'If Anything, It's Thank You': Joey Aguilar's Dad Wants Nico Iamaleava To Know He Did a Great Thing Transferring to UCLA and Tanking His Career So Joey Could Shine in Knoxville

As recently as spring practice this year, Joey Aguilar thought his only shot at Power Four football would be leading a dismal UCLA team to a bowl berth if everything went perfectly. But then Nico Iamaleava decided to try to hold Tennessee hostage for a 100 percent raise after a remarkably average redshirt freshman season and instead ended up in Los Angeles on a worse team for less money, leaving an opportunity for Aguilar to step into a ready-made situation with a chance to be a hero.

Joey's dad, rightfully, wishes to thank Nico for his conviction to return to Southern California that allowed his son to finish his career at one of the best college football programs ever. As a matter of fact, we all owe Nico our sincerest thanks.

Tennessee has already handily won college football's first-ever de facto trade, but if Joey goes out there on Saturday and slings the ball around and beats Georgia, he's a legend after playing a grand total of three games. And if the Vols are good enough to win this game — without their top two cornerbacks — there's no limit to how great the Joey Aguilar story could end.

So in a twist I don't think many people saw coming, Tennessee fans should be thanking Nico profusely. We now get to watch Aguilar light it up in a Josh Heupel offense that looks the way it's supposed to again and the turn on the UCLA game at 11 p.m. and watch Iamaleava suffer the consequences of his own decisions.