'23 CA QB Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee Verbal)

[Sea Turtle]

SIAP

He didn't want to play in the playoffs. He tried to redo his deal in the days leading up to their first game.

The locker room applauded when told the news by the coaches that they were moving on.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Coaches with winning records who graduate players were getting fired and their buyouts cost millions of dollars. Most of these schools are state schools and employ the highest paid employees in their states, usually the head football coach and men's basketball coach. Ridiculous contract extensions and buyouts. Cars, houses, country club memberships.

Suddenly, "college football needs change" because the athletes are negotiating terms and getting paid millions too.

I just don't get why some people take issue with what the athletes are doing. Professional sports franchises are owned by billionaires, many of whom are employing Ivy League graduates as their general managers and or VPs of Ops. Many CFB programs on the top end have millions of dollars flowing through them, and if the one's that don't want to start trying to keep up, that's their business.

I won't villainize the athletes, and I'll probably agree with them in most cases. That being said, you want to play in the mud, you're going to get dirty. I hope ND is smart about their business with this and doesn't go down any bad rabbit holes with any of these dudes.

They liked it better when Tennessee was putting cash in McDonald's bags, a simpler time.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Coaches with winning records who graduate players were getting fired and their buyouts cost millions of dollars. Most of these schools are state schools and employ the highest paid employees in their states, usually the head football coach and men's basketball coach. Ridiculous contract extensions and buyouts. Cars, houses, country club memberships.

Suddenly, "college football needs change" because the athletes are negotiating terms and getting paid millions too.

I just don't get why some people take issue with what the athletes are doing. Professional sports franchises are owned by billionaires, many of whom are employing Ivy League graduates as their general managers and or VPs of Ops. Many CFB programs on the top end have millions of dollars flowing through them, and if the one's that don't want to start trying to keep up, that's their business.

I won't villainize the athletes, and I'll probably agree with them in most cases. That being said, you want to play in the mud, you're going to get dirty. I hope ND is smart about their business with this and doesn't go down any bad rabbit holes with any of these dudes.

I get where you're coming from, but you're missing a few key points both to Nico and this new era of college ball entirely:

1 - Coaches have buyouts in contracts and their salaries provide for a family. Nico has no buyout in the contract he signed with the UT collective and owes them nothing. NFL players have a union, collective bargaining, rules, regulations, etc. Hell, I would say they grossly overpaid given his production thus far.

2- There's no college or pro coach whose employer pays for their house. Cars and country club memberships are peanuts.

3- Most football fans have no issue with NIL as it was intended, but there are negative consequences. There are no guardrails, some of the kids' agents have zero qualifications, and there's no salary cap. Most are optimistic the House v NCAA case will change that, and yes it's absolutely needed.

4- On Nico, I'm not gonna blast the kid because we don't know if it was his decision, his dad's, the agent, etc. What I know for a fact is that he had an average year in 2024 and just missed on a chance to be taught/ developed by Josh Huepel, one of the best at the QB position in college. That's a HUGE mistake favoring short term gain over long term benefit.

5- If it's true, Nico threatening to sit out a playoff game because of wanting more money is absolute trash. Whether you're in sports, tech sales, or construction...any employee who only cares about money usually ends up self destructing and being resented by their colleagues.

6- The sad part here, and I hope this serves as a lesson for all the younger athletes coming up, is that Nico is the biggest loser. Has to move to a new school where he will be coached by inferior guys to Huepel, learn a new system, develop all new relationships, surrounded by inferior talent, playing an inferior league/ schedule, and looking like he's gonna take a pay cut too.

 

[IrishTusker]

Coaches with winning records who graduate players were getting fired and their buyouts cost millions of dollars. Most of these schools are state schools and employ the highest paid employees in their states, usually the head football coach and men's basketball coach. Ridiculous contract extensions and buyouts. Cars, houses, country club memberships.

Suddenly, "college football needs change" because the athletes are negotiating terms and getting paid millions too.

Are there buyouts if they transfer, like with coaches when they leave a job? Who is paying the buyouts? Normally, there are costs associated with changing jobs before your contract is up, whether you or your new employer assume the cost.

 

[jprue24]

A quick google provided this.

