Just a few days after informing Tennessee he was opening his recruitment, quarterback Josh Nunes changed his commitment from the Vols to Stanford on Saturday after the Cardinal made an unexpected scholarship offer.
Nunes, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound senior at Upland (Calif.) High School, said in an e-mail, “I want to say that I feel that any quarterback at the University of Tennessee will be lucky to play with the current players, coaches, and recruits. I had a great experience throughout my recruitment with the Tennessee program. I would like to apologize to the University of Tennessee as I had mistakenly thought that I would not have an opportunity to play at Stanford.
“Stanford has always been my dream to attend and for the past three years, ever since I’ve been coached by him (coach Jim Harbaugh) at his camp, it’s been my dream to play for Coach Harbaugh. Stanford is the only school I’ve camped at for the past few years and I believe that I have to follow my heart.
“I’ve been able to have a great relationship with the entire Stanford program having made probably 10 trips up to the campus and games. I will be able to stay close to my family and attend one of the greatest universities in the world. I’m proud and excited to be able to say that I can play for the Stanford Cardinal.”
Nunes told the News Sentinel through an e-mail Wednesday that his commitment was “soft” because of the proximity of Knoxville.
“My reason is based on the distance and difficulty getting there from my home,” Nunes wrote.
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Comments » 133
hdhurst writes:
Thanks, but no thanks Nunes. At least if you considered you UT and you stunk, we wouldn't take you out. Please, I have been a Crompton supporter until yesterday, then my Orange koolaid got watered down and I say enough is enough...Mr. Stephens, let's get this thing going.
Need_2_Know writes:
Good luck, Josh. Hope you have a nice career and a good life. Sounds like you made a good choice for yourself, and that is what you should do.
Coach Fulmer, anyone on the horizon? We may need a good quarterback in a year or two.
GO VOLS, I'll hang up and . . . you know the rest.
HamptonsVol writes:
The kid sounds like a flake anyway. Good riddance.
ehudgin1 writes:
A west coast guy can't handle being away from his mom and dad? Are the boos getting to him. Its Southern football, get used to it baby. For your information, Auburn, Florida were booing their fans yesterday during the game. I'm sure some people were booing Southern Cal and Georgia too. Get used to it you sissy.
Oh and great decision. Granted UT isn't at the top right now.... but Stanford?
TommyJack writes:
Can't blame the lad.
Need_2_Know writes:
tngeoff, looks like we tied for third, gosh-darn it . . .
BillsBrother writes:
Tee Martin has a son. Is it too early to start recruiting?
VOLuptuous writes:
could have used you, but you made the right choice for you and that is all the ultimately matters. you will get a much better education on top of it all
VolsorCat writes:
The kid goes to camp at Stanford, has been a fan of Stanford, likes the coach and wants to play close to home. I don't blame him for wanting to stay out West where he is from. Now, UT has to find a QB that can come in and play immediately. Preferably, someone who can come in for Spring practice. I feel like I am reliving 2005 all over again.
tnvol27#546179 writes:
You can blame him but some of this is on the coaches...they have been in the recruiting game long enough to know that when a so cal kid commits to a school geographically challenging without even seeing the school something is up. I hope they did not stop recruiting other qbs out there.
HallowedHill writes:
I'm all for Nunes playing wherever he feels most at home. At least he didn't waffle through January only to leave us hanging. Tennessee needs someone that 'wants' to play for the VOLS. I think we need to look for a JUCO to help us transition to our next 'go-to' guy. Open Notice to any uncommitted quality QB's: UT has a great defense and desperately needs a leader at the QB position - this is a GREAT opportunity for the right person.
straightshooter writes:
Nunes may or may not be a loss at all. No recruit regardless of ranking is a guarantee for sucess in college. That is an unknown. What we do know is that Crompton has thus shown to be a bad choice to start. Possibly he looks fine in pratice where there is no pressure on him but put him in the "big show" and he becomes incompotent. BJ or Stephens must have a shot at the next start. Get them both playing time. A weak opponent in Northern Illnois is a perfect opportunity to get them snaps, build chemistry under game conditions and confidence.
Phil show us you can take a big step for change. Or is it going to be the same old same old. Wear through the season with nothing to build on for next year.Noting is owed to a particular student athlete. They are getting an education and that should be their primary reason for attending college in the first place unless they are one of the few "can't miss superstar" atheletes. I think Phil keeps pushing some players hoping to groom them for the NFL but if that player isn't of the best capablility, he is doing an injustice to the team, school and fans.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Have fun with 3 win seasons. We should be able to at least top that number... I think.
