Dice22

Tulane has pulled out of his recruitment per Nakos of On3.

Yeah, was waiting to withhold judgement yesterday. Now that he no-showed practice, I won't be disappointed at all if UT tells him to kick rocks. Trying to hold the team hostage for a raise is shitty. It has to hurt team morale and make it very easy for the locker room to become divided.

What's absolutely insane to me is that he's trying to get a raise after his performance last year. Sampson and the D carried UT last year. If Nico was worth even the money he's reportedly currently making, UT would have hosted a playoff game instead of going to Ohio.

I still think his ceiling is incredibly high, and it wouldn't surprise me if he goes somewhere else and balls out, but at this point I hope UT doesn't budge. And if he comes back I hope he's ready to be booed anytime he misses a read or open receiver.

It was very noticeable to me as a Vols fan. Was already very nervous about a potential 3rd game and watching the intensity of your defense didn't help. Hoping we can hold y'all to less than 50% from 3 for once this season, but y'all look like you're peaking at the right time. Should be a great game.

The early returns look good, but hard to take too much from the results so far considering the level of competition. We look better than I expected, so far. Cautiously optimistic as we come up on league play.

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This is the genesis of what we have now.

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You're not wrong, but I blame the NCAA. This has been discussed for decades and everyone knew players would eventually get paid. The NCAA completely fricked the whole situation up with their lack of foresight or planning. This didn't have to become the complete shite show it is today, and that's on the NCAA.

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In my limited free time, I've been patrolling the Bama boards and have cone across some gems of their melt

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You mean you copy and pasted this from a thread on Volnation.

The NCAA had decades to figure something out. They simply refused and let things get to where they are now. Not sure why you're set on blaming everyone else, but the NCAA had more than enough time to try to figure something out in the middle of how things were and how things are now. They had all of the power. I'm quite happy to blame the NCAA for this shite show as they all but ushered it in with their unwillingness to change and lack of foresight in seeing this is where things would go if they didn't.

I think it's worth it, but I'm also a big MMA fan and some of the value to me is from getting to watch UFC fights I otherwise wouldn't be able to.

I think that UT being able to play a lot of their depth in the first 3 games is mostly a positive, as it gave the backups live game reps and hopefully confidence as well. It will be an environment like none that Nico has had to deal with so far. I like everything I've seen about his mindset so far, but you never know how someone is going to perform until you see it.

If UT can run the ball successfully, I think it will be really difficult for OU to beat them. I think both defenses are really good, and while the jury is still out on UT's secondary IMO, their front 7 is as good as I can remember in a long time.

I like the Vols chances and am cautiously optimistic, but I've been a fan too long to take anything for granted.

BTW it won't be 96° at night, and I don't think fatigue will be a factor for the Vols. I've been wrong before though.

Would love to know the answer to this question. He has been horrible for a long time.