Here's the paywall article about his contract.

Five-star recruit in Class of 2023 signs agreement with collective that could pay him more than $8 million

Two NIL experts The Athletic spoke to believe this deal is the largest individual NIL deal signed by a non-professional athlete.

www.nytimes.com

"On Friday, a five-star recruit in the Class of 2023 signed an agreement with a school’s NIL collective that could pay him more than $8 million by the end of his junior year of college, The Athletic has learned. He’ll be paid $350,000 almost immediately, followed by monthly payouts escalating to more than $2 million per year once he begins his college career, in exchange for making public appearances and taking part in social media promotions and other NIL activities “on behalf of (the collective) or a third party.”

I'll copy pasta the whole article if that's okay. I think it should be okay because this is the NYT, not II or ISD etc.

 

[jprue24]

Are there buyouts if they transfer, like with coaches when they leave a job? Who is paying the buyouts? Normally, there are costs associated with changing jobs before your contract is up, whether you or your new employer assume the cost.

These aren't employment contracts.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

What a piece of crap!! Totally an ego inflated guy that is in the system. So sad college athletes feel they are owed something. Tennessee had a great year. I mean wtf is he thinking? I'm grateful he doesn't fit into NDs mold!!

 

[TracyGraham]

Coaches with winning records who graduate players were getting fired and their buyouts cost millions of dollars. Most of these schools are state schools and employ the highest paid employees in their states, usually the head football coach and men's basketball coach. Ridiculous contract extensions and buyouts. Cars, houses, country club memberships.

Suddenly, "college football needs change" because the athletes are negotiating terms and getting paid millions too.

I just don't get why some people take issue with what the athletes are doing. Professional sports franchises are owned by billionaires, many of whom are employing Ivy League graduates as their general managers and or VPs of Ops. Many CFB programs on the top end have millions of dollars flowing through them, and if the one's that don't want to start trying to keep up, that's their business.

I won't villainize the athletes, and I'll probably agree with them in most cases. That being said, you want to play in the mud, you're going to get dirty. I hope ND is smart about their business with this and doesn't go down any bad rabbit holes with any of these dudes.

They can do whatever they want. That doesnt mean it doesnt suck. Were coaches changing jobs on a yearly basis? With nil, players are. Especially in college basketball. Sometimes the players have minimal connection the the school they are playing for. They are simply wearing a jersey. That kinda sucks doesnt it?!! Even in the pros players usually stay for multiple years and grow connected to the team. Is a sport where the players stick with schools for just one year(Im especially talking about basketball) a sport that you get all hyped up about?
BTW it is great for ND. Not only no our players seem to want to stay, but we are a destination from other programs. But it must really be awful to be Pitt or BC or MSU, etc. The have no cohesion I imagine and constantly losing players.
Hopefully things work out over time and teams make contracts for players to stick with or there is some other solution. That doesnt mean we shouldnt pay players and that the market wont adjust. It just means it is in unchartered waters at the current moment.
BTW, if college coaches were signing and then ditching their contracts each year, eventually they would burn bridges and the system would adjust for them too. Maybe players can take advantage of it now, bu eventually things will adjust. For example maybe Nico will actually end up losing money and other players will be reluctant to follow his example. Plus your reputation is valuable. If he disregards contracts and bails, he might not sell merch, he might not get drafted as high, he hight not get an advertising contract, etc. I dont see how this proves something against the system....

 

[ColinKSU]

He might end up with less money?

Well, he’d at least now be making what his performance deserves.

 

[jprue24]

How often do we hear about roster retention being a reality for schools? Is that really all tampering? None of the "retention" is players asking for more (money, playing time, etc,)?


Mike "I'm a man!" Bundy had thoughts last fall.

"Player retention is based on money," Gundy said this week, via GoPokes247. "I'll give you an example. If you're playing on our team and we go 3-9, and right now you're making $12,000. We say 'If you come back we'll give you $250,000.' What are you gonna do? Player retention is probably 90% built on money now, not other things. It's changed."