Savage, where are the coaches looking now? Have the scrapped the second quarterback recruit because of a lack of quality players available at this time or are they looking?
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
Smart kid! Who wants a piece of this mess!
I_Sweat_Orange writes:
Good luck kid !!!!! You gotta go with your heart and there is no problem with that !!!
stormblast writes:
Probably a good idea Nunes. I mean...there is no booing at the ghost town that is Cardinal Stadium. They haven't had anything close to a football team since they got clocked by Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl ten years ago. Besides, you will get to start the moment you arrive there ,because...let's face it, no one wants to go to Stanford. And who could blame them.
Nunes, you will feel right at home when playing there. There will be no cheers...but there will be none of those scary boo sounds either. Not even for the visiting team. Try not to let the tumble weeds distract you during your pre-game reps champ. Maybe you can get the Stanford band to play "The Sound of Silence."
bustervols writes:
Dang.
volsfaninkpt writes:
no apologies necessary... he's going to stanford... enough said!!
txsvol#372416 writes:
Can't blame him! SAVol
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
I can't give up on this season and I try not to criticize the players because I know they are trying but you can't have a robot at quarterback. What's the point in being a mobile quarterback if you wont run. 4th down and 8 with 3 minutes to go in the game and we punt. In the words of an NFL coach; Hello, YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! If Crompton had run with the ball on the last possession when his primary receiver wasn't open since he doesn't know how to scan the field for a secondary target on second and third down I believe we would have gotten close enough to kick a field goal. Also can we please throw Brandon Warren a pass. I believe he was an All American at tight end at FSU.
rockitwithrespect writes:
you would think any top-rated quarterbacks would be lining up to play for us. given our current qb play. a quality recruit could step in and play immediately, it would have to be several steps up from where we are now
Vols1998 writes:
Oh well, I have not seen anyone from the West Coast who really flurished in the SEC. We need a QB who comes from the Southeast who understands the HIGH Standards that come with this Job, I really thought JC was the man, maybe the pressure he put on himself, new OC and new system was the breaking point for him.
He might have to face reality that his chance has come and gone, I really hate saying that, He is a good kid, but the I think a few things has impacted his maturation process for the past three years. These changes have contributed to his loss of how to play this position, to the point he does not see the open WR down the field.
One thought, he is big enough to play Tight End, he certainly can take a hit.
Go Vols!
MillisaAnn writes:
Can't blame him one bit.
cdonsbach writes:
Can't blame him. A degree from Stanford > a degree from UT.
Vols1998 writes:
I want to say one more thing, because I believe it fits in the same realm as JC. The Offense Line has really done a bad job of allowing a new QB, who is having trouble, no time to look for the other recievers. I've said it, they should take just as much of the blame (outside the interceptions and fumbles)of the problem in the rushing game and pass offense.
My gosh, they all are returning starters, you would think they could dominate the line.....just a little.
They had a place in revealing JC's weaknesses.....go ahead friends, pick me apart for this one.
My 2 cents
Go Vols!!
Vols1998 writes:
I do not think this a fair comparison, What, you think Stanford has their athletes taking the same courses as their academic focused students?......think again.
Education is what YOU make of it, not where you go, I know graduates from Duke, Vandy and GT that I would not let manage my company based on where they attended school.
I think this comment has nothing to do with why he went to Stanford, he mentioned it before that Stanford held a strong influence on him.
Go Vols!!
thesavageorange writes:
Kevin Newsome ,
I think they will make a strong run at dual threat Kevin Newsome.Oddly enough ,he de-commited from Michigan back in August.The staff has kept in contact w/ him, and he says he's wide open.He is currently enrolled at Hargrave ,so it won't be to hard to have the coaches faces on the scene.The offense needs to get going, b/c offensive recruits have to be scratching there head right now saying "I don't know".The change at QB must take place now to not only try and save this season, but also the this recruiting class.
BSweet writes:
I don't blame hime for following his heart, but I don't think he did us any favors either. If our lackluster season wasn't hurting us bad enough, Nunes went out of his way to become a recruiter. How does that look to the players he was recruiting when he decommits and then commits to Stanford? Will he try and get Marlon Brown(if he has the grades) to consider Stanford? Again, I congratulate him on the chance to fulfill a dream. I completely understand that and hold no grudge for it. But when he was recruiting for Tennessee, he was selling himself as much as he was Tennessee to these guys. Now he's not going to be here. If he wasn't 100% Vol, did he have to mess with the recruiting? I understand the arguement that our poor season will do the majority of damage to our recruiting, but I can't help but feel this young man's decision may hurt some too. It's not personal. I'm not attacking him. But he should have stayed out of recruiting if he wasn't 100% sure himself. Just my opinion.
