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Florida linebacker, Brandon Spikes, made the comment Monday after practice that Tennessee had "quit playing" last year and that Florida was tougher than Tennessee. Coach Fulmer and some of the Vols respond to Spikes' comment. Watch »
A sore right ankle kept Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton from participating in Tuesday’s practice at Haslam Field.
Crompton spent at least the first four periods of practice inside the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center receiving extra treatment from UT’s training staff on his ankle, which has bothered him since preseason camp.
According to associate sports information director John Painter, Crompton attended part of Tuesday’s practice but did not physically participate in drills.
Players and coaches were unavailable for comment following practice Tuesday, having addressed reporters during UT’s weekly media luncheon.
Crompton missed two days of practice during UT’s open date prior to Saturday’s 31-3 victory over UAB, however he started against the Blazers and was 19-of-31 passing for 240 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Last Wednesday, he wore a protective boot around the ankle when meeting with reporters, and he missed some practice time during preseason camp to rest the ankle.
Tennessee faces No. 4 Florida on Saturday in Neyland Stadium (TV: WVLT, 3:30 p.m.).
Crompton, who practiced Sunday night, is thought to be probable against the Gators despite the injury.
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 » 191
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
Word is born.
TommyJack writes:
Soooo, what's the real skinny on this ankle?
99gator writes:
this ankle probably hasn't been right all season. i think this explains why he hasn't looked as mobile as advertised and why they aren't rolling him out too much.
wilberj writes:
Let Nick Stephens start this one he looked ready for action
missrvrvol writes:
Maybe he quit too.
robvols#366273 writes:
Everyone who suddenly gets their hopes up with Stephens after he played 2 series (at the end of the 4th quarter!!!) is nuts. It is like having a centerfielder in baseball come in to pitch an inning in a blowout game and he gives up 0 runs. In other words, he did not really see "normal" game action and UAB surely is not Florida.
Mansonlamps writes:
Start Nick Stevens. We all saw how we did last year against the Gators with an injured qb.
wilberj writes:
Good time to find out what he is made of
miamiVOL writes:
Gerald Jones for QB
TommyJack writes:
99: You're probably right, son.
volroadwarrior writes:
Stephens may be all we got if JC is hurt. You never know how one will do until the heat is on. Let's hope we don't find out. Minimal snaps with the 1st unit does not bode well.
wilberj writes:
That sounds good too there is no point in letting him get hurt worse
khelton657 writes:
It would be irresponsile to play Crompton, for the welfare of the "student" athlete and the program start Stephens...yesirree...gotta do the right thing
99gator writes:
tj
which also tells you it won't be right be saturday either.
Madkels writes:
Look, if Stephens can put moves on like he did when the UAB player grabbed air, then I would give him a chance. His passes had good touch too. I'm expecting the gators to win this one so what's the big deal about starting Stephens. Give him a chance!
dvol writes:
J.C. hasn't looked anything like he did against LSU two years ago. I suspect there is more wrong with his ankle than the Vols are letting on.I hope the young man gets better soon. He has all the skills to be a good Q.B.
Madkels writes:
Besides, tight ends and receivers keep dropping passes. Stephens passes are crisp but have a little less velocity. Maybe they can hang on to his throws??
IBleedOrange444 writes:
It's just Florida. Who needs practice?
wilberj writes:
I dont think so Madkels gators will not win this one sorry Miami would have won that game if it wasnt for that bad call that was not a complete pass
pdlawyer23 writes:
Crompton will be ready...Hopefully we wont need him to roll out except after he has handed the ball off. I would like to see us chew clock like hell!! Two seven or eight minute drives will change the game.
solomonswisdom writes:
Let's face it: We're looking at a 4-win, 8-loss season (give or take a win/loss). Let's take it on the chin, keep our head-up, CLEAN HOUSE in December, and start this whole program over next year. The alternative is to watch MEDIOCRITY become established Tennessee tradition. Where am I wrong?
dvols writes:
i love me some me!
Madkels writes:
Wilberj, UCLA beat us and let BYU hang 59 on them. UAB has the worst ranked defense in Div1. All we could muster was 35. If we had hung 50-60 on UAB at home, them I would be more optimistic.
Waldorf writes:
Crompton that injured?
Time to revise the prediction!
Florida 55
Tennessee 7
wilberj writes:
Phil is not going to run up the score you know that it was a W
Madkels writes:
Wilberj, the team we put on the field last Sat, was only capable of the 35 points. If our offense was better, we would have proved it by scoring at leat 2 more td's.
mgraham65 writes:
Absolutely, without a doubt, 100% correct robvols! How on Earth could ANYone expect Stephens to come in and start against one of the most talented teams in the country and have much, if any success? Even being the optomist that I am, I couldn't rightly expect Stephens to do that. Neither should anyone else. Nor should anyone quit on Crompton at this point. We're two games in, heading into a game against a team that very few people expected us to win from beginning. I am not conceding the win by any means, but I believe the best thing to hope for is that our team leaves everything they have on that field this weekend. Hopefully, that will be enough to put them in a position to win and we can take advantage of it.
Hear this: If you are a Tennessee fan, you have to stay behind these kids and support them throughout the season. As long as they are playing their hardest and putting forth max effort, we can't ask for anything else from them. Even on the coaching end of it, booing the kids for coach's decision is not right either. Coaches should be dealt with AFTER the season is over, or at least towards the end of the year. NOT TWO GAMES IN! Stay behind our guys! Show some respect for the kids who have committed to us. If we don't... then don't be ticked off when we aren't able to get the big recruits and suffer even more because of it. Then who're you going to blame?
wilberj writes:
Well we will just have to see bout that defense wins championships
AIRSHIP writes:
run the ball run the ball run the ball. we have four good running backs. run the ball.