"You guys get tired of me repeating this, but if I say it enough maybe somebody will listen — we need employment contracts," Gundy said. "You sign a one-year deal, a two-year deal, a three-year deal or a four-year deal and I don't need to go through the whole thing because you all are tired of hearing me say it. If I'm a five-star, I'm probably signing a one-year deal because I'm going to renew my deal at the end of the year. I'm a free agent. I'm what (Dallas Cowboys quarterback) Dak Prescott was at the end of last year. So, I get the call and I can do whatever I want."

Click me.

 

[TorontoGold]

They can do whatever they want. That doesnt mean it doesnt suck. Were coaches changing jobs on a yearly basis? With nil, players are. Especially in college basketball. Sometimes the players have minimal connection the the school they are playing for. They are simply wearing a jersey. That kinda sucks doesnt it?!! Even in the pros players usually stay for multiple years and grow connected to the team. Is a sport where the players stick with schools for just one year(Im especially talking about basketball) a sport that you get all hyped up about?
BTW it is great for ND. Not only no our players seem to want to stay, but we are a destination from other programs. But it must really be awful to be Pitt or BC or MSU, etc. The have no cohesion I imagine and constantly losing players.
Hopefully things work out over time and teams make contracts for players to stick with or there is some other solution. That doesnt mean we shouldnt pay players and that the market wont adjust. It just means it is in unchartered waters at the current moment.
BTW, if college coaches were signing and then ditching their contracts each year, eventually they would burn bridges and the system would adjust for them too. Maybe players can take advantage of it now, bu eventually things will adjust. For example maybe Nico will actually end up losing money and other players will be reluctant to follow his example. Plus your reputation is valuable. If he disregards contracts and bails, he might not sell merch, he might not get drafted as high, he hight not get an advertising contract, etc. I dont see how this proves something against the system....

This entire argument can be made for coaches switching jobs too. Position coaches do it all the time. Coordinators do too. Head coaches as well, the schools that you’re worried about in regards to NIL? Guess what happens when a big job opens up. When Kenny Dillingham went through Auburn/FSU/Oregon in a 4 year span was that the impending doom of college football? Is Jeff Lebby a pariah? Jim Knowles had some pretty short stints recently.

Developmental programs will always be that. They will always get picked over by the bigger schools. Why is Marcus Freeman the head coach and not the HC at Cincinnati? He should have just bided his time and proved he really cared about the program even though more lucrative options were there?

 

[TracyGraham]

This entire argument can be made for coaches switching jobs too. Position coaches do it all the time. Coordinators do too. Head coaches as well, the schools that you’re worried about in regards to NIL? Guess what happens when a big job opens up. When Kenny Dillingham went through Auburn/FSU/Oregon in a 4 year span was that the impending doom of college football? Is Jeff Lebby a pariah? Jim Knowles had some pretty short stints recently.

Developmental programs will always be that. They will always get picked over by the bigger schools. Why is Marcus Freeman the head coach and not the HC at Cincinnati? He should have just bided his time and proved he really cared about the program even though more lucrative options were there?

The reason I responded to the poster that suggested that players are simply behaving like their coaches is because I don't feel that is accurate. While there are certainly some coaches that bail multiple times before their contract is up(like you pointed out with Dillingham), it is not even close to the number and frequency of athletes. Especially In basketball where there are entire teams switching up on a yearly basis.
I interpreted it as saying it is fine if players do it because they are simply acting like their coaches and I just don't see the equivalence.
But it's all good. First, ND seems to be one of the winners, at least in football. Also, I expect things will eventually settle down in time, but maybe that's wishful thinking.

 

[NDRock]

They can do whatever they want. That doesnt mean it doesnt suck. Were coaches changing jobs on a yearly basis? With nil, players are. Especially in college basketball. Sometimes the players have minimal connection the the school they are playing for. They are simply wearing a jersey. That kinda sucks doesnt it?!! Even in the pros players usually stay for multiple years and grow connected to the team. Is a sport where the players stick with schools for just one year(Im especially talking about basketball) a sport that you get all hyped up about?
BTW it is great for ND. Not only no our players seem to want to stay, but we are a destination from other programs. But it must really be awful to be Pitt or BC or MSU, etc. The have no cohesion I imagine and constantly losing players.
Hopefully things work out over time and teams make contracts for players to stick with or there is some other solution. That doesnt mean we shouldnt pay players and that the market wont adjust. It just means it is in unchartered waters at the current moment.
BTW, if college coaches were signing and then ditching their contracts each year, eventually they would burn bridges and the system would adjust for them too. Maybe players can take advantage of it now, bu eventually things will adjust. For example maybe Nico will actually end up losing money and other players will be reluctant to follow his example. Plus your reputation is valuable. If he disregards contracts and bails, he might not sell merch, he might not get drafted as high, he hight not get an advertising contract, etc. I dont see how this proves something against the system....

