Tony Basilio Breaks Down Nico Iamaleava's Debut Performance

Longtime Knoxville sports talk radio host Tony Basilio (1040 AM/97.7 FM WJBE) joined George Plaster + Kelly Holcomb to discuss Nico's debut in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa.
#TennesseeFootball #GoVols

[@tamafaiga2938]

He performed in the highest pressure game that a collegiate player can play in and this was his FIRST game starting. His first priority was to not make a mistake. So I think he was able to perform in a high pressure situation at a very smart way, which was to make positive moves without making any mistakes. Its a very nice start for a young player

[@alonzokincaid1362]

Hes simply the best qb to ever play at collegiate level. We need to come up with another 8 million. Hes the 16 million dollar man! Go vols!

[@heathperry2635]

#8 is something special I've never bought a jersey but I bought a dark mode #8 last February!!

[@alonzokincaid1362]

Buy more! He needs 16 million no matter what or hell transfer to the tide.. go vols!

[@JoeSmithad]

I've got to trust Heupel here. The word was "He's not ready" and Joe was. Running that offense and physically ready.

[@adamallison3685]

I think it was the right decision. Imagine he tears an ACL against Missouri or something, it's going to affect next season too. This way he goes into off-season completely healthy and the bonus of knowing what he can do.

[@bryanroberts]

Heupel didnt want to get Nico killed.. The kid is an incredible talent but he was too small and the o-line was not trust worthy.. Heupel looks like a smart man to me. Got a year to get bigger and learned everything he needed to learn.. Now its time!

[@fredstriker2042]

It really is that simple and most fans are complete morons

[@markcox-u8d]

I just can't get over how he rolls out and slings it. True, he hangs onto the ball too long sometimes, but he has to learn that it's okay to throw it away sometimes...but he reads the field extremely well. If NICO started against Florida, we would have won that game. He is the cog in the machine that will bring tempo football back to Knoxville. It is clear that Halzle knew Milton couldn't process things good enough to run tempo. Can't wait to see Nico & Matthews light it up.

[@jeffreycash1572]

Bru is back

[@eddiesawyers7924]

Need him in 2024 more than in 23 and didn't want him busted up for next season.

[@VFL603]

The way Milton performed he still was not afraid of being benched. That decision was made before the season started 2023. JH was not going to change that.

[@thomasford9204]

I’m glad he’s healthy for next year, our o line is good at run blocking but not pass protection and our receivers couldn’t gain a step w the dbs.

[@timingram8953]

It wasn't Joe who dropped the passes.

[@kevincrabtree6660]

Good video. Heup is loyal to a fault, especially with upper classes. Also Iowa had no opt outs.

[@bcole6666]

I'm sure glad that Heupel is a coach that doesn't listen to so called couch experts.

[@andrewmcgaha9629]

Personally, I think Heupel is playing Chess and has a strategy for the next several years, not just 1 year. What is it worth if Milton gets drafted. That will be 2 QB's that didn't start before UT going to the NFL. Just my theory, but admittedly, I am a huge Heupel fan.

[@jimpann]

Take away the Michigan and Penn State games, the other 11 opponents that Iowa faced had an average offensive ranking of 84 out of 133. How could you not be a top five defense with that schedule if you include the Michigan and Penn State game the average was 72 out of 133.

[@DavidRose-c7v]

I dnt think the locker room was a issue look how the team congratulated Nico on his first TD they love him

[@nealboswell8786]

Anybody who watched the Citrus Bowl ought to be able to conclude Nikko would not have survived the season this year...based on the play of the offensive line and backs that were trying to protect him. Plus, in the space of the season,..He has learned a lot, and has gained 10 or 15 lbs. Heupel knows what he is doing. Milton might could have done better, if he had more than one receiver that could get open in less than four or five seconds. I've looked . Same true in the Citrus Bowls. It is hard for a good qb to overcome mediocre receivers. I think Coach did the right thing in trying to put some good pieces around the Kid to keep him upright. How many times did Nikko have to scramble to keep from being sacked.

[@constantineandreu9377]

Jordan Seaton made the biggest.......mistake by going to Colorado👌

[@benroche3157]

I don’t like the Joe Milton slander. Nico looked good, but I honestly think he does worse than Joe over the course of a season. I agree with how Heupel played the situation. Let Nico learn and grow in practice, then take the reins next year.

[@hillvolfan]

Didn't FL St try to score each time they had the ball? Didn't GA try to score each time they had the ball. What did you want for FL St to lay down on the field and for GA to follow too? Each possession you try to score - regardless. It is up to the FL St to try to stop them.

[@joelhoward8211]

He looked like he had a better grasp of things in his first start than Joe did all year its only going to get lot better

[@jeffreybonner6895]

Nico lead Tennessee better make a 12 team playoffs .

[@garyharper8003]

Erik Ainge has said Nico was throwing 3 picks a day in practice early so no i dont think he was ready, late in the year maybe but not ALL year

[@jonathanross149]

Nico needs some weight. Those edge rushers would have broken him if he played all year.

[@timingram8953]

In these cases, you must trust your Head Coach in his planning. Second-guessing is easy after the fact.

[@wakinyanluta7720]

Huep has the Fulmer and Johnny syndrome, they play sophomore, juniors and seniors,and it doesn't matter how talented a freshman is ....😵‍💫

[@fredstriker2042]

The game is change brother, We can now pay these guys under the table and over the table. I grew up watching Tennessee since the 80s. And you are absolutely right but you're wrong in this case, I think hypo is preparing for the future and knew it was a complete waste of time and risk of getting in her last year.

[@robertdockery2308]

Had Nico been able to play cleanup, even in the losses, maybe we could have gotten better recruits at this time. What about the Seaton kid, etc.

[@alonzokincaid1362]

Nico is the best college football qb i have ever seen. If he dosnt go pro until after his senior year… he wins 3 heismans. Go vols!

[@Adam-wg9rh]

This is about the dumbest 30 minutes I’ve sat through in a long time.

[@GGable]

That offense was bad, it setup for a perfect game though to get Nico started out.

[@djangoapple8230]

Ah, but Moore would have been a better choice than Milton. Moore could definitely process the up tempo offense.

[@JMBraz1]

Smart called the dogs off boomer

[@wakinyanluta7720]

Spurrier would have played him

[@debrap7137]

Stewart isn’t coming to Tennessee. We’re not looking for someone who takes hostages and this guy sounds like that. Dodged a bullet. Receivers are gonna line up to play with Nico.

[@debrap7137]

Tennessee had some major problems besides Joe. Even though we had some good players out, that was confirmed yesterday.

[@taylormadevibe]

Tony makes up a lot of bs

[@ScootNTan]

Haven't listened to him in years. I was a big fan of his show when he first started, (early 90s) then he was a real smart ass to my little brother at the mall soooo maybe he's grown up since.

[@trav3104]

I just can’t stand Tony. Such a fool

[@Waniac]

Yeah Nico could only play 2 more years but Nico WILL be a VOL for at least 3 more years bro. There’s this Spyre Sport contract that says he will Tony my friend. 🤷‍♂️😂 and yeah he’s the real deal. 😉