Video
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 »
Dave Hooker's Audio
Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton said his right ankle is merely sore and that he will practice Wednesday.
Crompton is expected to play Saturday against No. 4 Florida despite missing practice Tuesday to receive extra treatment on the ankle, which has bothered him since preseason camp.
“I think you all are kind of making my ankle thing out to be more than it is, it’s just sore,” Crompton said. “It’s not like it’s really that bad of an injury. It just gets sore. So I took the day off yesterday just to get some rehab time to make sure it wasn’t sore today so I could go. During the games, it doesn’t bother me at all. During practice, it doesn’t bother me at all when I go.”
Crompton, who wore a protective boot around the ankle when speaking with reporters Wednesday afternoon, spent at least the first four periods of practice Tuesday receiving extra treatment on his ankle. He said he was on the field for part of UT’s Tuesday practice, however he did not physically participate in drills.
“The mental reps are just as big as the physical reps because you see the looks you’re going against and kind of see why we do what we do,” he said.
Crompton, who is 38-for-72 passing for 429 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions this season, has intermittently missed practice since August because of soreness in the ankle.
He missed two days of practice during an open week following the Vols' season-opening loss at UCLA, although he appeared to be unaffected by the injury in UT’s 35-3 victory over UAB on Saturday. Crompton said his ankle has not been a factor in either of Tennessee’s first two games.
Crompton said he did not know how he initially injured his ankle.
Tailback Arian Foster said Wednesday that the offense must be prepared in case Crompton can’t play.
“He’s pretty tough, but you never know how someone’s going to feel the day of the game, or if it gets tweaked, if it feels good,” Foster said. “You’re never going to know. As an offense, you have to be ready for whatever happens.”
Should the ankle force Crompton out of Saturday’s game, Tennessee would use some combination of backups sophomore Nick Stephens and redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman. Both those players saw their first game action Saturday. Stephens completed one of two passes for 42 yards and scrambled once for 5 yards; Coleman did not attempt a pass.
Wide receiver Gerald Jones is also an option at quarterback. The sophomore has taken several game snaps at quarterback over the last two seasons in the G-Gun package, all of which resulted in handoffs or rushes. He completed a touchdown pass in UT's spring game, but he has yet to attempt a pass in a regular-season game.
UT's new $45 million football…
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 100
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Glad to hear it.
Beat the lowly Gators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DennisVols writes:
Need everybody healthy for this stretch of games. It's not just UF we have to beat.
Beat UF and then lose to Auburn, GA or Bama will not be acceptabe in getting back to ATL.
Right now following UF, Bama looks to be the toughest opponent. Aurburn's offense is struggling and GA looks a bit over-rated but we'll have to see.
CoastGuardVol writes:
Big time game!! I know that you are the man Jon, Lets whip the gators. Neyland is gonna be rockin this weekend baby!!!! GO MIGHTY VOLS!!!! YE-HAW!!!!
tripper writes:
The real question is how sore is it? Is this an injury that is still lingering from the UCLA game and he reinjured or is this a new injury that occurred during the UAB game. For us to win, we have to move the pocket and give him time. He is not a 5 step dropback passer. His progression reads take way too long. We will need to use more of a 3 step dink and dunk ala UCLA, hit the seams with our TEs and throw over the top to our WRs while running the ball effectively.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
I wish him the very best, and I do think he has the potential to be very good, but I do not expect him to be the quarterback we need to win this game.
That said, I hope there are some standout performances, and a miracle or two, that propel us to victory on Saturday.
GO BIG ORANGE!
P.S. to all the well wishers, thanks! We finally have power back after Ike today. We got water yesterday and things are slowly getting back to normal.
invisiblekid writes:
Good or bad, this is the game where Crompton starts building his legacy at UT, hope he can make the most of it.
On the injury, I suspect we'll be hearing about it for the rest of the year.
SemperVol writes:
Ankle be d*mned, the good Lord gave you two.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-jzYM...
BahamaVol writes:
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!? Hell NO...and it isn't over now...who's with me!!! GO VOLS!!!!
