'23 CA QB Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee Verbal)

[CTIDANDREW]

Well, it looks like UNC is looking to go another direction. So, we may be down to just one basketball school now (UCLA) 🤣 and Tulane. Again, to reiterate, he’s potentially going from a top-12, CFB contender and historic program to perhaps Tulane or UCLA. We’ll see how it plays out, but if those are the remaining options ….

Yeah, I totally read this one wrong.
I can understand the thought process of Bill and his team wanting Gio Lopez over Nico, since Gio Lopez had one of the best freshman seasons of any QB last season in the country, plus UNC likely realizes they won't be contending for anything major next season so probably best to pay for a multi year starter at the position over a one year rental in Nico.
Gio Lopez actually had a better QBR then Nico last season.

I agree if Nico and his father did all of this to transfer to Tulane or UCLA then they were completely short sided and stupid.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Overplayed their hand.

 

[Irish#1]

It's not killing the sport, my friend.

This is about one kid making a decision. I've said it a few times here, but this individual made it ABUNDANTLY CLEAR during his recruiting process that he would be playing for the highest bidder. Tennessee went into this with eyes wide open, and even though I applaud them for telling the kid to kick rocks, this is a bed of their own making.

Some schools choose to recruit kids like this. Others don't, for good reason.

It's a symptom of what is killing it. Commodification of the sport so the MBAs can milk as much money out of college football as they possibly can. Ruining the traditions of conferences, bowl games, bands, HOME football games in marquee matchups, and more. Throw in pay for play... yeah I'd say it is. Tennessee absolutely bought in with the kid who did make it clear. But if you don't see a problem with players contemplating SITTING OUT the CFP well then idk.

Both of these can be true at the same time. We grew up rooting for our favorite school, but we could also identify with the players as we watched them grow and compete for three or four years. With NIL and the portal, we're losing that. For example, I absolutely love what Riley Leonard did for ND this year, but I will never consider him ND in the same way I will Q or Quinn, Zorich, Manti, Jaylon, etc.

Agree, Tennessee did know what they were getting into, but let's get back to the heart of the problem. This isn't about restricting a guy from playing where he wants. This isn't about restricting a kid from playing for the highest bidder. This is about a kid suddenly sitting out and demanding more money above what he signed for. Given we now know he was looking around prior to the playoff game, he should have announced he was sitting out after they lost to OSU.

 

[forkbeard3777]

It's not killing the sport, my friend.

This is about one kid making a decision. I've said it a few times here, but this individual made it ABUNDANTLY CLEAR during his recruiting process that he would be playing for the highest bidder. Tennessee went into this with eyes wide open, and even though I applaud them for telling the kid to kick rocks, this is a bed of their own making.

Some schools choose to recruit kids like this. Others don't, for good reason.

Man, the product displayed out there today is a shell of its former self. You can chose to believe it or not, but my Saturdays are no longer monopolized by football all day like they used to just a few short years ago. I don't really care about it that much anymore. NIL, the transfer portal, conference expansion, and so forth have pretty much ruined a once great thing. It used to be such a great, unique sport filled with school pride, local pride and even regional pride; however, it’s easy to look at the product on a week to week basis and see "AA or AAA NFL.” It’s pretty brand and corporate compared to what it once was.

I no longer watch every LSU game (I probably watch maybe only one full college game a week), I no longer follow recruiting as it’s largely rendered pointless, I can’t tell you who LSU’s players are, I no longer watch any of Gameday, I can’t tell you which school is in which conference…shit, I can barely even keep up with the names of the conferences. It’s changed a lot and not for the better in my opinion.

 

[PolishDomer]

Man, the product displayed out there today is a shell of its former self. You can chose to believe it or not, but my Saturdays are no longer monopolized by football all day like they used to just a few short years ago. I don't really care about it that much anymore. NIL, the transfer portal, conference expansion, and so forth have pretty much ruined a once great thing. It used to be such a great, unique sport; however, it’s easy to look at the product on a week to week basis and see "AA or AAA NFL.”

I no longer watch every LSU game (I probably watch maybe only one full college game a week), I no longer follow recruiting as it’s largely rendered pointless, I can’t tell you who LSU’s players are, I no longer watch any of Gameday, I can’t tell you which school is in which conference…shit, I can barely even keep up with the names of the conferences. It’s changed a lot and not for the better in my opinion.

