Tennessee Stat Book
Northern Illinois Huskies
“The Real World” it is not.
“It’s not like a TV show,” Tennessee sophomore Nick Stephens said of this week’s open quarterback competition. “We go out and just practice.
“… It’s not a personal thing. We’re both out there to try to win a job. It’s not ‘I don’t like him.’ ”
Like or not, Stephens and junior Jonathan Crompton have the same goal this week: to be UT’s unquestioned No. 1 quarterback.
Crompton had a firm grip on the role in preseason. His grasp was loosened by erratic play and a 1-3 start.
“The last couple of weeks, I haven’t played to the best of my ability and I’ve got to get better,” Crompton said. “That’s just the fact of the matter.”
Crompton’s struggles were most evident in last week’s 14-12 loss to Auburn. Crompton completed 8-of-23 passes for 67 yards and couldn’t lead the Vols to a game-winning field goal attempt despite great field position throughout the fourth quarter.
Crompton has taken some public criticism for taking a wait-and-see approach following that game instead of openly critiquing his play. That wasn’t the case Wednesday.
“I knew the second the game was over that I’ve got to go to work and got to get better,” Crompton said. “I’m my own worst critic. I know when I’ve got to get better.”
After overcoming two surgeries to his right arm — his throwing arm — and two seasons on the bench behind former starting quarterback Erik Ainge, one would think that Crompton is upset with the decision to open up a quarterback competition.
Not so, said Crompton — at least publicly.
“I’m fine,” he said. “I’ve got to go out there and get better to give our team a better chance at winning.
“That’s pretty much the bottom line.”
UT coaches have said both quarterbacks will play Saturday when the Vols host Northern Illinois.
Crompton maintains that a quarterback competition shouldn’t come as any surprise.
“You don’t come to Tennessee thinking it’s going to be handed to you,” the junior said. “That’s just not how it happens.”
First-year UT offensive coordinator Dave Clawson shared responsibility for UT’s quarterback play. He also empathized with Crompton.
“He’s taken a lot of criticism,” Clawson said. “It’s part of the nature of the beast.
“… The kid is a great kid. He loves Tennessee. He loves Tennessee football.
“He’s worked extremely hard for a number of years. He’s as disappointed as anybody that it’s not going well.
Expect Crompton to be even more disappointed if he’s not named the starter this week.
“It’s a huge deal to me,” Crompton said. “That’s why I’m here.
“I’m going to go out there everyday in practice and bust my butt, get better and go from there.”
And if he’s replaced by Stephens?
“I’ll be rooting him on,” Crompton said. “We’ve got to win the ball game. Whatever it takes right now.
“That’s what we’re here for.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
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Comments » 144
Wilhelm16 writes:
whatever
bigcanesfan73 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
armyvol544 writes:
Lets go. Best man wins. Which in turn will be wins for the Vols. We hope
Go Vols
thevoice writes:
Same ole, same ole. Yawn.
Ironcity writes:
You don't say!
bigcanesfan73 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Major_Magilicutty writes:
lol...that's where I was going with it. You dont say!
alfrizzle097 writes:
Looks like the competition has gotten his head out of his donkey. maybe it will be a new start for him.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Who?
"That wasn't us" - Coach Foolmore
Volchaz writes:
heck, even Peyton had to share some snaps with Stewart....for a bit...
rblakeh writes:
Geez. Lay off of him. You people take this stuff so personally. When he is confident and defensive of his performance, you ride him. When he comes out and stays that he should be playing better, you ride him for that too.
May the best man win... Go Vols!
auttat writes:
Workin, guess you haven't felt the need to grace us with your presence since the season started, huh? Your silence was deafening, though. No need to say, "I told you so."
Too bad THE_VOL and Vol13 don't carry the same sentiments.
smalltownsouthernman writes:
I am a glass half full kind of guy but I am afraid this is a case of "you can't fix stupid." The junk he has been saying in interviews is terrible.
He can throw a football 50 yards but he can't find a secondary receiver. I really want him to improve but at this point I don't think it is possible.
I hope Stephens is the answer or we might need to find a transfer for next year.
GreerVol22 writes:
he can't find a reciever, he can't find his arse with both paws, so I'm not sure he could even find the bench. Would be better if he just stood at the end of the tunnel and only come out if Nick and BJ have broken legs...
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
crompton is not a sec quarterback .foolmer is a idiot for staying with him . its not fair to the team .
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
auttat, I hate the new layout and the 8 billion new articles posted every second from anything related to any SEC teams. I've only said "I told you so" to little man sjt.
mattlock writes:
This is stupid, why couldn't Fulmer grow a pair, name Stephens the starter and let him take all the snaps this week. Instead, he gives both of them half the snaps a normal started would get. What else does he need to see?!?! We've heard all along Crompton plays better in practice than in the games, so what the heck is a QB competition going to tell you. Fulmer is an idiot, I am more sure of this now than ever.
mgraham65 writes:
You know... Ainge looked like a hot, steamy pile of doo-doo his sophomore season. He overcame that year and became a quality QB for us his last two years. There's still a chance that this is just a hiccup in Crompton's career. Give the guy a break. Maybe, by sitting for a few quarters (or games), he settles down and when given another chance, he shines. Who knows?
