasn't about the money!) vs counter-claims (he was a crappy teammate) are in full bore. Not worth the trouble to sort out what's real.
Still, he did have good stats and take the Vols into the playoffs (Where he flopped – barely a hundred yards of passing offense – and they got pounded. But that can happen.)
So here's my question: If he and his advisors think he's that good, why has he not declared for the NFL draft? High draft picks get healthy bonuses/contracts and the potential downstream salary is apparently "the sky's the limit." why risk all that playing amateur (semipro?) football?
Still, he did have good stats and take the Vols into the playoffs (Where he flopped – barely a hundred yards of passing offense – and they got pounded. But that can happen.)
So here's my question: If he and his advisors think he's that good, why has he not declared for the NFL draft? High draft picks get healthy bonuses/contracts and the potential downstream salary is apparently "the sky's the limit." why risk all that playing amateur (semipro?) football?
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
It's sounding like UCLA. "At UCLA, Iamaleava immediately becomes the favorite to be the team’s starting quarterback ahead of Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar and returning starter Ethan Garbers. The Bruins went 5-7 in the school’s first season in the Big Ten in 2024 as the offense struggled mightily. UCLA averaged just 18.4 points per game and ranked 126th out of 134 teams in points per game. UCLA failed to score more than 17 points in a single game before scoring 35 against Rutgers on Oct. 19. That was the only time all season the Bruins scored more than 27." Yahoo.
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
Maybe the App St QB transfer to UCLA could go to Tennessee. He put up big numbers at App St for 2 years. Musical chairs.
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
This is what AI says: "Nico Iamaleava, the former Tennessee quarterback, reportedly signed an NIL deal with UCLA for less than $2 million. While it was initially reported that he was seeking around $4 million at Tennessee, his UCLA deal is reportedly worth significantly less, according to FOX Sports Radio. Some reports suggest the UCLA deal is around $2.4 million, which was reportedly his initial NIL earning estimate at Tennessee."
Colin Cowherd appears to be the source of this latest chapter in the saga of NIL gone bad. I don't know if this is true or not but his track record has been less than stellar!
alabamagrizzly
Well-known member
And how do you think most 18 year olds are gonna look at the situation? Think they’ll be as understanding?
Not entirely alone, except there's always one that'll pay. He may not get what he was looking for in the end, but someone will pay. In this case the player thinks he's better than he really has shown...that won't always be the case.Actually, not entirely alone. Several coaches/ADs have supported him publicly. And, so far, teams have not lined up ... ready to bid for Nico's services. Link:
Nico Iamaleava's transfer options: Latest on QB's future
Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is headed to the transfer portal, but he might not have the market he expects.www.espn.com
The feeling seems to be that a market will develop as more teams get desperate for a big talent, but they are staying clear right now. (Understandable, given all the current hoopla.)
Hints in the article that he won't get anything like he and his advisers think he should. Serious doubts that he will have time to find a place with good tools around him, master a new system (offense), and win over a locker room. Obviously there are programs out there that don't seem to mind burning through money. But millions on a one-shot deal that could go down in flames? Maybe not so much.
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
Yes, because you are attempting to make the exception the norm. Also, the issue wasn't NIL in general, it was the actions of the player, skipping workouts and team activities, that was the straw.
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
I agree with your comment. I would hope most players would or should respect what the coach did. Who wants to play for a coach who is known to make huge exceptions and excuses for star players. On the other hand, I wonder what the Tenn team thinks of the situation. I assume Tenn will come up with a good QB, maybe even the App St kid who transferred to UCLA.
alabamagrizzly
Well-known member
Yes, you’re right there. To be fair though I think the exceptions will be the exceptional athletes that may be natty difference makers. But yes, you’re definitely right in that what I’m talking about won’t be the norm. I’m sure most of the kids, like what PR said, will like a coach that puts the team ahead of the individual. Unfortunately sometimes it’s those individuals though that elevate the team to natty status.
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
Probably getting less money than what would have gotten. Tenn is a no-state tax state. Does CA have taxes?
"By jilting Tennessee, Nico Iamaleava gets schooled in art of negotiation"
"If you think NIL deals and the transfer portal are antithetical to what college should be about, well, Nico Iamaleava just received better schooling in the real-life art of negotiation than he’d ever learn from a classroom.
Make no mistake, the former Tennessee quarterback got schooled throughout this process.
Iamaleava, 20, walked away from a sweet NIL deal at Tennessee that would have paid him more than $2 million this season within a state that has no state-income tax, playing for coach Josh Heupel, a proven quarterback developer.
If this were Negotiation 101, Iamaleava would receive an "F" and be told to repeat the coursework next semester. But, this is real life, so Iamaleava must stomach valuable negotiating lessons as he slinks off to his next program.
If UCLA indeed becomes the destination, then Iamaleava left Tennessee, a playoff qualifier last season, for a team that went 5-7.
UCLA previously had an over/under win total of 4½ wins for 2025, according to VegasInsider, before the Iamaleava news. That bleak projection reflects the situation Iamaleava would step into while learning a new offense within a new conference, the Big Ten.
1. Nico Iamaleava failed to retain effective representation.
2. He didn’t strike when the iron would’ve been hot.
3. He stopped showing up to work before having a new job in hand.
4. He left his old job without a new job at hand."
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/spor...-quarterback-nico-iamaleava-ucla/83152111007/
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
This analysis appears to be based off of $1.8 million NIL at UCLA. Oops, can't get image to stick.
Over $200,000 of CA state income taxes. $1.8 million down to net of $920,000.
Over $200,000 of CA state income taxes. $1.8 million down to net of $920,000.