My literary contributors continue to provide more emails about a former Tennessee quarterback than who will be Tennessee’s quarterback for the 2025 football season.
Mike writes: I expect that UCLA officials are getting giddy as they anticipate the impact an overrated quarterback like Nico Iamaleava can have on attendance at the Bruins‘ games this fall. Last season UCLA averaged 43,380 empty seats per game for their home games.
Who knows with Nico there, maybe UCLA may be able to bring that number all the way down to less than 40,000 empty seats per game? (The Rose Bowl seats 92,542. UCLA’s average home attendance last year was 49,162.)
My response: If Arch Manning transferred to UCLA, the impact would be minimal on Bruins football. UCLA might attract more television viewers per capita in Knoxville than Los Angeles, and most of them will be pulling for Iamaleava to fail.
He managed to transfer to a worse program for less money. That’s quite an accomplishment.
Doak writes: You are the Scottie Scheffler of sportswriters. Maybe more like Jack Nicklaus or Sam Snead given your longevity. I trust you; smart readers trust you.
Anyway, all this mess and hullabaloo about NIL, collectives, pay limits, portal, playoff, etc. makes my head hurt. Like a lingering concussion.
What happened? I wish some of these powerbrokers in college sports would have simply asked you your thoughts and ideas for some common-sense guidance.
Please help them; maybe it’s not too late. Call Greg Sankey, I know he would take your call.
I’m almost to the point that college football Saturdays are now just a good day to play 36 holes instead of 18. Not really. That’s crazy talk but you get my point.
My response: Anyone who has ever observed me on a golf course would laugh at your mentioning me and a championship golfer in the same sentence. My most significant round of golf was my first.
I was only about 13 and unaware of proper golf attire when I set foot on a rural golf course near my hometown. I wore a T-shirt, swim trunks and – here’s the kicker – baseball cleats.
The owner/club pro/greenskeeper/chief beer drinker was not happy about what my cleats did to his greens. Later, as a more experienced golfer, I realized that the fairways on an average course were better manicured than his greens.
Mike writes: Just when we thought future Tennessee football schedules could not possibly be even more embarrassing than the 2025 non-conference schedule, which includes games against minor college opponents East Tennessee State, UAB and New Mexico State, and the 2026 nonconference schedule that includes Furman and Kennesaw State, we now learn that the 2027 schedule will include Tennessee State.
As a long time Vols fan, I am mortified that the Vols continue to load their non-conference schedule with what should be gross mismatches.
AD Danny White always claims he is concerned with enhancing the “fan experience.” If that were true, he would stop forcing fans to pay their hard-earned money for season ticket packages that include these garbage games.
My response: I am mortified that your first sentence was more than 60 words long. But it confirms my long-held belief that the more frustrated a literary contributor is, the longer his sentences will be.
However, you bounced back in your closing sentence by using the subjunctive mood correctly. English teachers will be impressed.
Bill Writes: I read your August 3 article on expanding the College Football Playoff to 128 teams. I always knew that you were so smart.
“Greed is great” is what college football is all about.
My response: Everybody is cashing in except the fans.
James writes: Excellent idea on a 128-team playoff.
Who will air the games, to include how will the TV money be divided?
My response: There would be enough games for multiple networks. The Weather Channel might even broadcast one.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Reader believes former Tennessee football QB won’t help UCLA much