For now, lets get behind Nick Stephens and root him on while he is in there. Enough of the booing our guys. What happens if, God forbid, something happens to Stephens or Coleman and all we have left is Crompton? Does he have to step back into the fire, knowing that the Big Orange Nation is not supporting him? I'm just saying, try to be positive. Let's wait and see how the season pans out and take care of "other" business when that time comes... not in the middle of a season that can still be turned around.
BTW - Anyone got any tickets for NIU?
CampVol writes:
The term is in-CROMP-etent. He ain't got the tools.
BigMix writes:
Jon, I'm sorry man but, you can bust your butt till you're blue in the face and it still will not change your ability to make logical decisions.
volntx writes:
When Crompton takes off his helmet, he looks like "blaster" of "masterblaster" in mad max beyond thunderdome>
IBleedOrange444 writes:
“The last couple of weeks, I haven’t played to the best of my ability and I’ve got to get better,” Crompton said Wednesday. “That’s just the fact of the matter.”
Thank you Jon. You'll find that, not just in football but life in general, a little accountability and humility will go a long way. Thank you for your commitment to UT. I think I speak for the vast majority of the fans and alumni when I say that we wish you the best of luck in everything you do. Call it tough love, but you are still one of us.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
with an average QB will would be 3-1 this year, with a great QB will would be 4-0, Can Fulmer and Clawson not judge talent? If Tebow had come here, he would still probably be backing up someone!
vol4gzus writes:
The unkind,especially biggcaynesfan, are really nice today. Calling Crompton the name you did shows you,a Miami fan?, as a little on the immature side by appearances. I said It appears to be...if not I say very misguided in thot process. Momma gonna wash out some mouths for potty talk....or your comment REMOVED.
mattlock writes:
Word is Clawson had concerns about Crompton being his QB after the UCLA game, but kept getting VETOED by Fulmer. . .Fulmer even overrulled Clawsons request to put in Stephens in the Auburn game.
Go4Two writes:
I hope the fans turn out this Saturday. Tennessee football needs great support to help us bring in a top recruiting class. More importantly we need to support the current players, these players chose Tennessee over other schools. We still have several games against some very highly ranked teams how sweet would it be to knock off a unbeaten Alabama team. Saturday can start the turn around but everyone needs to be involved coaches ,players and fans. Go Vols
PreventUT writes:
The Long List (for entertainment purposes only) - slim pickens and most wouldn't even consider UT. Maybe Hamilton will go the AFL or CFL route. That's the Canadian Football League - aye!!
NFL Coaches:
Jon Gruden – Tampa Bay HC, 45 (former UT assistant)
Lane Kiffin – Raiders HC, 33 (fired)
Bill Cowher – Former Steelers HC, 51 (retired)
Clancy Pendergast – Cardinals DC, 40
Mike Zimmer – Bangles DC, 52
Rob Chudzinski – Browns OC, 40 (signed until 2011)
FBS Head Coaches:
Pat Fitzgerald – North Western, 33
Larry Fedora – Southern Miss, 46 (just signed)
Mike Riley – Oregon State, 56 (played for Bama)
Kyle Whittingham – Utah, 48
Butch Davis – NC, 57
Brian Kelly – Cincinnati, 47
Bobby Johnson – Vanderbilt, 58
Jim Leavitt – South Florida, 51
Gary Pinkel – Missouri, 56
Skip Holtz – ECU, 44
Derek Dooley – Louisiana Tech, 40 (dad is Georgia's AD)
Chris Petersen – Boise St., 43
Bronco Mendenhall – BYU, 42
Randy Edsall - UConn, 50
Todd Graham – Tulsa, 43
Jim Grobe – Wake Forest, 56 (signed 10-year extension)
Paul Johnson – GT, 51
David Cutcliffe – Duke, 54
FBS Coordinators:
Brent Venables – Oklahoma DC, 37
Dewayne Walker – UCLA DC, 47
Bud Foster – VT DC, 49
Will Muschamp – Texas DC, 37 (played for Georgia)
Kevin Steele – Alabama DC, 50 (former UT assistant)
Steve Sarkisian – USC OC, 34
Chip Kelly – Oregon OC, 45
Dave Christensen – Missouri OC, 45
Frank Cignetti – Cal OC, 43
Dave Clawson – UT OC, 41 (11th best OC by CHS?)
Trooper Taylor – Oklahoma St. Co-OC, 38
FCS Head Coaches:
K.C. Keeler – Delaware, 49 (signed 10-year contract)
Bobby Hauck – Montana, 44
southerntnvol writes:
Yes mgraham65 I have 4 to this game. How many do you need?
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Mikevol,
Your last name isn't Hamilton by any chance is it?
tnbanker_govols writes:
Wow....what an epiphany!!!
