Nick Stephens is walking proof of one of sport's most durable cliches. Tennessee's back-up quarterback is the most popular guy on campus this week.
Stephens, a sophomore, has suited up for 18 games in his UT career, played in one. He's a .500 passer (1-for-2). He averages 5.0 yards per carry (one carry).
That's normally not the kind of resume that wins Mr. Popularity contests. But these are not normal times for Tennessee football.
Long-time Vol-watchers are trying to recall when the program last witnessed as, uh, rough a stretch of quarterbacking as Jonathan Crompton has provided in the first four games of 2008.
Rehashing the gory details is not necessary. Suffice it to say the Vol Nation is clamoring for the backup quarterback.
As head coach Phillip Fulmer strongly considers that option this week, I'd remind him there is history on Stephens' side.
Peyton Manning sits atop UT's school passing rankings. But the guys who rank Nos. 2 and 4, respectively, were bench-warmers when their emergent seasons kicked off.
Casey Clausen passed for 9,577 yards, second only to Manning, and quarterbacked the Vols to 34 victories between 2000-2003.
He started the 2000 season as the third-stringer.
Andy Kelly ranks fourth on UT's all-time list. He began his sophomore season, 1989, on the bench behind Sterling Henton.
Clausen was a true freshman in 2000. Joey Mathews was the opening-day starter. Redshirt freshman A.J. Suggs started the next four games.
The Vols were 2-3 when Clausen got his first start, against Alabama. A 20-10 victory over the Tide launched a six-game winning streak to end the regular season.
When 2001 rolled around, the Vols were loaded and Clausen was up to speed. They came within one bad half of playing for a national title in the Rose Bowl.
In 1989, head coach Johnny Majors and his new offensive coordinator - Fulmer - made a midseason quarterback change in a very different scenario.
UT was 5-0 and ranked No. 6 when Kelly got a battlefield promotion ahead of Henton in the Alabama game.
It would be the Vols' only loss and Kelly even threw three interceptions that day. But UT felt Kelly, a sophomore, gave the team a better chance to realize its potential than the erratic Henton.
Kelly started the final six wins of that season as UT won an SEC title and finished 11-1. Kelly quarterbacked the Vols to another SEC title in 1990.
Back in the here and now, I'm not suggesting that Stephens, or redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman for that matter, will lead Tennessee to an SEC title, this year or in the future.
But I'm not suggesting they won't, either. We just don't know. Stephens, at least, deserves a shot Saturday when Northern Illinois visits.
Quarterback being such a vital position, it shouldn't be tampered with lightly. However, if things aren't working - and they're clearly not working for the Vols - change can foster improvement.
Ask the Tennessee Titans. They improved to 4-0 Sunday with Kerry Collins.
I don't even want to completely write off Crompton yet. Maybe a break gets him out of this awful rut and clears his head.
Maybe Stephens is a Kelly or Clausen waiting to happen. Or, maybe he can achieve modest success with a complement from Gerald Jones in the G-Gun package.
Playing more than one quarterback is not ideal. It wasn't pretty when the Vols flip-flopped between Erik Ainge and Rick Clausen in 2005.
Still, it was a workable arrangement in 2004, when Ainge and Brent Schaeffer, and eventually Rick Clausen, shuttled the Vols to an SEC East title.
Any kind of change is preferable to where the Vols are now.
Give Stephens the ball Saturday and see what happens.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 58
FWBVol writes:
Well said, Mike. At this point a change in quarterback can't hurt. If by some unimaginable chance Stephens turns out to be worse than Crompton, then they can always go with Coleman or back to Crompton.
If nothing else, a change at QB will show the coaching staff is willing to do whatever is needed to right this ship.
eduardo writes:
We are in real trouble my friends. There is a reason that neither Coleman or Stephens have not received a look at this juncture in the season. It is only gonna get worse before it gets better. ESPN has us going to either the Liberty or Papa John Bowl. We are paying this guy over 2 mil to get to these lame bowls? Maybe after what has been seen so far this year that would be quite a feat. Cocho Ocho please step down!
BigVolinCarolina writes:
I don't want to knock players because I believe they really are working their tails off.