Same...ill always watch ND but i enjoy watching my boys play soccer more. And I actually do go to the store with the wife on Saturdays

 

[Katzenboyer]

It's a symptom of what is killing it. Commodification of the sport so the MBAs can milk as much money out of college football as they possibly can. Ruining the traditions of conferences, bowl games, bands, HOME football games in marquee matchups, and more. Throw in pay for play... yeah I'd say it is. Tennessee absolutely bought in with the kid who did make it clear. But if you don't see a problem with players contemplating SITTING OUT the CFP well then idk.

Way to twist my words.

I have a problem with a kid threatening to sit out a playoff game. I also see it as ONE EXAMPLE, of ONE PERSON (and some bad handlers), thinking about a decision (that didn't happen) based on his history of being a complete, utter mercenary.

We've heard this for years. Players sitting out of bowl games to preserve their draft stock? Will ruin the game. NIL? Will ruin the game. College football playoff? Will ruin the game.

The game keeps chugging.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Man, the product displayed out there today is a shell of its former self. You can chose to believe it or not, but my Saturdays are no longer monopolized by football all day like they used to just a few short years ago. I don't really care about it that much anymore. NIL, the transfer portal, conference expansion, and so forth have pretty much ruined a once great thing. It used to be such a great, unique sport filled with school pride, local pride and even regional pride; however, it’s easy to look at the product on a week to week basis and see "AA or AAA NFL.” It’s pretty brand and corporate compared to what it once was.

I no longer watch every LSU game (I probably watch maybe only one full college game a week), I no longer follow recruiting as it’s largely rendered pointless, I can’t tell you who LSU’s players are, I no longer watch any of Gameday, I can’t tell you which school is in which conference…shit, I can barely even keep up with the names of the conferences. It’s changed a lot and not for the better in my opinion.

🤷‍♂️

I still do all those things. These kids should be able to get money, and I have no problem with it. But I also trust this staff to know who's in it for the long haul, and who's simply going to the highest bidder/chasing the bag. The latter, I have a problem with; but again, Tennessee chose to play that game, and if they get burned as a result, that's on them.

If I was an A&M fan in the Fischer era, maybe I'd feel differently based on the complete mercenary nature of that program. But I still devote my Saturdays to college football, still find it unique, and still love every second of it; maybe that's just me, but based on viewership numbers last year, I'm not in the minority.

 

[greyhammer90]

Man, the product displayed out there today is a shell of its former self. You can chose to believe it or not, but my Saturdays are no longer monopolized by football all day like they used to just a few short years ago. I don't really care about it that much anymore. NIL, the transfer portal, conference expansion, and so forth have pretty much ruined a once great thing. It used to be such a great, unique sport filled with school pride, local pride and even regional pride; however, it’s easy to look at the product on a week to week basis and see "AA or AAA NFL.” It’s pretty brand and corporate compared to what it once was.

I no longer watch every LSU game (I probably watch maybe only one full college game a week), I no longer follow recruiting as it’s largely rendered pointless, I can’t tell you who LSU’s players are, I no longer watch any of Gameday, I can’t tell you which school is in which conference…shit, I can barely even keep up with the names of the conferences. It’s changed a lot and not for the better in my opinion.

What hiring Brian Kelly does to a mfer.

 

[GowerND11]

Way to twist my words.

I have a problem with a kid threatening to sit out a playoff game. I also see it as ONE EXAMPLE, of ONE PERSON (and some bad handlers), thinking about a decision (that didn't happen) based on his history of being a complete, utter mercenary.

We've heard this for years. Players sitting out of bowl games to preserve their draft stock? Will ruin the game. NIL? Will ruin the game. College football playoff? Will ruin the game.

The game keeps chugging.

I'm not twisting your words at all. Of course the game keeps chugging along, it's a cash cow. That doesn't mean it's not changing, and not for the better to a lot of us.

 

[Dale]

Man, the product displayed out there today is a shell of its former self. You can chose to believe it or not, but my Saturdays are no longer monopolized by football all day like they used to just a few short years ago. I don't really care about it that much anymore. NIL, the transfer portal, conference expansion, and so forth have pretty much ruined a once great thing. It used to be such a great, unique sport filled with school pride, local pride and even regional pride; however, it’s easy to look at the product on a week to week basis and see "AA or AAA NFL.” It’s pretty brand and corporate compared to what it once was.