Assistant coaches do this all the time. Looking at Kelly’s first staff. Cooks, Denbrock, Wariner, Molner, Diaco, and Alford all had stretches of 3 different schools in 3 different years.

I’d like to see some actual stats on how often kids are transferring more than once. I’m not going say the whole system is bad because of one case.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

This is crazy. Always the ones you least expect.

 

[TracyGraham]

Assistant coaches do this all the time. Looking at Kelly’s first staff. Cooks, Denbrock, Wariner, Molner, Diaco, and Alford all had stretches of 3 different schools in 3 different years.

I’d like to see some actual stats on how often kids are transferring more than once. I’m not going say the whole system is bad because of one case.

Seriously, at the same rate as the kids? Do coaches change jobs? Sure. Do all employees change jobs for new opportunities? They should. Are college athletes changing at a much higher clip? I think so, but I guess we just disagree. We just lost, I don't know, maybe half of our women's b-ball team, maybe more. The company you work for loses half the staff or more every year? I mean, maybe in your case, who knows. Half the coaches leave every year? I'm thinking maybe not... Regardless, the poster I was responding to seemed to imply he was talking about head coaches. That many head coaches switch jobs on a yearly basis??!!
BTW, I dont think the system is necessarily bad, just a bit wild right now. I assume if people could switch from any job to job this easily with no repercussions, they would. But I expect it to settle down eventually. I expect when people do what Nico does, it will help to iron things out.

 

[TracyGraham]

This entire argument can be made for coaches switching jobs too. Position coaches do it all the time. Coordinators do too. Head coaches as well, the schools that you’re worried about in regards to NIL? Guess what happens when a big job opens up. When Kenny Dillingham went through Auburn/FSU/Oregon in a 4 year span was that the impending doom of college football? Is Jeff Lebby a pariah? Jim Knowles had some pretty short stints recently.

Developmental programs will always be that. They will always get picked over by the bigger schools. Why is Marcus Freeman the head coach and not the HC at Cincinnati? He should have just bided his time and proved he really cared about the program even though more lucrative options were there?

Is Dillingham really the norm or an outlier? I think it is definitely out of the ordinary. Out of the 128 or so coaches I'm thinking the majority arent switching positions that often, but maybe I'm wrong🤷‍♂️ That's the point I was trying to argue. If I misinterpreted something, my bad.

 

[NDRock]

Seriously, at the same rate as the kids? Do coaches change jobs? Sure. Do all employees change jobs for new opportunities? They should. Are college athletes changing at a much higher clip? I think so, but I guess we just disagree. We just lost, I don't know, maybe half of our women's b-ball team, maybe more. The company you work for loses half the staff or more every year? I mean, maybe in your case, who knows. Half the coaches leave every year? I'm thinking maybe not... Regardless, the poster I was responding to seemed to imply he was talking about head coaches. That many head coaches switch jobs on a yearly basis??!!
BTW, I dont think the system is necessarily bad, just a bit wild right now. I assume if people could switch from any job to job this easily with no repercussions, they would. But I expect it to settle down eventually. I expect when people do what Nico does, it will help to iron things out.

Show me a football program that loses half its players every year. I guess we can discuss women’s basketball but that’s not why I’m here. Noticed the new system has decreased the number of early entries into the NFL draft. Isn’t that a good thing? I remember people lamenting that as a big issue.

I’d be willing to bet the coaching turnover in football is as high as the transfers of players by percentage.

 

[Hautian Domer]

Of the infinite choices, how does one's mind automatically jump to "maybe he got a shit ton of racist attacks?"

