Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ve been following this story, and it’s become kind of a tipping point for me. Agents, holdouts, threats to move on, big time college football has become completely professional without the guardrails that make all of the pro leagues stable, going concerns. So Nico Iamaleava initially signed a multi-year NIL agreement with Tennessee, reportedly worth up to $8 million. This deal was significant at the time, solidifying his status as one of the highest-paid college athletes.
Now, based on his one good season last year, he was seeking to nullify that contract and have Tennessee double his yearly NIL. Tennessee has refused to do this and cut ties with Nico, who, reportedly, is a lock to end up in one of USC, Notre Dame, and Oregon. I find this whole situation utterly ridiculous…he signed a contract, but, because he’s also under the guise of a “college student”, he can walk away from the contract without any penalties and transfer to another school? I don’t have a problem with athletes getting recompense, but this is “Fantasy Island” stuff and nowhere close to how the real world works.
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