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More on QB situation
Tennessee Stat Book
Tennessee will have a starting quarterback on Saturday.
Exactly who that will be, however, remains to be seen.
Incumbent Jonathan Crompton and backup Nick Stephens will have to wait until Friday to find out who will start Saturday against Northern Illinois (TV: Pay-per-view, 7 p.m.).
“We haven’t made that decision yet,” UT coach Phillip Fulmer said following Thursday’s practice. “We’ll take this film and look at it, talk as a staff tomorrow and then make a decision, let our football team know first and then we’ll announce it tomorrow after the walk-through. That gives us another day to continue to work at it and be complete and thorough in our look.”
After UT’s offensive struggles against Auburn last week in a 14-12 loss, Crompton and Stephens have been splitting snaps with the first-team offense in practice all week. The two remain close in ability and practice performance, coaches have said this week, making it difficult to settle on a starter.
“It’s not about an easy decision. It’s about who’s going to help us win,” Fulmer said. “If there was that much difference, we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion at all.
“We’ve practiced well. We’ve got to take it to the game and play well.”
That’s been the stumbling block for Crompton this season. Crompton’s 8-for-23 performance for 67 yards against Auburn, including an 0-for-6 mark in the fourth quarter, is his worst in five games as a starter.
Meanwhile, Stephens’ only game experience was eight plays against UAB. The Vols were leading 35-3 when he entered the game.
“It will be a lot different because it will be meaningful,” Stephens said. “If I get a chance to go in during a time that can determine the game, I have to be smart and do what I know I can do.”
Getting meaningful snaps Saturday — aside from wide receiver Gerald Jones who should take a few snaps at quarterback in UT’s G-Gun package — isn’t a guarantee for whoever doesn’t start the game.
Fulmer said Thursday there’s no set plan to get snaps for UT’s non-starter at quarterback. Any use of Saturday’s backup would come if the starter isn’t productive or moving the offense.
“If whoever starts goes in there and lights it up, I’m sure as heck not going to pull him,” offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. “If the guy plays well and we’re moving the football, we’re not going to change just for change sake. It may end up that more than one play, it may not. I don’t like to ever commit to playing a person at a series because you never know what the mode of the game is or what’s going on.”
Needless to say, Clawson and the rest of UT’s staff would like to have a clear-cut starter in place at quarterback as soon as possible. Clawson just doesn’t want to force a decision.
“A lot of people want that to happen,” Clawson said. “There’s other teams in the SEC that want that to happen. There’s teams in the NFL that want that to happen. At some places, it happens and you have your quarterback and you build around that. At other places, as much as you want it to happen, it doesn’t and then you work like crazy to make it happen. And we’re doing that.
“We want to be settled at quarterback. Ultimately the quarterback settles who our quarterback is.”
At least publicly, who starts at quarterback doesn’t seem to bother other players on offense.
“As a lineman, it doesn’t really matter who’s back there,” center Josh McNeil said. “We’ve just got to put the best guy back there that will give us an opportunity to win.”
The rest of the team agrees, Fulmer said.
“It’s all about business with them,” Fulmer said. “They want to win, and they want whoever’s going to help them win, regardless of who it is.”
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 245
Colliervol writes:
This tape reviewing is getting out of hand. I saw the first four games. What else is there to look at?
topgun writes:
My money is on NS to start.
LifeTimeVOL writes:
Really? This is like an automated response from Phil and Co. Does he really not know which he is going to start, and that's the best answer he can give? I guess just so long as he gets it right it won't really matter. NO MORE CRAPTON!!! Come on Phildo, turns things around this weekend!
BigVolOnBoard writes:
Back to the tape again!
This coach is really earning his big bucks. If we could schedule 8 cupcakes he'd get a raise too.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Attaboy, Phil, make sure the emphasis "coach speak" is on the players screwing up, not the Teflon kid at $39,000.00 per week.
Who has served up a 1-3 start.
Was he a PR major in seach of his BS degree?
BillsBrother writes:
That's my man. Film Fulmer is going to make a decision!
givehim6 writes:
Please let it be Stevens.
creepykev#228270 writes:
Can you imagine the response to Crompton if he starts Sat? Those two or three people there are going to go nuts and really boo him.
TommyJack writes:
This is a joke, right?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
ROTFLMGDAO!!!! FOOLMORE CAN'T EVEN MAKE A DECISION ON WHO THE QB IS? HE'S ALREADY SECOND GUESSING HIMSELF!!! WHAT A LOSER!!!!!!!!