That being said, I believe that Crompton has the physical aspect of the game--but he hasn't yet nailed down the mental part. He needs to get his head into the game well before it starts.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
Andy Kelly .... one of the greatest games I ever saw UT in was in Knoxville when Notre Dame came to town with Rocket Ishmil, UT lost that game with a last minute interception by Kelly....but what a game...go Vols
BigVolinCarolina writes:
TnMan, I was at that game. It was my freshman year at UT.
Even better, though...I was at the UT/Notre Dame the following year when we broke the Golden Domers' hearts. Still remember it like it was yesterday. Came back from being down 31-7. Kelly played well that day, too.
TNisPeerless writes:
Fulmer gets paid over 2 million annually to make difficult decisions...how much should he get paid to make the obvious one at quarterback?
SmokeDog72 writes:
Papa John's or Liberty Bowl in our future?
If we are lucky!!!!!
A few things that will happen this year (count on 'em):
1) Sub .500 in conference play.
2) Losses to pretty much all rivals (UF, UGA, Bama, Vandy)
3) UT will finish somewhere between 75th and 95th best in the nation in Total Offense
4) No more than 7 wins.
5) Arian Foster will be all time leading rusher in school history. He will also be involved in at least one more crucial blunder that costs us a game.
6) Fulmer blames at least two more losses on the players.
7) Loss to either UGA or Bama (or both) by at least 24 points.
8) Offense scores less than 14 points in at least three more games.
9) Home crowds average 90-95K for the year.
10) At least three more verbal commitments back out.
11) Fulmer keeps his job and earns close to $3 million before December 31.
This is our future, folks. Enjoy!!!!!
soccervol writes:
I've heard Stephens is the real deal...About damn time for a change in the QB. I'm still disgusted that it didn't happen sooner. 67 yards total passing yards - 60 minute game and that's all we got. We don't have more than 8 plays to get more yards than 67??? Cromption looks awful out there. The incomplete passes look WAY off.
It is sad to see where our program has gone in 10 years. Funny how every other team will win a NC and is still in the top 5 for the next couple years. We haven't done anything in the last 10 years! No BCS games, no big bowl games, no SEC championships, no heisman hopefuls (I guess you have to have a winning team for that), nothing!! 4 consecutive losses to Florida and Auburn! Won 2-7 games against UGA.
Remember when teams like Arkansas and Georgia would beat us and their fans would storm the field. I will say that the SEC has fanned out with top players but top coaches know how to utilize those players. those were the days...We are the only team with the same coach in the SEC for over 5 years now - look at everyone else. We are a middle of the pack team now (at best).
I think its time for new blood at the top spot too. My stomach can't take the rest of this season. Time for Hamiliton to wake up. Don't go to the game this weekend or the rest of the season. If you do, bring a brown bag and boo!
TommyJack writes:
Strange: I'll write him off for you. JC has NO QB INSTINCTS.
It's a lot more than arm strength, speed, etc....A QB has to have football instincts. Don't see it with this kid.
jcrewvol writes:
I have seen every Volunteer quarterback since the last "quarterback" (really, the tailback) in the single wing, Mallon Faircloth. With no malice--I'm only evaluating talent--Crompton is the worst quarterback of my time as a Volunteer fan. When your team is losing due to a marginal talent at QB, I could understand hesitancy in making a change. However, with your team losing due to the worst QB in modern Tennessee football histoy, the inability to make a change is exclusively a function of the ineptness of the head coach...he is no longer "coaching." UT deserves more, and will have more next year. How long it takes to recover is a function of search committee's ability to find a football version of Bruce Pearl. Someone please tell them he resides in Texas, and knows more defense than our defensive coordinator in his little finger. Someone will get him and they will have a fine head coach--it may as well be us.
Vols1998 writes:
Agree 100%, I like JC, he bleeds Orange, but the guy has tunnel vision, something has happen since his senior year, becuase the dude could throw a football, what the heck happen?
I still blame Cutcliff, but that is another story.
Go Vols!!
kdaff51 writes:
Someone over there, UT, needs to just quit talking and fix the problem. I dont care who the QB is or who the head coach is just as long as it works!
Pointing fingers and complaining never solved a thing.
imnotwithphil writes:
I was at that game - and to this day - it is the second best game I've ever attended... that was a special one!
jmsbolt writes:
It can't hurt! If anything it gives the fans a reason to watch! Stephens has one thing in his favor, coach Cut recruited him! He can't be terrible!!
murrayvol writes:
He can still throw a football but to win in the SEC you have to throw it to the right place........with a fair degree of consistency.
