Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava showed elite leadership during a potentially awkward moment during spring game

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated 4/24/24

Tennessee Vols fans received a glimpse of redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava's leadership skills during a behind-the-scenes look at UT's spring game that was released by Tennessee Athletics this week.

"The Juice", a series produced by the UT athletics department, provided a look this week at a moment between Iamaleava and Vols right tackle John Campbell during the spring game.

After a touchdown pass from Iamaleava to wide receiver Chas Nimrod, the episode pans to a shot of Iamaleava talking to Campbell on the sideline.

Apparently, Campbell ran straight to the sideline after the touchdown instead of celebrating with Iamaleava and rest of the offensive players on the field.

"Good job, bud, you see me running to the sideline, what happened, you didn't want to celebrate with me," said Iamaleava as he dapped up Campbell on the sideline.

"You tried to dap me up?" asked Campbell in response.

"Nah, you was already running...I was though (looking to celebrate with Campbell)," replied Iamaleava.

"Ah, my bad bro," said Campbell.

"You good," responded Iamaleava.

That might not seem like a big deal, but that's an important moment for Iamaleava.

Who knows why Campbell didn't celebrate with Iamaleava after the play. It's unfair to suggest that there was any sort of nefarious reasoning behind that decision. It's likely that it was an innocuous move by Campbell. Maybe he forgot in the moment, maybe he didn't feel his best, or perhaps he was just focused on what his next rep will be. The spring game is just a glorified practice, after all.

Iamaleava's decision to address the lack of celebration immediately after the play was important because it possibly prevented a misunderstanding from lingering around the team and becoming something detrimental. Maybe it would've been nothing. Or it maybe it would've been a source of discontent between Campbell and other players on the offensive side of the ball. But because Iamaleava showed leadership in what could've been an awkward situation, it was prevented from ever becoming an issue. It's a little thing. But doing the little things can prevent minor situations from turning into major disasters.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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