TommyJack writes:
Hooker...Kappy: You guys are making this up, right?
topgun writes:
Obviously, NS has not been doing very well in practice OR he would be the starting QB already. Fulmer and Clawson can see Crompton fumbling, throwing balls everywhere except to UT receivers, etc. etc.
Regardless, NS will start Sat--unless his practices this week have been futile nightmires--then Fulmer has no choice but to keep Crompton as the starter and bring in the G-gun here and there. Hope NS does well and lights up the scoreboad!!
ogvol writes:
how many times do i have to ask, bring back jim bob cooter. surely he can take some more classes and qualify for a 10th season.
cdonsbach writes:
If anyone has a ticket for Saturday they want to get rid of I'll take it.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Why so much thought in a simple task.. It takes about 1 second to say " Nick your in"... jeezzz JC is supposed to be tough so I don't think it would be a surprise, right?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
VOF DAY IS COMING SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!
tulelakevol writes:
BillsBrother, Film Fulmer is a good one. I live on the west coast, and I am sad to see how UT has become the butt of a lot of jokes. I have been a longsuffering fan, but good grief, enough is enough. How much lower does our football team have to go? At Auburn, with UF and UGA falling, we could have had a glimmer of our season back, but our woefully inept quarterback, coupled with some bullheaded coaching, insured that loss, and a 0-2 SEC start. Vandy will kill us at this rate.
gdotallen#639789 writes:
It does not matter who the starter is... there is no offensive rhythm nor cohesiveness. What in the world did they do this past Spring and Summer!!!! Open competition for ALL positions... the best person is on the field...
We have fallen into the "joke of the SEC" category.
We are not even the best team in TN!!! (VANDY and MTSU)....Wow... my, my, my...
wittenfaninky writes:
This is absolutely hilarious. The coach has observed the quarterbacks at practice all week (and Crompton all year) and he needs to review the tape to make a decision about the starting quarterback.
This is precisely the problem with this coach. Can't make decisions or adjustments on the fly. He developes a game plan all week and never strays from it regardless of what the other team brings or adjustments they make. Another sign of very poor coaching ability. It makes you want to pull your hair out.
okievol writes:
Vandy 24
Auburn 17
lomas98 writes:
Unless he wants Crompton to start against GA, Stephens must start this game. You know he will not let Stephens make his first start on the road against GA. Maybe he will just give the offense a spark. See what he can do, he can't be much worse. I have seen QB's play and not get you beat. Stephens may not win any games by himself, but neither will Crompton. Crompton will get you beat by playing. Maybe Stephens will just be more efficient and can get 15 yards on 1 series for a fg. Crompton sure can't.
okievol writes:
Lemme see if I signed that Fire Fulmer petition...
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_per...
I'll need to review the tape
4114 writes:
Everybody together now.....
FIRE CPF....FIRE CPF....FIRE CPF.
This is the change that we all can believe in.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Vandy takes this one..
DennisVols writes:
Failuer to make a decision is as bad as making the wrong decision.
luckymacy#423360 writes:
Wow, what the hell else does he really see to know the answer and why doesn't he let the OC make this call? I am coming to the conclusion Fulmer is just dead weight who won't get off to OC's back to whoever tries to be the OC besides Cutcliffe. Fulmer, take that the headset off like Paterno does and let the OC earn his pay. It makes you look like a dork anyway. You don't really wear it well. Clawson's offense was much better at Richmond and I have no doubt you are the dead weight holding him back. Sanders, I'm sorry I ever doubted you my ol' classmate. Too bad you hung around UT so long under Fulmer. You were probably relieved to get the hell out of there. Crompton, nice kid, does not deserve to start this next game if anyone else is on scholarship at UT as a QB. I watch game after game of teams who I don't consider to be "QB" schools routinely have QBs I've never heard of that I'd rather have playing for us.
It's just proof our ability to evaluate and recruit is an absolute joke and/or we are doing a horrible job of coaching good kids at the skill positions like QB once they get here. Either way, it actually IS Fulmers Fault. Period. He's just stealing a paycheck. Why is it always "got to hang around 'til midnight to watch film"? What are they really doing and why doesn't he seem to ever want to go home? ;-) He must have a long and tough honey-do list. I'd love to retire him so he can spend full time working it.
