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Josh Heupel: 'I don't know' if Nico Iamaleava will play second half of blowout against Chattanooga

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•08/31/24•

SamraSource

Nico Iamaleava
© Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tennessee is off to a roaring start on their 2024 campaign, leading Chattanooga 45-0 as the game moves to halftime.

Before getting to the locker room, Josh Heupel took some time and spoke to the SEC Network reporters, and it’s evident he wasn’t satisfied with the way the Volunteers finished the half.

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“Good start. Really don’t like the way we finished in the last few drives,” Heupel said. “We’ve got to come out and play better ball in the second half.”

As for whether we’d see star quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the second half:

“I don’t know. We’ll get in and figure out what we’re going to do,” Heupel added.

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In the first half, Iamaleava passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns, completing 22-of-28 attempts. Not too shabby for the Volunteers quarterback, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him take a seat in the third and fourth.

Tennessee band gives special shoutout to Tony Vitello at halftime vs. Chattanooga

Meanwhile, the Tennessee marching band shouted out national championship-winning baseball coach Tony Vitello at halftime of the season opener against Chattanooga on Saturday. 

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Tennessee’s ‘Pride of the Southland’ marched around the field to spell out ‘Tony V’ across the 50-yard-line. This comes after Vitello led the Vols to their first national championship in baseball in program history earlier this year.

Vitello’s squad finished the season with a program record 60 wins during the 2024 season. They ultimately won the Men’s College World Series over Texas A&M in June. 

Meanwhile, the football Vols are off to a strong start themselves in 2024. They headed into the locker room with a 45-0 lead over their in-state rival on Saturday. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns during the first half. His passing yard total set a Tennessee first-half record, breaking Tyler Bray’s record set in 2012.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this article.