Colliervol writes:
Here's hoping that JC, the team and the coaches can put it all together this week. It will take a monummental effort but, hey, anything's possible in the SEC.
invisiblekid writes:
Nice one earlier Kingsport, try this on for size:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwH3x9...
SemperVol, that Leftwich clip was awesome, one of those sports moments that sticks with you.
tonyfred#409061 writes:
I hope we all arent setting ourselves up for a major disappointment. I cannot forget how bad we looked against UCLA who just lost to BYU 59-zip.
An entirely different team better take the field Saturday to compete with the Gators or we will face another score just like last year.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Hey there:
We all know this will need a huge effort to win this Saturday......
We aren't fooling ourselves.....
We have a new offense...
Quarteback........
Etc........
But it's still very exciting.......
Not only have we done it before.......
We've done it many, many times before...........
Can't wait. I wish it was today......
I Hate the Gators.....The new Alabama...........
SemperVol writes:
Someone hasn't seen Animal House....
RichmondVol42 writes:
Crompton's Ankle = Ainge's Finger.
Go Vols!
tripper writes:
sempervol, it was on last night, did you watch it? they ought to play that scene on the jumbotron. by the way does anyone think the jumbotron doesn't look so jumbo anymore?
Waldorf writes:
Hmmmmm....
Practicing today + disrespect factor + alcohol served at Pat Green concert tomorrow night....
Florida 45
Tennessee 14
BahamaVol writes:
Hey Brownsvillevol...have you ever watched Animal House dumb a_ _?
TommyJack writes:
Semper: No mouse ballz on that guy.
99gator writes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf74T5...
99gator writes:
sorry, parts of the clip people are talking over it.....but, you get the idea
law_vol writes:
Richmond - I agree. It seemed like Ainge just had the nagging finger, but it wasn't supposed to be a problem. Then, at the end of the season the coaches say that he also injured his shoulder and couldn't throw the deep ball. No explanation for why they didn't try a backup. I wonder if we are in the same situation this year, with Crompton unable to roll out/scramble effectively, and the coaches won't try and coach up Stephens or Coleman to try and run the offense.
spvol writes:
Watch Florida's bowl game film. Pressure, pressure, pressure!
SemperVol writes:
-tripper 2:15-
nah I didn't catch it. It was just the first thing that popped into my noggin when I read this article.
Jumbotron is still nice. I've been to alot of non-SEC stadiums that don't have the luxury that most SEC schools have. We are blessed.
I've heard the Auburn jumbotron, wareagletron, plainsmentron, or tigertron...whatever they call it is the biggest LCD screen made, I think. I'm looking forward to puttin' my spectacles on it September 27.
Colliervol writes:
Sempervol, it was on TV just last night. I laugh just as hard every time I see it.
"Do you mind if we dance with your dates?" Why, no!!!
invisiblekid writes:
Gators..Bama...who cares, there is plenty of hate to go around.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Beat the New Alabama......
orangeinbama writes:
NO...no team will ever be the "new bama". Bama is, has been and always will be public enemy #1.
Nash: Truer words have never been spoken. Bama is in a class by themselves....He!!, just ask them....
;o)
wagee12 writes:
New offense? Come on, maybe the blocking schemes have changed some, but as far as the play-calling, don't really see much difference between now and Cutcliffe.
Florida DC Charlie Strong is aggressive, he will load the box in an attempt to stop the run and dare Crompty to beat him. He will play press coverage with his corners with little to no fear of getting beat over the top and in the middle of the field.
RichmondVol42 writes:
Isn't it about time we saw #14 on the offensive side of the ball?
givehim6 writes:
Coach Wilson Cromton & the VOLS need your fire!
tn_vol_67 writes:
Win or Lose ATTACK ! ATTACK ! ATTACK !
ZacharyUTK writes:
RUN THE BALL!
hcjournals#206623 writes:
He have never hated Florida enough to make a difference. We got it with Alabama and now we need to put Florida back in their place...........