I thought the exact same thing

 

[TracyGraham]

Show me a football program that loses half its players every year. I guess we can discuss women’s basketball but that’s not why I’m here. Noticed the new system has decreased the number of early entries into the NFL draft. Isn’t that a good thing? I remember people lamenting that as a big issue.

I’d be willing to bet the coaching turnover in football is as high as the transfers of players by percentage.

Yeah those are good points. I was just skeptical that college head coaches are leaving as frequently as the players are. I guess the argument can be made both in terms of the whole nil system which includes basketball and just d1 football. I was thinking about the whole system, but I can see your point about turnover rates in football.
BTW, women's b-ball was a bad example on my part b/c I don't even necessarily think that was regarding nil.

 

[Hautian Domer]

Show me a football program that loses half its players every year. I guess we can discuss women’s basketball but that’s not why I’m here. Noticed the new system has decreased the number of early entries into the NFL draft. Isn’t that a good thing? I remember people lamenting that as a big issue.

I’d be willing to bet the coaching turnover in football is as high as the transfers of players by percentage.

From the NYT:

There’s been a healthy debate about the devaluing of high school football recruiting in the transfer portal era. You can certainly make the argument that it’s now less important than ever when you look at this past season’s Power 4 all-conference teams.

Roughly 40 percent of the all-league selections in 2024 (not including honorable mention) transferred at one point in their careers. Nearly a quarter (68 of 292) were acquired via the portal during the 2024 cycle. Twenty-five of those were first-team all-conference honorees.

LINK — articles goes more in depth, but to save you time, a lot more transfer than you’d realize. It caught me be surprise

 

[NDRock]

From the NYT:


LINK — articles goes more in depth, but to save you time, a lot more transfer than you’d realize. It caught me be surprise

Just from what you posted, they threw out the 25% number. I'd say that's right in line with what we see from coaching staffs. Seems like ND loses 2 to 3 coaches off their 10 person staff a year. You see bigger losses with successful teams and even bigger when whole staffs are fired. I'm not surprised (or think it's a problem) that when athletes are given the same freedom to move on that the coaches have, they leave at similar rates.

 

[Free Manera]

Hey Tennessee, I changed my mind, Iamastaya now.

-Michael Scott


-Nico Iamaleava

 

[Rocketman84]

I hate to say I called this but ummm 🫡🫡

 

[IRISHbluehen]

I hate to say I called this but ummm 🫡🫡

Fake account. But he did enter with a no contact designation. Surprised the destination hasn't gotten out

 

[FDNYIrish1]

I hate to say I called this but ummm 🫡🫡

An amazing lack of awareness to rush to Pat yourself on the back here.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

A quick google provided this.

"Reportedly..." lol.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Of the infinite choices, how does one's mind automatically jump to "maybe he got a shit ton of racist attacks?"

Its one of the infinite possibilities that no one knows what went into his decision making hah. Yet people on here judging him and his family but not putting anything on the collective that may not have followed through on their "agreement" and whatever form that took. Maybe he is a spoiled shit with a high opinion of his own talents and is getting bad advice. Maybe all he ended up getting was the upfront money and the rest of the package was not paid up. Who fucking cares?

Maybe he had a falling out with the coaches? Maybe he had a deal to live in primo housing off campus and it turned out to be dogshit. Point was it could be anything because no one knows what his decision was and who was in the right or who was in the wrong or if that is even a thing.

 

[TorontoGold]

Is Dillingham really the norm or an outlier? I think it is definitely out of the ordinary. Out of the 128 or so coaches I'm thinking the majority arent switching positions that often, but maybe I'm wrong🤷‍♂️ That's the point I was trying to argue. If I misinterpreted something, my bad.

Is Nico representative of the majority? I am not defending Nico, I think he played it like a pissbaby and had no read on his true MV. But, to paint every transfer as some money hungry bag chaser who is destroying the sport is wrong.

 

[rtrn2glory]

He's going to end up at Sacramento St

 

[NDhoosier]

I want to see him fail so bad. I am tired of "fans" defending the "poor innocent college kid" from big bad meanies. These over-entitled kids no longer have my sympathy. I hope no team picks him up and he gets $0...