Alabama

Why Josh Heupel was proud of Nico Iamaleava in Tennessee football vs Alabama

Published

1 year ago

October 20, 2024

Why Josh Heupel was proud of Nico Iamaleava in Tennessee football vs Alabama

Nico Iamaleava picked the seat between Dont’e Thornton and Chris Brazzell.

The two Tennessee football wide receivers had changed or cleaned up. Not Iamaleava. The Vols quarterback was still in his uniform when he settled in for a postgame press conference.

“I couldn’t get to my locker and change my stuff up,” Iamaleava said.

That’s what happens to the Vols quarterback when you beat Alabama (5-2, 2-2 SEC). Iamaleava — missteps and all — joined that club as an Alabama-beating QB on Saturday as No. 10 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1) downed No. 7 Alabama 24-17 at Neyland Stadium.

What Josh Heupel liked about Nico Iamaleava’s game against Alabama

Iamaleava made a perfect throw when he had to. He spiraled the ball to Brazzell, who dove and hauled in a 16-yard catch for the eventual game-winning touchdown.

It was the culmination of what Vols coach Josh Heupel loved about Iamaleava in the second half.

“Here’s a lot of things, just physical, mental toughness that I really liked,” Heupel said.

Iamaleava was 14-for-27 passing for 194 yards with the touchdown to Brazzell and an interception.

He had moments of greatness. The touchdown to Brazzell was notable. So was the throw Iamaleava uncorked to Thornton, a 55-yard beauty rolling to his right. That third-down success set up a touchdown for the Vols to take a 14-10 lead. He set up another touchdown earlier in the quarter with a 27-yard run.

OVERREACTIONS: Tennessee football has evened the Alabama rivalry and other overreactions from Vols win

The Vols scored twice on three drives in the third quarter after going scoreless in the first half for the third straight game.

“Quarterbacks, it’s toughness,” Heupel said. “It’s mental toughness and it matters the most.”

What is next for Nico Iamaleava

Iamaleava had a quick answer for what went wrong with Tennessee’s offense in the first half.

“I missed a shot to Squirrel (White) on the touchdown,” Iamaleava said.

Iamaleava believed if he made that throw for an early touchdown, the offense would have gotten rolling and the game would have gone differently. He has missed those throws often in the past few games, including the walk-in touchdown to White.

He missed another to Brazzell in the first and one to Bru McCoy in the fourth.

Iamaleava made his eighth career start Saturday. He has struggled in SEC play and has yet to throw for more than 200 yards in an SEC game. Inconsistencies throwing downfield have been the main issue in conference play.

“I got to be better on that,” Iamaleava said of the early miss to White.

ESTES: Before long, Tennessee won’t storm the field when it beats Alabama | Estes

He was good enough thanks to a pair of elite fourth-quarter throws. Those throws will be remembered because Tennessee won, which caused the celebration that led to “Ni-co!” chants from fans who stormed the field.

Iamaleava sat in his dirty jersey saying he was glad that Tennessee played the way it did in the second half. But he also knows he has to be better.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

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Alabama

Alabama offensive lineman transferring to Georgia Tech

Published

7 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Georgia Tech

Joseph Ionata, who spent two years with the Tide, will be joining former teammate Jaylen Mbakwe.

Georgia Tech fans celebrate during the second half against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)

A second former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is transferring to Georgia Tech.

Offensive lineman Joseph Ionata intends to play for the Yellow Jackets, according to On3. Ionata spent two years with the Tide and would be joining former Alabama defensive back and wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe.

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Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Alabama

Alabama Farmers Federation endorses Kristin Nelson for House District 38

Published

19 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Alabama Farmers Federation endorses Kristin Nelson for House District 38

The Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed Kristin Nelson in the upcoming special election for Alabama House District 38, a seat left vacant following the resignation of Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley). The district includes portions of Chambers and Lee counties.

Nelson recently secured the Republican nomination after winning a runoff election. The special general election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3.

“Kristin Nelson is a well-respected community leader in Chambers County, and we are proud to endorse her,” said Jason McKay, president of the Chambers County Farmers Federation. “We know she will represent us well in Montgomery and ensure District 38 gets the attention it needs in the business and agricultural arenas.”

Support for Nelson’s candidacy also came from farmers in neighboring Lee County. “Kristin Nelson is a strong conservative with incredible knowledge of House District 38,” said Robert Walters, president of the Lee County Farmers Federation. “There is no doubt she will work hard and represent the people of Lee and Chambers counties well in the Legislature.”

Nelson grew up along the Chambers-Lee county line and brings experience from both the public and private sectors. Her background includes seven years in city administration with the City of Valley and three years as a third-grade teacher with Lanett City Schools.

She has also been active in homeschooling through Classical Conversations, where she has served as both a tutor and a local representative supporting other families.

In addition to returning to part-time work with Harris Gray LLC, Nelson serves as worship leader at Fairfax Methodist Church, secretary of the Junior Variety Club and president of the EAMC Lanier Auxiliary Board.

She also founded the Chambers County Young Republicans and currently serves as the chair of the Chambers County Republican Party.

“The farmers of this district and I share the same strong work ethic and conservative values,” said Nelson. “It is an honor to have their support and to be able to represent them and all the people of this district in Montgomery.”

Nelson and her husband, Jeff, live in the Huguley community with their two teenage sons.

The Alabama Farmers Federation is the state’s largest farm organization, representing more than 360,000 member families. The organization uses a grassroots endorsement process that relies on decisions made by county Farmers Federation boards of directors in local elections.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].

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Alabama

Tuberville officially files for 2026 Alabama governor’s race

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Tuberville officially files for 2026 Alabama governor’s race

HOOVER, Ala. (WSFA) – Senator Tommy Tuberville officially filed the paperwork to run for governor at the Alabama Republican Party Headquarters in Hoover Monday morning.

“I want to make the lives of the people of this state better,” said Sen. Tuberville. “If I thought that staying in the U.S. Senate would be best for Alabama, I would’ve stayed. but I think the best thing for Alabama is for me to come back.”

He talked about the need to grow Alabama’s economy, with attracting manufacturers being a primary focus. Sen. Tuberville said that to do that, he would focus on improving the state’s infrastructure and making the state’s education and workforce systems more attractive to new residents.

When asked about cutting waste, fraud and abuse, a focus of his time in Washington, D.C., alongside President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, Sen. Tuberville said, he expects to make changes if elected governor.

“You have a lot of different agencies here, we want to make them all better,” he said. “We also want to make sure that we save the taxpayers’ money, that we use it wisely and we give it back to them.”

The former Auburn football coach said he did not expect to go into politics, but now, he is ready to transition from national to state politics.

“It’s time to come home, put together a staff and worry about the state of Alabama and the people here,” he said.

According to Alabama’s constitution, someone running for governor has to have lived in the state for at least seven years. Some have questioned whether Sen. Tuberville fits that requirement. He said during the candidacy filing that the Republican Party of Alabama says he does fulfill the requirement.

The filing deadline for candidates to qualify for a major political party is Jan. 23.

Alabama’s Democratic primary has the following candidates: