Tennessee Volunteers Head Coach Josh Heupel addressed the media on Monday following the team’s loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. In a shocking announcement, General Manager Tim Weigel revealed that starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava would be out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. Heupel expressed his disappointment for Iamaleava, who had been playing well in his first season as a starter. “It’s tough news for Nico,” Heupel said. “He’s a great competitor and a great teammate. He’s worked extremely hard to get to this point, and we’re all disappointed for him.” Heupel said that backup quarterback Joe Milton would start in place of Iamaleava. Milton has played well in limited action this season, and Heupel said he has confidence in his ability to lead the team. “Joe’s a veteran guy who’s played a lot of football,” Heupel said. “He’s got a great understanding of our offense, and he’s got the ability to make all the throws. We’re confident that he’ll do a great job for us.” The loss of Iamaleava is a big blow to the Volunteers, who are now 5-3 on the season. However, Heupel said that the team is not going to make any excuses. “We’ve got to find a way to win,” Heupel said. “We’ve got a lot of football left to play, and we’re going to keep fighting.”
