Dan Fleser
Of all the comments following the spring storm that blew through the Tennessee football program this weekend, one from former Vol basketball star Ron Slay stood out.
To borrow from his sport’s vernacular, Slay, who’s now a media member, began his take with the equivalent of a slam dunk. He commended the university for “standing on business” by moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who missed team meetings and practice on Friday after news surfaced that he was looking to rework his NIL contract.
The balance of Slay’s comment constituted a long-range jumper and resonated the most. He asked: “Does the energy stay the same in the fall if the Vols are struggling in conference play? Does Heup Train get a mulligan and its understanding that he has to reset? Patience is key moving forward.”
The reference was to Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel. He received a loud ovation when he emerged from the team bus on Saturday to lead the pregame Vol Walk to Neyland Stadium for the Orange & White Game.
Heupel got to the topic of the day in the opening of his postgame comments, saying: “It’s unfortunate just the situation and where we’re at with Nico Iamaleava. I want to thank him for everything that he’s done since he’s gotten here. That’s as a recruit to who he was as a player and how he competed inside of the building. So, a great appreciation for that side of it. Obviously, we’re moving forward as a program without him. I said it to the guys today, there’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T and that includes me.”
The coach digressed in his version of a long jumper, noting the players and coaches who have helped create Tennessee football’s tradition and concluding, “It’s going to be around a long time after I’m done and they’re gone.”
This all needed to be said and Heupel, who’s typically guarded with his comments, was up to the occasion. Good on Tennessee for also making quarterbacks Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre available for comment afterward. They comprise the quarterback room until a third party can be recruited out of the transfer portal. Heupel joked about having open tryouts.
Good for MacIntyre to not let the prevailing drama spoil his freshman moment.
“For me, as an in-state kid, there’s all this talk about this quarterback stuff, but for me, it was a dream come true to run out of the T today.”
Merklinger is only a year older than his teammate but sounded wise beyond his years in addressing the fans’ support by also saying, “I try to stay off social media. I haven’t really been on it at all.”
Leave the public square to the coach. Heupel has made a point during his tenure to acknowledge Vol fans for their presence at games and commend their support. It’s as if he’s loading them on the bus right along with the team.
When Slay calls for patience, Heupel hopes the fans are listening and said as much with the following comment on Saturday:
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Vol Nation rallies around this group of players and this program.”
He would be relieved, though.
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Dan Fleser is a 1980 graduate of the University of Missouri, who has covered University of Tennessee athletics since 1988. He is a member of the Tennessee Sportswriters, U.S Basketball Writers and Greater Knoxville Sports Halls of Fame. He can be reached at danfleser3@gmail.com.