Vols1998 writes:
I agree 100%, The fans will have to take this year as a qusai "rebuilding" "retooling" blame it on the new system...whatever.
We need to go out and find a QB and promise he will have a ligitimate chance to be the starter.
Look what had to happen to get Peyton on the field, well the injured fans are pleading, begging, screaming, crying for some kind of change so the price of a ticket doesn't hurt so much.
Go Vols!!
RJ_Vol writes:
Josh Nunes. As with some of our fans (who are fairweather), he hopped on the bandwagon when things were good and hopped off when adversity knocked. He is just another recruit whose word in no good. Only true Vols will sign this year. I feel no current committ's word is solid now due to the situation in Knoxville. I agree with the radio commentary this AM - We are probably going to have go back to step one QB...but don't know that I'm ready to see the program do that with a coaching change. I know many will disagree, but these moments are when a program needs our support most. Everyone talks about how the game has passed our program by. Maybe we could set a new precedent by showing how to act when the "chips are down". I don't have all the answers, but having a full stadium(even in the midst of a difficult season) would go a long way in showing just what kinds of fans follow UT. The Vol fans that went to Auburn are great fans. This season will separate the wheat from the chaff in terms of who are true fans. If folks are not filling seats to hurt the team in order to bring about coaching changes...give their tickets to someone else. I know plenty of folks that would pay good money to see the Volunteers play - even now. I'm tired of seeing the money seats filled w/ people who sit are their hands when the season is going well...much less when it is like this season. I think that the team is under so much pressure from its own fans, it has lost some heart. It is interesting that it played its best game on the road. It's time to stand with the team when it needs us most...instead of casting stones. For these students-athletes, we are there "home away from home". For the fans that have the courage to show up Saturday(in the face of those that will mock you), get loud and let the team know they're back home.
WereInTrouble writes:
I don't blame you one bit for heading for the nearest exit. There will be other recruits and fans running from this place. We've got to find a way to throw Hamilton/Fulmer/Chavis out the door, too.
Vols1998 writes:
I just do not believe he really wanted to come to UT, but used the Vols as a leverage to get Stanford to offer a Scholarship. Remember Sims???
RJ_Vol writes:
edit... step one at QB.
ChattVol2485 writes:
My thoughts exactly about J.C. I really wanted it to work out for him not only because he's had talent coming out of high school, but also because he waited for so long behind Ainge and I thought he was a good, Southern kid.
Good point about him switching positions. He isn't the fastest guy in the world, probably faster than Cottam and Stocker, but it looks like he isn't afraid to take a hit. I wonder if he can catch.
Oh well. Lets get up for next week's game. New qb(s), maybe a little more passing productivity, and hopefully a win.
GO VOLS!!!!
RJ_Vol writes:
I have heard reports that he was "heck on wheels" while playing defense in high school. I'd give him a look on defense at LB.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
hey, you vol fans....quit being such jerks. damn, man, a chance to get a Stanford edudcation is a huge deal. how can you blame a west coast kid for wanting that???
yeah, it is disappointing. He may have been a solid qb for us. but, to be honest, we are in such disarray as a program and as a fan base that we scare off kids 'on the bubble'.
Grow up, vol fans, and be men (and women, if you are physically or mentally oriented that way), and quit dissing 18-year old kids who have the decision of a lifetime in front of them.
mpm80#1357758 writes:
BOO
cltvol writes:
Boo update # 1 No boos at stamford. The 33K that attend don't care enuff.
Boo update # 2 - Michigan was booed off the home field @ halftime yesterday and overcame 19 pt deficit to knock badgers off unbeaten perch.
Boo update # 3 - Didn't make tour championship, but his team won big @ GA.
govols22231 writes:
was he saying that he didnt think he would start over crompton????? because if so hes stupid because anybody would start over crompton
MidTennVol writes:
Unless the kid is the next Peyton Manning and a probably Sunday player, what parent wouldn't want him to choose Stanford over UT?
Heck, even is he is a future NFL QB, Stanford could still work out for him (see John Elway).
Good luck, Mr. Nunes. You might want to think about what it means to break your word, though. That will follow you through life like nothing else, whether you become a Nobel scientist at Lawrence Livermore or a Hall of Fame NFL QB.
CalPoly_Vol_Fan writes:
We still have Petty, and he looks promising!
ChattVol2485 writes:
I can't tell if you're being serious due to your Fulmerism, "heck on wheels," but he might be able to contribute at another spot on the field.
The kid did the best he could (regardless of what anyone thinks), his performance wasn't good enough, and now it's time to go a different direction. In my opinion, and you all know what they say about opinions, he had the physical ability, but he wasn't so capable between the ears. I don't think he is as dumb as people make him out to be. Now, with that being said it's fairly obvious he just never had a firm understanding of the offense. He also lacked the ability to manage the game, audible out of plays, and showed little ability to work down his checks and find the receivers.
Until he proves differently I think he has the athletic ability to contribute to the team in a different position. That new position might be as second string hand signaling specialist, but moving him away from quarterback and using him elsewhere will help alleviate his anxiety and take the pressure off of him.
He couldn't deal with the pressure, rarely got game experience in the past, and ultimately never matured as a quarterback.
Today is a new day. He won't return as quarterback unless something crazy happens. So Vol Nation, lets move on.
I'm all out of opinions.
Later y'all.
GO VOLS!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Farewell, Nunes, we hardly knew ye.
dford9#209809 writes:
As a long time fan and supporter of the Tennessee VOL's
atheletic programs, I was very sadden by the most recent
loss to the Auburn Tigers. Coach Fulmer seems to be at
wit's end, from play selection to using the "new clock
rules". Grant it, Auburn was not that much better but
they did win the dang game. Is time for AD Mike Hamilton
to have a serious heart-to- heart with the football
coaching staff. Folk's we can't (and won't) continue
to go in this direction. I can plainly see that John
Crompton is not our type of QB; as he is one directional,
never taking his eyes off of the primary receiver. Also,
he does not pump his feet; like is taught in the Manning
Football Clinic. We here at Tennessee hate too lose any
athelete; but under the current circumstances I don't
blame this young man for changing his mind; as we are
lucky he did not committ to Alabama, and Satan Saban.
idahovolfan#230277 writes:
Straightshooter said:"Noting is owed to a particular student athlete. They are getting an education and that should be their primary reason for attending college in the first place unless they are one of the few "can't miss superstar" atheletes."
Could it be that in this case that isn't exactly true? We all know that a certain alum (a great QB in his on right.)is one of Cromptons' biggest supporters. This alum is also a big contributer,and we all know that money makes the world go round. Has Phil sold his soul to the devil in exchange for JC's playing time? After all, contributions pay for raises and contract extensions. Winning has become optional.
WYLOVER writes:
because we needed another bust from cali......both clausens (and the third one at nd), foster, kevin simon. the left overs are not very good.
MustangPackage101 writes:
he looked like a sissy anyway .... go play for a team that hasn't won anything in a very long time
BSweet writes:
People aren't talking about how the game has passed our program by, just our coach. I take offense to your mentioning of seeing who the "true fans" are. The "true fans" want to see our program return to glory. We(and I say we because I consider myself a true fan) want what is best for our program. Now comes the stickler, the Vol Nation is divided as to what is best for our program. On one side, you have those for Fulmer. On the other, you have those against. I happen to be against and feel that it is time for a coaching change. That's MY opinion on what is best for our program. Does it make me any less a Vol fan? No. Say your for Obama and I'm for McCain(actually I'm undecided), does that make either of us un-American? No, it just means we have different visions as to what is best for our country. The same is true for Volunteer football. Now, as to your arguement as to how "true fans" should act, most of us who think it's time for a change are struggling with how to get the powers that be to acknowledge our concerns. It's not like these people are easily accessible. One of the few recourses we have is to protest through absence. It isn't about hurting the team, but getting our voices heard and acknowledged. Mike Hamilton understands money. Hit him in the moneybags and he'll take notice. I support the Vols, and will continue to support them win or lose, but I feel it's time for a change. So when you see empty seats at the game on Saturday, realize, those fans are "true fans" as well. The difference is that they have an opposing view of what is best for the program and they are trying to get their voices heard.
PreventUT writes:
Savage:
I asked you about Kevin Newsome more than a month ago and you said UT doesn't really have a shot. Besides losing Nunes, what's changed?
I would take Newsome over Nunes for sure! It's just unlikely UT will beat out VT and Michigan for him. But it would be great if they could steal him and either Moses or L. Thomas from VT.
arkyvol writes:
i've got to say that this was a hell of a lot classier renege than what the vols got from chris simms a few years back. this kid tackles the question head on and gives a reasonable explanation. sims tried to cover himself by making up some c*ck and bull story about how he was dismayed at the 'racial' division on the team. that will always color my opinion of what has become a monumental bust, both in college and the nfl. i've also got to say that i regret losing this one a hell of lot more than i did simms.
P.S.: i can't believe this. when i previewed my comment, i was warned about using the work c*ck in its unedited form. thus the asterisk. what the h*ll are we supposed to use when we refer to south carolina? chickens?
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