Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was fantastic in his home debut on Saturday against the Chattanooga Mocs.
Iamaleava passed for 314 yards (a school record for a half) and three touchdowns in the Vols’ 69-3 blowout win over Chattanooga.
For Tennessee fans, Iamaleava’s performance was everything they hoped it would be. The former five-star recruit was in total command of the offense, the tempo moved at a fast pace, and Iamaleava’s accuracy/decision making was terrific.
After the game, Iamaleava was asked by a reporter if there was anything he can learn from a game that Tennessee led 38-0 at one point, or if there were any adverse situations that he had to push through in the season-opener.
Iamaleava’s response sounded like it could have come straight from the lips of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant.
“ Shoot, to keep our foot on their throat ,” said Iamaleava. “When we go up big, I think still coming to the sideline with the same mindset that it’s 0-0. And just carrying that out the full game, full four quarters, like Coach Heup says.”