I no longer watch every LSU game (I probably watch maybe only one full college game a week), I no longer follow recruiting as it’s largely rendered pointless, I can’t tell you who LSU’s players are, I no longer watch any of Gameday, I can’t tell you which school is in which conference…shit, I can barely even keep up with the names of the conferences. It’s changed a lot and not for the better in my opinion.

Fork is turning into some of the jaded posters here before our eyes. Its like having a time machine

 

[forkbeard3777]

What hiring Brian Kelly does to a mfer.

🤣 — nah, this was in the Ed O years…really Covid was what kicked everything off.

 

[forkbeard3777]

Fork is turning into some of the jaded posters here before our eyes. Its like having a time machine

Other than LSU, I’ve actually watched ND the most. ND, for the most part, appears to be at least trying to do things properly. Everyone else has kind of …. given up and given in?

 

[Irish du Nord]

Other than LSU, I’ve actually watched ND the most. ND, for the most part, appears to be at least trying to do things properly. Everyone else has kind of …. given up and given in?

For all the shit the ND administration gets for being slow adapters, this is one benefit of them being rule followers. I think we can find hundreds of posts from 2021-2024 where a poster thinks ND is being left behind for not playing the NIL game

 

[forkbeard3777]

🤷‍♂️

I still do all those things. These kids should be able to get money, and I have no problem with it. But I also trust this staff to know who's in it for the long haul, and who's simply going to the highest bidder/chasing the bag. The latter, I have a problem with; but again, Tennessee chose to play that game, and if they get burned as a result, that's on them.

If I was an A&M fan in the Fischer era, maybe I'd feel differently based on the complete mercenary nature of that program. But I still devote my Saturdays to college football, still find it unique, and still love every second of it; maybe that's just me, but based on viewership numbers last year, I'm not in the minority.

Yeah, “I just want them to have a little money in their pocket from autographs and jersey sales to go get dinner on the weekend,” or “the players just need some money to take a date to a movie and then McDonald’s.” Flash forward to players opting out because they only make $2,500,000.00. The sport has never been better! 😂

 

[Katzenboyer]

Yeah, “I just want them to have a little money in their pocket from autographs and jersey sales to go get dinner on the weekend,” or “the players just need some money to take a date to a movie and then McDonald’s.”

Flash forward to players opting out because they only make $2,500,000.00. The sport has never been better!

Again, it's a false equivalency problem. Should kids be threatening to hold out for more money on the eve of a playoff game? No. Should kids be making money based on their NIL? Yes.

The highest paid coaches in NCAAF are making $10M plus. These TV deals are now in the billions. But when the kids have the opportunity to get a cut, it's a problem?

Iamaleava is 1) an exception, not the rule, and 2) probably was a foreseeable problem. If your program is going to rely on kids like him, you're going to end up getting burned. It's why player evaluation matters.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

It's a symptom of what is killing it. Commodification of the sport so the MBAs can milk as much money out of college football as they possibly can. Ruining the traditions of conferences, bowl games, bands, HOME football games in marquee matchups, and more. Throw in pay for play... yeah I'd say it is. Tennessee absolutely bought in with the kid who did make it clear. But if you don't see a problem with players contemplating SITTING OUT the CFP well then idk.

This isnt directed at you but.....Its currently in a free market environment for semi-professional football players. How is it ruining anything? This is ideal or at least that is what I have been told by Laffer Curve(ing) neocons since Reagan. Why do CEOS get paid millions of dollars? Because that is what their value i. Why are football coaches the highest paid public employee in every state? Because that is what their value is. They get to negotiate their contracts all the time and they up and leave on a moments notice. The market will decide what a college foot player is worth. Both sides will agree to it or end up in court. Both sides have the right to agree or not to agree. The player can price himself out of a position. Thats his right. The 3rrd parties and boosters dont have to agree to pay him anything. That is their right.

Tennessee will have a qb starting come their first game. Iamaleava will be on a team come fall. How is that ruining anything?

"Greed is good" or some shit.

But the response from all the "fanatics" also reminds me of one my favorite NIN lyrics... "the more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me."

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Again, it's a false equivalency problem. Should kids be threatening to hold out for more money on the eve of a playoff game? No. Should kids be making money based on their NIL? Yes.

The highest paid coaches in NCAAF are making $10M plus. These TV deals are now in the billions. But when the kids have the opportunity to get a cut, it's a problem?

