UTK QB Nico Iamaleava holding out for more NIL money (TN/Nico part ways - Entering portal)

4Q Basket Case

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Other coaches can beat their chests and bare their teeth all they want. The real question is whether this ends up working for Nico.

IOW, now that his mindset is publicly known, will another school take Nico? And if so, what will they pay him?

If Nico ends up either without a school or with a pay package less than he made at UTe, that'll serve as a lesson to everyone else -- coaches and players. If he ends up somewhere making more than he made at UTe, it worked for him and that'll teach a different lesson.

And what happens if Nico realizes he's overplayed his hand and withdraws from the portal? Given what's happened, would UTe take him back at his current pay? I tend to think that bridge is burned. But it would make for interesting theater.
 
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AlistarWills

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Evidently, the situation has already set some of the other coaches off:

"We're not going to do that at Miami," Cristobal said. "If anyone is thinking that, they can be the best player in the world. If they wanna play holdout, they might as well get out."

Guess Labalaba won’t be going to Miami then….
 

AlexanderFan

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Other coaches can beat their chests and bare their teeth all they want. The real question is whether this ends up working for Nico.

IOW, now that his mindset is publicly known, will another school with take Nico? And if so, what will they pay him?

If Nico ends up either without a school or with a pay package less than he made at UTe, that'll serve as a lesson to everyone else -- coaches and players. If he ends up somewhere making more than he made at UTe, it worked for him and that'll teach a different lesson.

And what happens if Nico realizes he's overplayed his hand and withdraws from the portal? Given what's happened, would UTe take him back at his current pay? I tend to think that bridge is burned. But it would make for interesting theater.
Yes, this situation is huge: starting quarterback at. Major university gets canned and has nowhere to go and no NIL will send a message for sure.

The outcome of this situation will either slow down, or greatly increase, the demise of college football as we know it.
 

AlistarWills

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I guess the legal question now is, "Can you be kicked off the team for seeking a better deal?" Is he being kicked out of school or is he just being kicked off the team? This could be something that can start the legal wheels rolling on some sort of reform.
Being on the team is a privilege not a right. If he chooses to stay in school at Knoxville and pay his own way it’s his choice. If he’s allowed to stay on the team by some legal ruling, the coach is under no obligation to play him.
 
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The Ols

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Being on the team is a privilege not a right. If he chooses to stay in school at Knoxville and pay his own way it’s his choice. If he’s allowed to stay on the team by some legal ruling, the coach is under no obligation to play him.
I’d have stayed in Tuscaloosa forever if I had 8 mil!!!
I’d still be taking classes!!! 🤣
 

JDCrimson

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Well, i can tell you right now that college football has a immiment demand crisis with young people less than college age. The young people im around could care less about attending a game in person and they will only halfway tune in to a game on TV. And this is without them having to pay anything. These young people will not part with their hard earned money to attend these games in the very near future.

I guess the answer will be that those that do care will continue follow/support the team on Tidefans. The others will find a new past time.
 

Ledsteplin

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I guess the legal question now is, "Can you be kicked off the team for seeking a better deal?" Is he being kicked out of school or is he just being kicked off the team? This could be something that can start the legal wheels rolling on some sort of reform.
I think a big part of it was he didn't show for practice. CJH didn't like that.
 
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Well, i can tell you right now that college football has a immiment demand crisis with young people less than college age. The young people im around could care less about attending a game in person and they will only halfway tune in to a game on TV. And this is without them having to pay anything. These young people will not part with their hard earned money to attend these games in the very near future.
I guess those are all personal choices that we will have to make with our spare time.
 
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AlistarWills

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So Josh Pate is hinting that Labalaba almost sat out playoff games last season because they were wanting more money. Despicable! Not sure how teammates would accept him if he makes another school. Pretty crappy to dip on your mates with a chance to win it all because you want your pocket lined a little thicker.
 
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4Q Basket Case

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So Josh Pate is hinting that Labalaba almost sat out playoff games last season because they were wanting more money. Despicable! Not sure how teammates would accept him if he makes another school. Pretty crappy to dip on your mates with a chance to win it all because you want your pocket lined a little thicker.
If true, Nico has a problem. Players talk to each other. If he actually did that, UTe teammates will spread the word.

I don’t know if it’s true or not. But if it is, it’ll get out, and nobody will take a $4M chance on a good but not great player who doesn’t care one whit about any team or any person other than himself.
 

crimsonaudio

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I guess the legal question now is, "Can you be kicked off the team for seeking a better deal?" Is he being kicked out of school or is he just being kicked off the team? This could be something that can start the legal wheels rolling on some sort of reform.
The sad part is that I literally couldn't care less anymore.
 

Cruiser

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So Josh Pate is hinting that Labalaba almost sat out playoff games last season because they were wanting more money. Despicable! Not sure how teammates would accept him if he makes another school. Pretty crappy to dip on your mates with a chance to win it all because you want your pocket lined a little thicker.
Apparently; his father was driving that play.
 

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