KNOXVILLE, TN — I did not expect to hear a presiding chancellor declare his love forTennessee footballinside a chancery court on Friday afternoon duringJoey Aguilar's hearing against the NCAA. But, I also wasn’t expecting the attorneys representing both parties to profess their appreciation for the Vols quarterback either.

Just when you thought the Trinidad Chambliss and Charles Bediako cases had it all, a local Tennessee courtroom was the battleground for the latest eligibility case that could have major ramifications on college athletics moving forward.

"I love Tennessee football," NCAA attorney Taylor Askew expressed to the court while arguing his case. "But, Tennessee is better than this. We don't have to go to court to get our guy back. We don't do that in Tennessee. He (Aguilar) is a hero in Tennessee.

"We didn't know who he was until Nico (Iamaleava) left. You're a hero to kids around this city. But it doesn't mean the Vols get something everybody else doesn’t."

If you didn’t know, NCAA attorney Taylor Askew played football at Tennessee Tech, but graduated from UT Law School, while also being a Knoxville native.

So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the guy who was arguing against his favorite team having their quarterback return for the 2026 season bleeds orange.

I'd imagine somewhere deep down inside, he might enjoy seeing Joey Aguilar on the sidelines inside Neyland Stadium again next season, though his bosses won't be thrilled about how that would transpire.

Bourbon Sales, JUCO Rules And Tennessee Fans: Joey Aguilar's Fight Against The NCAA Had It All

But this case, which landed in the local court after Aguilar pulled his name out of the Diego Pavia lawsuit earlier this month, is layered with problems over how the court should rule. That's not my opinion, it came straight from the mouth of Chancellor Chris Heagerty.

The evidence needed for a preliminary injunction that would allow Joey Aguilar to compete with Tennessee until the trial has been completed to be granted is complicated.

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