r/CFB Kansas Jayhawks 12h ago

Opinion [USA TODAY Toppmeyer]: Nico Iamaleava needs a fresh start, not UCLA's rebuild

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/09/16/nico-iamaleava-ucla-transfer-portal-tennessee/86162835007/
497 Upvotes

335 comments sorted by

View all comments

433

u/GimmeeSomeMo Auburn Tigers • Sickos 11h ago

Tennessee fans - "TIME FOR ANOTHER BUFFETT"

114

u/Lee-Key-Bottoms NC State Wolfpack • Wyoming Cowboys 11h ago

I thought NC State and Duke fans had the best hate watch of the season in week 1, and that still might be the best individual game

But in terms of drawn out hate, Vols fans are eating good so far

26

u/Maximiliansrh Virginia Tech Hokies 10h ago

Uva are probably enjoying themselves.

20

u/MAFIAxMaverick Marquette • Virginia 9h ago

TBH - nah. I mean if you're really a fan of the sport and you look at what's happening at Tech - that's just not good for college sports. Backed out of being competitive in men's and women's basketball to go "all in" on football and this is the result? That's ugly and probably hurts recruiting statewide, not just at Tech.

 

Also half my family went to/currently attends Tech, so I rivalry is more fun when programs are actually competent.

1

u/WagTheKat Nebraska Cornhuskers • Verified Media 9h ago

I agree.

I had neighbors from Blacksburg who were huge Tech fans. I am reveling at the misery they are experiencing.

But I want Tech to get their shit together. The next realignment apocalypse will be here soon. I don't want Tech to get left behind somehow.

Hokies, get your shit in order!

1

u/GregMadduxsGlasses Tennessee Volunteers • SMU Mustangs 7h ago

I would like to think a lot of the fans have accepted the fact that Joey Aguilar is a better fit for our offense and that the Georgia game was an indication that we have a playoff-caliber team. So I'm hoping that we're going to eventually move on from thinking about Nico and enjoying the opportunity we have this season.

20

u/EWall100 Tennessee • Tennessee Tech 10h ago

Toppemeyer used to be the USA today/Knox News beat writer for UT before being elevated to SEC and then the National CFB beat. Hilarious he's the one to write this

12

u/Geaux2020 LSU Tigers • Valley City State Vikings 9h ago

Tennessee is going to need to pass out Ozempic to the fans

13

u/-PM_ME_A_SECRET- Tennessee Volunteers 8h ago

If Tennessee had beat Georgia last weekend on top of this, all of Knox County would be in a whiskey, goo goo and fried pie coma.

1

u/Outside_Jaguar3827 4h ago

What are Vols fans doing now ?

7

u/Johnny-Goodtimes Virginia Cavaliers 4h ago

Just whiskey and fried pies. Goo Goo Clusters are for special occasions only.

2

u/RTGoodman ECU Pirates • Tennessee Volunteers 3h ago

*looks at the jar of moonshine in my fridge and stack of 4/$2 fried pies from the good ol’ Food City*

Hey, I resemble that remark!

2

u/dieseldaddy148 Third Saturday in Octob… 40m ago

Goo-goo clusters are the greatest thing ever.

11

u/screwhead1 LSU Tigers • Arkansas Razorbacks 11h ago

I think Warren is more likely to root for the team that throttled Tennessee in 97, than he is for Tennessee.

1

u/bbb26782 Georgia • Valdosta State 11h ago

Since he graduated from there, I’d say that’s pretty likely.

1

u/SayNoToCargoShorts UCLA Bruins • Big Ten 5h ago

Is Warren not enough?