Fulmer, just go already....
joebomb writes:
Film Fulmer, now that's funny. Tell Bill I said hi.
Mansonlamps writes:
We have the dumbest head coach in all of college football. I hate Phil Fulmer and I wish he would resign and give back the program to someone who isn't mentally ill like himself. He is a total disgrace to the University of Tennessee and needs to step down, and if he doesn't have the good grace to do so, he needs to be publicly humiliated and canned by whoever up there makes these types of decisions. What a complete joke.
volfan1974#343051 writes:
I'm so sick and tired of this bull sh#t I have to watch the tape to see which QB looks the best. We are 1-3 and JC is throwing 15 yards OOB on 3rd and 4...............WTF........
I have supported CPF even through the 5-6 05 season, but I can't any more. If he won't give another QB a chance when we suck something awful.
I still support the players and the VASF and I will be at the game on Saturday, but I cannot fully support our HC any more
xvolx writes:
PICK your nose.
THE_VOL writes:
No suspense here...it's been a done deal all week. Stephens will start. Fulmer has told folks within the program they had to do the competition so they wouldn't lose Crompton totally (although I'm not sure why they would care). It ain't brain surgery to bench Crompton and there never was any real competition this week as long as Stephens didn't suddenly have a lobotomy!
khelton657 writes:
I have 6 tickets, not going to the game, not going to sell them and not going to give them away..my own futile attempt at a statement...
98reax writes:
If Jon puts the ball on the ground again, I fear for the kid's well-being. He will be tarred & feathered by irate fans. Even though he says he ignores the remarks, one more fiasco such as the goal line pharts of the last 4 games, he won't be able to brush it off.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
It is one thing to be steadfast and another to be mule stubborn, Coach.
volfan1974#343051 writes:
If that's true it's horrible that it took this long for that to happen. It's 2.6 million dollars horrible.
GerryOP writes:
Phil buddy, if you really love UT, do the right thing ... announce your retirement effective the end of the season. Do it Phil ... do it now.
givim6 writes:
After 4 games of "incromptontence", why is there a need to look at film?
If Fulmer wants to look at film, look at the UAB game while Stephens was in!
cdldoc#211897 writes:
How does Coach Al Wilson sound? Al Wilson, the coach players are afraid not to perform 120% for! The Coach who can body slam anybody on the team to wake them up! The Coach who can make John Adams pee himself.
eutefan writes:
WorkinLikeHeck should start Saturday.
If he fails, give 98reax a shot. We could do worse.
eutefan writes:
http:\\www.luckymacy#442360forHC.com
TommyJack writes:
Exactly. Do it for the fans. Do it for the team. Do it for yourself. Do it for Noone.
VolinCalif writes:
I've heard a lot of BS about CPF on this site. Stating petitions etc. Well it's time to stop the BS. You need a Mgr., so I'm offering a little help. Stop talking junk and start a collection to buy out the contract. If you need a treasurer , send large amounts in care of VolinCalif.
PS CPF and JC to a JC
invisiblekid writes:
Is anyone really suprised?
GerryOP writes:
It's simple. "Nick is going to start Saturday and get some experience. Jon is going to observe from the sidelines and be available if needed. We'll worry about UGa next week." End of message.
Instead we get Good Ol' Phil flippin' the '98 NC coin. "Best 2 out of three, Nick wins, no. Best 3 out of 5, Jon wins, no. ... Best 11 out of 21, Nick wins, no. ... Best 19 out of 37, Jon wins, No. .... .... Best 616 out of 1,231, Nick wins, no. ... ... Best 798,821 out of 1,597,641 ....."
What a freakin' circus.
invisiblekid writes:
FWIW,
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/...
Basically, Hayes says : Fulmer on the hot seat again..blah...blah..blah. Brian Kelly in '09.
TommyJack writes:
Kid: I've seen hundreds of Fulmerisms over the years. This one is top shelf.
samjrr writes:
bull phooey! Is it realy that close? I hope not! Lord god dont tell me it takes video to make a dissision,if it does CBC has plenty!
GerryOP writes:
TJ, who is Noone? Did we lose another recruit? ;>}
invisiblekid writes:
File this one under "stay the course".
Fullofphil writes:
boosters talk and...(a mr.platt)! Says he hopes Phil loses every last game of this season because it is time for a regime change in football! Mind u that name comes up when u think of bball, but money talks!
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