Simple uniform malfunction shows just how tough Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava was vs. Ohio State
It was a rough experience on Saturday evening for the Tennessee Vols in Columbus, Ohio. The Vols were thoroughly dominated from start to finish in a 42-17 loss to Ohio State. However, one player who's rightfully earned some respect from fans and media alike was QB Nico Iamaleava. The Vols' signal caller, despite a tough […]
It was a rough experience on Saturday evening for the Tennessee Vols in Columbus, Ohio. The Vols were thoroughly dominated from start to finish in a 42-17 loss to Ohio State.
However, one player who's rightfully earned some respect from fans and media alike was QB Nico Iamaleava. The Vols' signal caller, despite a tough day for the passing game, was the center piece of the offense with Dylan Sampson on the sideline with a hamstring injury. Iamaleava ran time and again, absorbing a number of hard hits. He had 20 carries for 47 yards, becoming a focal point for Tennessee's running game in the second quarter as UT brought the lead to 21-10 at half.
How much was he getting hit? A video of Iamaleava's helmet after the game shows just how much punishment he took during the game.
It's not every day you see a player's helmet get a chunk taken out of it or otherwise suffer any breaks. Really is a pretty uncommon occurrence. However, seeing a helmet crack that much is something I can't say that I immediately remember seeing before. And if he indeed had two of them broken, well, that's even crazier.
There's no doubt the turf was hard. It was in the teens temperature wise after all. As such, he surely took the double whammy when he got hit hard by an Ohio State defender and then hit the ground.
But that speaks to the toughness of the Vols' signal caller. Some wondered on social media – even Pat McAfee noted in his props to Nico that he was a "Cali kid" – if being from a warm weather area would affect him. Needless to say, it did not.
If there's anything that Saturday proved, it's that Tennessee has a quarterback who's willing to do whatever it takes to win. Even if it means put himself in jeopardy to do it. It's not ideal – you don't want your quarterback risking himself – but you also have to respect his guts and his fight regardless of the circumstances.
Josh Heupel has two major issues to address that fall squarely on him after Tennessee Vols’ blowout loss to Ohio State
It was more of the same for Tennessee in a couple of areas on Saturday night