I'm sick and tired of this competition thing......Stephens should be the starting QB..PERIOD!! Crompton, as I've said over and over again, has had his chance. We are 1-3...I don't care about what type of abilities he has, if he can't carry them onto the field, they're worthless.
Here's what's gonna happen......Crompton will be named the starter for this week's game because ole Phil's gonna give him one last chance. Besides, if you bench Crompton now, you run the risk of severely damaging his "confidence". Crompton will have a medicore day but somehow Phil sees that he's making great improvements and as a result, Crompton willplay the entire game. Then, everybody has a warm fuzzy feeling because Crompton went 12-22 against Northern Illinois for 185 yards....not great numbers but Phil will say he played "efficient". On to Georgia we go for another shellacking similar to the one Florida gave to us about a couple of weeks ago. Suddenly, we're 2-4 overall, 0-3 in the SEC, and we got the same stinkin' problem we have right now.
tennisvol writes:
What has happened to BJ Coleman? Is he considering transferring to Duke so he can play under ole Cutcliffe?
COACHWATCH writes:
Under FBS, think these two fine coaches should be added:
JIM HARBAUGH - STANFORD-45
TROY CALHOUN - AIR FORCE-41
If UT can knock out the park chosing a basketball coach, we should be able to with our football program. Just follow the same model - young,energetic, proven success at head coach level, at a smaller school looking to advance. Just get it done.
cobbwebb writes:
lbleed, my man i second that comment, right on target!
mgraham65 writes:
I absolutely DO NOT want them to just hand the ball back to Crompton, just because he will be a senior. If Stephens (or whoever) does well, all the better for us. My point was sit him for now and give someone else an opportunity to step up. If next guy (or guys) in line can't get it done and we have to go back to Crompton at some point, we have to support him as best we can. A second chance should be deserved for someone who has worked for more than three years to get to this point. If he doesn't succeed at that point, then I might agree more with you, there probably shouldn't be another chance.
PreventUT writes:
Troy Calhoun won't leave AF. Harbaugh's struggled at Stanford, but Stanford is BAD, so I'd have to wait and see about that one. He's recruiting pretty well I think.
VOLnNASH writes:
Sign of the times: With early season league losses to Auburn and Florida, Fulmer is now 14-14 in his past 28 games against SEC teams. Previous UT coaches Johnny Majors and Bill Battle were 20-7-1 and 14-13-1, respectively, in their final 28 SEC games at UT.
govolsfan#214750 writes:
Anyone........please, Im stuck in So Cal and am getting no word on how this QB compitition is going so far. Its already WED and I've heard nothing! Is there no word leaking out there in K-town? How is the gunslinger doing???????????????
gohawks1 writes:
Hey, when a guy is having a Big Mac attack, people just need to back off and let him through.
burpee_von_rotweiler_IV writes:
You correctly nailed it! That is exactly how it is going to go down.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
yOU are a funny person, wonder how you react to critisicm? It's funny to poke fun at people when we are anonymous.
indianacurly writes:
the way i see it, he's on his 4th chance already.
gohawks1 writes:
Mike, is your last name Hamilton?
COACHWATCH writes:
Harbaugh was 22-2 his last 2 years as San Diego's coach (proven success), he beat USC in his first year with a very bad Stanford team in the largest point spread upset in College football history, and they are 3-2 this year so far and recruiting very well. And Stanford has Ivy League level entry requirments.
xvolx writes:
If you have got to get better, then you have played to the best of your ability. I will agree though that your off. line stinks( especially ramon foster), your rb stink, your receivers stink and your off. cord. , head coach stink. there is a lot of stink at ut. you can add adam meyer-white too the list.
Go4Two writes:
Ibleed
How long have you been a Vol fan
Jshoop writes:
"Got to play better"
You think!!
I believe Crompton will get 75-80% of the snaps this week. I can't see Fumler giving in to the fans even if his man is taking him down the wrong path.
DennisVols writes:
Glad to see Jon finally taking some accountability for his play. Some of the critisum he has taken has been from what's preceived as a lack of responsibility for this years failures.
I truly hope Jon can get his head fixed. His hear has never been a question.
Let's name Nick the starter to relieve some presure from both and the rest of the team. No need to make a bad situation worse. I believe if Nick is named the starter there could be an increase in interest from the fan base to show up for this game.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
I wasn't "questioning your fanhood". I'm just joking because your 1st name is Mike and you're trying to put bodies in the stands this Saturday, and I'm sure Hamilton is hoping to see some as well. Somebody else actually posted the exact same comment right after me. To answer your question, not very long. I graduated high school in '99, and I didn't give a darn about college football before I went to UT. Now I'm a rabid Vols fan and always will be until I kick the bucket whether we are 11-1 or 1-11.
Sheepscape writes:
Too little, too late. The hay is in the barn.
Jshoop writes:
Dennisvol-
Don't believe it will ever happen. Crompton is Fulmer's man. When he was stinking it up last week, at halftime, Fulmer says he was playing alright. He wasn't and hasn't.
When my wife says "can't the coaches see that he can't play?" , something is wrong. SHe bleeds orange and never has anything bad to say.
Go Vols
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