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
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You are the dumbest fucking tennessee fan are you fucking kidding me you are The reason why we just kept firing coaches every other fucking year how the fuck you supposed to build depth you will never win a chip if you don't have a 2 deep roster at every position he wasn't ready since day 1 he didn't even know the offense and was throwing 3 picks a practice he was to skinny and didn't have the frame for the sec he would have been hurt and then you and every other idiot who was saying he should have started would have been been mad a hype over starting him if people have never played the game they need to shut up
Like for real dude a fireable offense don't even talk about firing hype for atleast 6 years you have to be able to build a fucking true roster he inherented a fucking shit show of a roster you clearly know nothing about football
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.
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.
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.
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. 😉