Nico Iamaleava’s Father Succumbs to Harrasment Against Family, Takes Action

Weeks before UCLA would confirm that the Vols’ big hope was joining them, Nico Iamaleava had gone AWOL. Neither the players nor the coaches could reach him after Tennessee had lost the first round of college football playoffs. Sources close to him reasoned that the QB needed a “mental break” after the 42-17 defeat. Fans haven’t forgotten what followed– absence in practice, transfer portal talks, and an eventual confirmation. Today, the Iamaleava family felt the heat when the sting of betrayal came disguised as a mockery after the Bruins’ 3rd straight defeat.

The parody page “No3” —a cheap copycat of recruiting giant On3, made a snide comment on X. “Following Friday’s loss to the Lobos, UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava convened a team meeting to announce he will be stepping away from football temporarily to focus on his mental well-being,” the post read. For weeks and months, they’ve been tweeting clown emojis, memes, and daily reminders of UCLA’s goose egg in the win column. But when things went too far, Nic Iamaleava, the quarterback’s father, slid into their DMs with a sharp warning.

“I’ve seen you mention my son’s name multiple times. Keep our names out of your mouth. My son is doing just fine at UCLA.”  The response? Pure internet chaos. No3 screenshotted the DM and blasted it back onto the timeline with the caption: “It was only a matter of time… Someone get papa Nico out of my DMs.” 

Just like that, the Iamaleava family feud with trolls became public, fueling an already hostile fan environment that hasn’t cooled since Nico bolted Knoxville. It has welcomed parody accounts, angry fans, and even ESPN’s College GameDay crowd. Unsurprisingly so. The once-promising relationship had deteriorated at a moment’s notice, all for a paycheck, as they perceived. But contrary to what the reports suggest, UCLA’s $4 million man claims he did not move to UCLA for the hefty NIL deal.

The quarterback is centred around his family — his parents, five sisters and two brothers. While it gives him an opportunity to stay closer to his mom, who’s battling Stage 4 breast cancer, Iamaleava also finds a steady presence in his father. The reports suggesting Nic’s involvement in the NIL negotiations sure haven’t earned him any favors but when it comes to shielding the QB, don’t expect him to sit back.

Less than a year ago, when a high school coach dropped an ‘expletive’ on Nico’s DMs, Nic took it public. “Hey @ClayKeaton65 Nico was busy helping UT beat Alabama. You should try the same with your HS team since you’re 0-9 instead of jumping into kids DMs,” he penned. Papa Iamaleava is proactive that way, and rightfully so. But calling his son’s season ‘fine’? That’s a very strong word to describe how things are cooking in Westwood.

In the game that prompted No3’s trolling, Nico’s stat line (22-of-34, 235 yards, one TD, one pick) looks decent on paper, but the offense died after halftime. Six second-half possessions, two punts, one turnover on downs, one interception, and a whole lot of nothing else. The UCLA was beaten down 35-10 by New Mexico, a game where more than 2 touchdowns favored them.

UCLA’s offense has low-balling against Utah, UNLV, and now New Mexico, while the defense has been gashed for 30-plus in all 3 games. At this rate, the Bruins are praying to scrape together 4 wins. Meanwhile, No. 15 ranked Tennessee nearly shocked the college football world. The Vols were one missed kick away from drowning Georgia in Neyland Stadium, losing 44-41 in OT. Even in defeat, they looked like a top-10 squad. That contrast has only cranked up the volume of Nico hate. Because for Knoxville, this isn’t just about football—it’s about betrayal. Nico was supposed to be the chosen one, the five-star who’d bring playoff football to Rocky Top. Instead, he’s headlining L’s in the Rose Bowl.

So where does this leave UCLA and the Iamaleava family? Only Iamaleavas know. The Bruins are off in Week 4, then face Northwestern in what might be their last “winnable” game before reality sets in. Lose that one, and 0-6 is staring them in the face.

Tennessee fans cooked Nico in Knoxville

If things were rough online, they got nuclear in Knoxville. Saturday morning, ESPN’s College GameDay rolled into town for No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 15 Tennessee. As Rece Davis threw it to Pete Thamel, chants of “Nico sucks!” rained down so loud they drowned out the broadcast. Even Kirk Herbstreit shook his head. Thamel couldn’t ignore it, saying live on-air, “Well, in some breaking news I don’t think they like Nico Iamaleava a lot here.”

The timing couldn’t have been worse. UCLA had just gotten punked by New Mexico, while Tennessee fans were gearing up for a heavyweight brawl. The Vols may have lost, but Joey Aguilar—ironically the QB who spent spring at UCLA—looked every bit the answer. Aguilar tossed for 371 yards and four touchdowns against the Bulldogs, just one week after torching ETSU with a 72-17 demolition. That 72 points? Tennessee’s most in a game since 1929.

Tennessee fans haven’t forgotten April. They watched Nico walk out for a bag, and now they’re watching Aguilar sling bombs without overthrowing or running out of bounds. By the looks of it, this isn’t cooling off anytime soon. If Tennessee keeps stacking wins and UCLA keeps tripping over itself, the chants will get louder, the memes nastier, and Papa Nico’s DMs even more cluttered. For the Volunteers, it’s personal. And for UCLA, it’s painful. For Nico? It’s a reminder that sometimes, greener pastures turn into quicksand.