Iamaleava is 1) an exception, not the rule, and 2) probably was a foreseeable problem. If your program is going to rely on kids like him, you're going to end up getting burned. It's why player evaluation matters.

1) Correct. Its not a problem. Coaches will take the risk or not take it. Its ultimately a roster management issue with some amount of inherent risk to deal with either contractually or with other roster options.
2) Absolutely. If these kids keep doing shit like this they ruin their marketability and risk losing millions of dollars and gametime. That is the risk they take on by acting like that. If another team takes him on their roster after doing something like that... well then see #1 above. lol

Its a closed loop. I cant wait for the SEC to start saying they need legislation adn regulations. LMAO.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Yeah, “I just want them to have a little money in their pocket from autographs and jersey sales to go get dinner on the weekend,” or “the players just need some money to take a date to a movie and then McDonald’s.” Flash forward to players opting out because they only make $2,500,000.00. The sport has never been better! 😂

Example # 1 billion of angry online edgelord males stating outloud that they can make money, just not like that.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

What hiring Brian Kelly does to a mfer.

I legit lol'd, then serious'd, then I lol'd again.

 

[TorontoGold]

Man, the product displayed out there today is a shell of its former self. You can chose to believe it or not, but my Saturdays are no longer monopolized by football all day like they used to just a few short years ago. I don't really care about it that much anymore. NIL, the transfer portal, conference expansion, and so forth have pretty much ruined a once great thing. It used to be such a great, unique sport filled with school pride, local pride and even regional pride; however, it’s easy to look at the product on a week to week basis and see "AA or AAA NFL.” It’s pretty brand and corporate compared to what it once was.

I no longer watch every LSU game (I probably watch maybe only one full college game a week), I no longer follow recruiting as it’s largely rendered pointless, I can’t tell you who LSU’s players are, I no longer watch any of Gameday, I can’t tell you which school is in which conference…shit, I can barely even keep up with the names of the conferences. It’s changed a lot and not for the better in my opinion.

Boy, in the past 6 years you had two Heisman's, a NC, and WR's like Nabers/Chase/Thomas. If anyone has had a good decade it's LSU fans.

You can't tell me for the "average" fan it isn't better to have multiple teams with legit shots at the title each year. Sure, a school like Virginia Tech went from 0.5% to 0.1% in winning the title but for the legit contenders they are all in play in each year. Development still matters (see Michigan/ND), schools that buy players still suffer (TAMU), and talent generally wins out (OSU).

This isn't some false parity like the NHL. Players who are selfish will get burned (Nico/Bear Alex).

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

I can accept it. I already stated I'm okay with kids getting whatever they can. Not sure why you don't accept that.

If you think he got that money without signing a contract, I don't know what to tell you.

From your earlier response I dont think you truly believe that, otherwise there would not have been a "but" implied or otherwise.

MAybe he had an agreement? Maybe not. Maybe it was enforceable? Maybe not. If you can show me he had a contract that was enforceable and dictating he had to play without repercussions, I will believe it.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

No, but did he not sign a contract for NIL?

You are the one saying he had a contract. I think we all agree maybe he had an agreement but what form did that take? Apparently Rashada was promised alot and it never materialized. Whatever agreement he had was enough to get him enrolled at FLorida but not enough for the 3rd party people to follow through on. Im sure that isn't an isolated event either. Can you show said contract to us? Otherwise it doesn't matter and bitching about it is pointless.

 

[Irish#1]

Again, it's a false equivalency problem. Should kids be threatening to hold out for more money on the eve of a playoff game? No. Should kids be making money based on their NIL? Yes.

The highest paid coaches in NCAAF are making $10M plus. These TV deals are now in the billions. But when the kids have the opportunity to get a cut, it's a problem?

Iamaleava is 1) an exception, not the rule, and 2) probably was a foreseeable problem. If your program is going to rely on kids like him, you're going to end up getting burned. It's why player evaluation matters.

To the bolded he is an exception, at the moment, but I won't be surprised if we see more of this. I can't remember who it was that originally sat out his bowl game to protect his draft status, but now it's pretty much the norm. How much we see is hard to tell, but it all starts with an exception.

I also wonder if those that are contributing a lot of money to NIL are going to be a little leery about committing the big bucks without some type of guarantee after they get burned?