The Ben Gay, Early Bird Special and Kmart capitol of the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not that there's anything wrong with that.........
whistlinwingman writes:
I like what I am seeing. The anger, disappointment (in coaching and Crompton), frustrations, dispair, etc. are all out the window for this weekend. It appears everyone is getting PUMPED UP for this game. I am getting cold chills thinking about it. There is no other game I want more than this one. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!! Stomp some mudholes and walk them dry!!!
GoVol writes:
With this year's players, I'd say we have good chance to beat FL this year and predicted so at the beginning of season. However, we do have Fulmer and he is more of a liability than an asset.
Maybe Al Wilson's presence can make a difference?
LasVegasVol writes:
Colliervol - "whatta expect us to do ya mohron?!" still love that movie.
This has nothing to do with the thread but just saw an interesting stat on espn. In 35 years Georgia has not travelled more than 164 miles to play a reg season game, to Columbia. They were previewing their ASU game. Our boys have a nice short walk on Saturday. Go Big Orange!!
auttat writes:
Sorry, if Florida lost every game they played I still would be disappointed that they didn't lose by enough points.
FU UF!
wyomingvol writes:
Crompton 'taking a day off' to rest a 'not really sore ankle'.... The week before the FLA game...
Good grief....
I bet Stephens was practicing...
Fla_Vol writes:
Quit worrying about JC, he is a tough guy, not flashy but he can get the job done. Let the game rest on the 4 TB's & the Defense. Pound the "rock" & RUN,RUN,RUN.
Ironcity writes:
If Cromptons hurt will see a lot of Jones at QB. If if he's not I think will se a lot of Jones at QB. I don't believe Fulmer has an ounce of confidence in either Stephens or Coleman.
bobbarbilly writes:
The ankle problem is only temporary with Jonathan. Some gator fan did a drive-by with kryptonite and hit him on the ankle.
99gator writes:
i am more encouraged about this game the more i read things that crompton says.
i don't know the kid. i hope he is a good kid and hope he is a good student and wish him nothing but the best other than a victory on 9/20/08.
but, from his quotes since the season started.....he sounds like one of the biggest idiots to ever walk the face of the earth.
“I think you all are kind of making my ankle thing out to be more than it is, it’s just sore,” Crompton said. “It’s not like it’s really that bad of an injury. It just gets sore. So I took the day off yesterday just to get some rehab time to make sure it wasn’t sore today so I could go. During the games, it doesn’t bother me at all. During practice, it doesn’t bother me at all when I go.”
imagine that conversation......
crompton: coach, can i miss practice?
coach: jonathan, for the love of god why?
crompton: it's sore.
coach: is it serious?
crompton: no. it's not serious. it's just a little sore.
coach: oh, well if it's a little sore, you really don't need to be out here. the passing game is so finely tuned right now, you really don't need practice time. you've got that bounce pass working well. and the receivers are dropping the ball better than ever. get well son. get well.
volnsc51 writes:
The Tennessean reports he is wearing a walking boot. Methinks there is more to this than we thought. Might need to pull out the smoke and mirrors! Al will tell him to suck it up for 3 hours and then get the sympathy at the victory celebration.
murrayvol writes:
99gator: Not to worry. JC is simply laying the groundwork for a "limp onto the field and save the day performance."
Fear the limp and follow the bouncing ball.
missrvrvol writes:
"I am looking for a girl with a morally casual attitude".
SemperVol writes:
99gator,
If we hinged our predictions on what these players say during interviews, we would be selling ourselves short. I know it sounds goofy, but don't read between the lines...that's what women do.
For one thing, what he said gives light to nothing. Even the media can't give good insights as to the severity of the injury. As miraculous of a prognosticator as you are...even you can't deduce what will happen.
99gator writes:
semper
he's got a bum ankle. period.
how well he can play on it, i don't know.
CoverOrange writes:
Semper,
media give good insights???
I imagine and Bob and Ray routine in the interview room after every practice.
SemperVol writes:
Exactly, bum ankle...period.
I don't mean to discredit you, it's just that it's Florida week and I have to badger you.
ctownvol writes:
Geoff- Check your email.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.