Madkels writes:
graham65, I agree with most that you said. However, we do not know the mental state of JC or NS. What if JC feels too much pressure and it is affecting him? What if NS has little pressure because he is NOT the starer and can go in with all to gain and nothing to lose? Sometimes it's the Brady / Bledsoe effect. What say you?
Alumni_06 writes:
well said mgrahams65
ONUV writes:
getting those excuses ready
Madkels writes:
gravegr, that is easier said than done. If you don't think UF will not try to shut down the run game first and make us pass (look at the past few games vs UF) then you are sadly mistaken. We have to be successful mixing it up and keeping them off balance. Get behind in this one and it will be tough.
wkjq#213863 writes:
has anyone noticed how crompton comes from the center with the ball extended all the way out toward the back. very pee weeish.
Raynoch writes:
Nick Stephens will get his head knocked off by UF defenders if he uses those "juke moves" he used against UAB. I can't believe people think Stephens is the answer after seeing him during UAB mop-up duty.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
wkjq-
I think that is one of those "fundamentals" that Clawson spent so much time getting right in the spring.
MrBamSeydu writes:
I guess this is a pre-cursor excuse. "Hey, let's hold our QB out of some practice time so that when we lose 48-10, we'll be able to say our QB wasn't 100%!!"
I'm sorry guys but UT football just isn't what we're used to seeing anymore. It's depressing that it's a Tuesday right before the Florida game and a) we're not even ranked, b) we all cringe when we think about how lopsided it's going to be, and c) Fulmer still wants to keep plugging along at a Vanderbilt-like level.
MrBamSeydu writes:
99gator: Thanks for coming to another team's message boards and being respectful and courteous, even though we all know what's going to happen on Saturday.
Memphis b-ball fans could take a lesson.
woodcutter writes:
Losing interest in football the last few years, we just aren't really a top tier team anymore. At least the basketball teams, women & men, are exciting. We have to put up with Phat Phil until 2014?
yeavols#228407 writes:
How's this? How many times have we seen freshman quarterbacks come into a game and wind up being the hero? How many times have we seen an unknown rise from the ashes and take control (oh don't remember the UCLA game already?) How many times have we seen a JUNIOR quarterback waiting in the winds, been in the system for 2 years or more, knows that he is going to be called upon to lead the next season and totally FLOP? I have an answer for ya..RANDY SANDERS..I was in school that year..oh my...I am ready for a Freshman QB to come in a be fearless so they know how to play the next 4 years..how about you?
gObama writes:
I just feel sorry for Tennessee Saturday, I do. I hope it will be all right but I am worried maybe it will be a pounding, like 64-3 or something. Do you think Meyer will run up the score or will be he let the reserves play the second half? I agree with Yemmesdarb this qb "injury" is just an excuse so Tennessee will be able to say, well, if only our qb was not injured.....
99gator writes:
out of curiosity.....
if tennessee beats florida.....is it worthy of storming the field?
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
have no propblem at all getting Stephens ready and working him into some PT when the opportunity exists but anyone thinking he should be the man after but 2 series no matter how nice that pass is pure crazy---all for giving him every opportunity to take the job but to give up on JC after 2 games in a new system is premature IMO
invisiblekid writes:
Yeah, start Nick Stephens. What this program could really use is another good QB controversy like 2005. Get real fellas, I like Stephens but it was TWO series against UAB.
I am starting to get antsy over this ankle injury of Crompton's. We find out before the bowl game last year that Ainge played with a shoulder injury for much of the season, now Crompton is missing more sorely needed practice time. Not a good situation.
yeavols#228407 writes:
99Gator..i wouldn't recommend it..Ive seen Tennessee beat Florida before..granted not that many times..but hey, even Rome fell..if memory serves me correctly..there is only 1 team that can ever really say they "owned" VOLS for more than 5 years in a row or overall..that would be BAMA..of course that's what legends are made of..and BAMA doesn't rule anymore..=0
Madkels writes:
Hey bama...you know he will run it up. In the SEC, if you want to recruit, you need to step on your competitions neck. Sorry to say it but we don't have that attitude anymore. We did in the '90's.
yeavols..I agree.
UT_Tim writes:
99,
I think it is. If we only win one game all year, I want it to be you guys. Not going to happen so it's a mute point...lol
LasVegasVol writes:
No matter who starts it will certainly give the O line that much more incentive to step it up.
But just in case, what's the best way of sneaking in those little bottles of JD?!
BigOrangeFanatic writes:
Isn't it funny, when the Vols win, words like We played a good game out there today, 'boy, we whipped the other team' dominate the message boards....but when the Vols lose, the dialogue is 'those coaches can't coach, the players aren't any good, it's time for a change'. there is no more We out of the fans' mouths.....this shows that some fans only want to be around when times are good....
Nick Stephens is a good quarterback..he would not be at UT on a full ride if not...however, it is a huge mistake to judge him against Crompton, since he has played in mop up duty...If he was clearly better than Crompton, don't you think he would already be starting...the coaches are with the players every single day at practice, let them deal with playing time...
BSweet writes:
Off topic, but does anyone know just how many recruits we are expecting for the game and who? Just curious.
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