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Both of these can be true at the same time. We grew up rooting for our favorite school, but we could also identify with the players as we watched them grow and compete for three or four years. With NIL and the portal, we're losing that. For example, I absolutely love what Riley Leonard did for ND this year, but I will never consider him ND in the same way I will Q or Quinn, Zorich, Manti, Jaylon, etc.

Agree, Tennessee did know what they were getting into, but let's get back to the heart of the problem. This isn't about restricting a guy from playing where he wants. This isn't about restricting a kid from playing for the highest bidder. This is about a kid suddenly sitting out and demanding more money above what he signed for. Given we now know he was looking around prior to the playoff game, he should have announced he was sitting out after they lost to OSU.

How are you privy to the terms of his contract or agreement or if there was one at all? Maybe he didnt get paid and was sitting out in hopes of getting what he was "promised" or contractually obligated to get? Maybe there were playoff bonuses, additional pay for additional games above 13 regular season games? Maybe there were performance bonuses he wasnt getting? How do you know? Would you feel different if it was the 3rd party not paying him that made him make that decision?

 

[NDisme]

Way to twist my words.

I have a problem with a kid threatening to sit out a playoff game. I also see it as ONE EXAMPLE, of ONE PERSON (and some bad handlers), thinking about a decision (that didn't happen) based on his history of being a complete, utter mercenary.

We've heard this for years. Players sitting out of bowl games to preserve their draft stock? Will ruin the game. NIL? Will ruin the game. College football playoff? Will ruin the game.

The game keeps chugging.

The NBA keeps chugging, doesn’t mean it’s not an inferior product of what it once was.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

The NBA keeps chugging, doesn’t mean it’s not an inferior product of what it once was.

My dislike of NBA is the result of a massive change in the way the game is played versus what it was in the 90s when I was growing up. Its hardly anything to do with what they get paid or contracts.

 

[Irish#1]

From your earlier response I dont think you truly believe that, otherwise there would not have been a "but" implied or otherwise.

MAybe he had an agreement? Maybe not. Maybe it was enforceable? Maybe not. If you can show me he had a contract that was enforceable and dictating he had to play without repercussions, I will believe it.

You are the one saying he had a contract. I think we all agree maybe he had an agreement but what form did that take? Apparently Rashada was promised alot and it never materialized. Whatever agreement he had was enough to get him enrolled at FLorida but not enough for the 3rd party people to follow through on. Im sure that isn't an isolated event either. Can you show said contract to us? Otherwise it doesn't matter and bitching about it is pointless.

I don't care how much they make. I can't make that any clearer. My point isn't about getting as much as they can. That isn't even the impetus of the discussion. It's about him quitting on the team in the middle of spring practice. I would have no problem with this if he would have done this right after their playoff game.

No I haven't seen a contract, but nobody hands out millions of dollars without signing a contract.

 

[TorontoGold]

To the bolded he is an exception, at the moment, but I won't be surprised if we see more of this. I can't remember who it was that originally sat out his bowl game to protect his draft status, but now it's pretty much the norm. How much we see is hard to tell, but it all starts with an exception.

I also wonder if those that are contributing a lot of money to NIL are going to be a little leery about committing the big bucks without some type of guarantee after they get burned?

Honestly, I don't see this happening again for player who aren't at the very top. There will always be the risk of a "Caleb Williams/Arch Manning" level star to sit out. But for a guy who wasn't in the top 3 of the QB's of his conference, I don't see a path for this happening again.

The great thing about football is you have the built in team mentality and the lack of truly proven elite QB's, so it's a limiting factor for truly selfish people getting their way.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Example # 1 billion of angry online edgelord males stating outloud that they can make money, just not like that.

You can disagree with it, but he is drawing attention to the gulf between the intended purpose of getting players paid pre-NIL and the reality post-NIL.

Personally, I think it's a pill you have to swallow when you abandon amateurism, and it doesn't bother me that Nico etc. is paid so much and does this behavior. It would bother me if I was his teammate and he did this interfered with his commitment to the team, but as an observer of the sport I am not offended.

 

[BobbyMac]

Disruption is not degradation it’s simply change.

A change that’s landed ND in the NCG and upped the APR 40%+ over the BK era.

WTF is anybody but LSUguy complaining about? And how can he be complaining with JBureaux’s natty so fresh in his mind and having multiple Natty’s broadcast in HD tv… hell, color tv for that matter.