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    • Josh Heupel is proud of Nico Iamaleava after Tennessee beat Alabama
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    Josh Heupel is proud of Nico Iamaleava after Tennessee beat Alabama

    Kathleen William Posted on

    Nico Iamaleava took the spot 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 wearing his uniform as he settled in for a postgame press conference.

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

    This is what happens to the Vols quarterback when you beat Alabama (5-2, 2-2 SEC). Iamaleava – missteps and all – joined this club Saturday as the quarterback that beat Alabama as No. 10 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1) defeated 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 game-winning touchdown.

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

    “There are a lot of things here, just the physical and mental strength, that I really liked,” Heupel said.

    Iamaleava completed 14 of 27 passes for 194 yards with the touchdown to Brazzell and an interception.

    He had moments of greatness. The landing at Brazzell was remarkable. So the throw that Iamaleava uncorked to Thornton was a 55-yard beauty that rolled to his right. That third-down success allowed the Vols to score a touchdown and take a 14-10 lead. At the start of the quarter, he set up another touchdown with a 27-yard run.

    OVERREACTIONS: Tennessee football balanced the Alabama rivalry and other overreactions after the Vols win

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

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

    What's next for Nico Iamaleava?

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

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

    Iamaleava believed that if he had made that throw for an early touchdown, the offense would have gotten rolling and the game would have been different. He's missed those throws a lot in recent games, including the walk-in touchdown to White.

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

    Iamaleava made his eighth career start on Saturday. He struggled in SEC play and has yet to throw for more than 200 yards in an SEC game. Inconsistency in throwing downfield was the main problem in conference play.

    “I have to get better at that,” Iamaleava said of White’s early miss.

    ESTES: It won't be long before Tennessee storms the field when it beats Alabama | Estes

    He was good enough thanks to two elite throws in the fourth quarter. Those throws will be remembered because Tennessee won, which sparked the celebration that led to “Ni-co!” Chants from fans storming the pitch.

    Sitting in his dirty jersey, Iamaleava said he was glad Tennessee played the way they did in the second half. But he also knows he has to get better.

    Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you like Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription to access everything.

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    Kathleen William
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