Randy Smith: Heupel Puts Nico On The Road

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has learned the hard way that no one is bigger than the team or the program. Vols' head coach Josh Heupel announced on Saturday that Tennessee has parted ways with Nico after he had missed practice and team meetings on Friday....the day before the team's spring football game. He would have been a sophomore at Tennessee after a mediocre redshirt freshman season where he was tenth among SEC quarterbacks in passing yards at just 200 yards per game. Nico was efficient enough to lead the Volunteers to the College Football Playoffs but they were demolished by eventual national champ Ohio State.

It all came down to money. Nico had been making $2.4 million and he and his dad decided they would hold out for more. In other words, it came down to greed. I've written several times that the way the current NIL deal is set up, trouble was brewing and now we see why. When you add in the rules surrounding the Transfer Portal it gets worse. He did inform staff members on Friday morning that he was in the process of filling out paperwork for the Portal but when Vols' coaches tried to make contact with Nico and his reps, they couldn't be reached.

As one would have hoped, Tennessee players and coaches have rallied around each other for support. Coach Heupel's response was absolutely perfect. " 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. That includes me."

There are no regulations on NIL deals and there are none for the Transfer Portal either. And those facts alone could lead to the death of what is now a very popular sport. I agree that players should be paid but it should never even approach a million bucks per season. And, players should be able to transfer but only once without losing a year of eligibility. When there are more restrictions on professional football players than college players, something is very wrong. Pro players under contract can't just jump from one team to another. Of course there is more money involved in the NFL but that's not the point. The bottom line is this: There needs to be a regulatory board set up to make decisions on transfers and when you put spending limits on NIL deals, it becomes more feasible. If that doesn't happen, there will be more situations like the one involving Nico Iamaleava and there is no good that can come from that. None at all.