Tennessee Vols starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava knew when he committed to UT in early 2022 that fans in Knoxville are passionate.
Iamaleava experienced that passion in person when he visited Tennessee for a Vols basketball game against Arkansas before announcing his commitment nearly two years ago.
UT fans chanted “We want Nico” with Iamaleava and his family in attendance. The fan-led chant made quite made quite the impression on Nico’s mom.
On Tuesday, news broke that Nico Iamaleava is at the center of an NCAA investigation into Tennessee’s NIL dealings.
It’s still to early know to know how the investigation will impact Nico and the Vols (if it does at all). But one thing we do know, and that Nico saw first hand on Tuesday, is that Tennessee fans have his back.
The overwhelming response from Vols fans to the news of the NCAA investigation on Tuesday was to defend Nico and his NIL deal.
(Even more importantly, the leadership at Tennessee offered a strongly worded defense as well.)