UrbanCryer writes:
lets try something, anything to get some points on the board & stop somebody on 3rd down. dont just evaluate the QB position. evaluate all the positions. if someone isnt getting it done i dont care if they "put in thier time" or not. get the best players on the field at all times. i noticed a few starters on the kick off and punt coverage teams against UA and guess what no huge returns. what a shock.
coach its not 1975 any more freshman can play, sophmores can play. play the folks with the most talent, not the most time.
chucker6 writes:
I remember Johnny Majors @ tailback, but was old enough when Mallon Faircloth and Hal Wantland were playing single wing tailback then T-QB to really appreciate what they did. They were also fine people who put the team first. If Fulmer and Crompton were 1/4 the man either of them were, they would step aside and let someone else lead the team forward. I agree with your assessment as to Crompton being the absolute worst, certainly the worst to start as many games as he has, which should be part of Fulmer's epitaph.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
pretty good article considering all that is going on
Hunter writes:
Lest we forget, add Peyton to the list of QBs who weren't at the top of the depth chart when the season started. In fact, everyone in Neyland Stadium mid-season was clamoring for Brandon Stewart to start instead of Manning. Stewart threw a frozen rope, but I guess things turned out alright.
Jonathan Crompton must be drinking alot on Friday nights, because on saturday afternoon he's THROWING UP!!! Put Chad Cunningham at QB if you have to, but bench JC. Yesterday.....
kwvolsfan writes:
Man do I remember that game we were in port in Japan, I had to get up a 01:00 to watch that game, one of the guys on ship was from South Bend and a big Irish supporter. He went to bed at halftime with the thought of a commanding lead, VOLS came back in second half to win.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
murrayvol - well said.
I'm kinda getting used to whistling in the dark passing the graveyard.
BigOrangeFanatic writes:
Fulmer can write his own ticket to retirement if he continues to go back to Crompton....JC is a hard nosed football player, he will give you his all, but he has made too many costly mistakes this year to continue to lead the charge.
Fulmer should let the backups play, win or lose, and make Crompton earn his spot back or transfer to 1 AA or D II to play.
I hate to make a knock on a 22 year old kid, but he just is not handling the pressure. Looks like a head case to me, but he has all the tools. This season certainly shows the importance of Coach Cutcliffe.
BigOrangeFanatic writes:
He has all the physical tools, except for the mental side.
volinky writes:
At this point, if the QB play could simply eliminate mistakes with the RB exchanges, we would be 3-1. We don't need Stevens to be a great passer immediately, we just have to eliminate mistakes. The G-gun (with perhaps a little help from the Berry-gun) could provide the big plays. I believe Hardesty and Creer can carry the load behind this line if we can hand the ball to them without dropping it!!!
fedupvol writes:
if pf does not have the guts to start stephens this week, he should have to move his own stuff...no help from a moving van from fans this time! Just he and worthless Hamilton....what a joke to think he would even consider playing clueless crompton another down!
CoverOrange writes:
Fulmer is gun shy. Having been bitten by Joey Mathews' dad, Chris Leak, and Ainge/Clausen. He's afraid to take risks on the field and more importantly to him, in recruiting.
People forget that Casey developed tendinitis in his shoulder the summer before his freshman year and would have started earlier if not for that.
Lastly, I don't know for sure, but I don't believe either Peyton or Brandon Stewart participated in spring practice in 1994. Had either one done so they probably would have started earlier.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
jcrewvol, I match your longevity as a fan of the Vols and agree with nearly everything you said. I'm curious, though; who is the Texas guy you think can save us? Mike Leach of Texas Tech, perhaps? If so, I think he might be an intriguing choice, but he is known as an offensive guru, not a defensive guy! If you have someone else in mind, I would like to know who it is. Goodness knows, we need to start putting together a list of coaching prospects--that is, Mike Hamilton needs to put together a list. He might better also update his own resume. Even though he finalized the hiring of Bruce Pearl, he can't live off that hire forever if the football program continues to decline in the meantime.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Bad as I hate it, I'm afraid you are right! What a sad time to be a Vol fan! On another note, I find it highly ironic that about this time last year what seemed to be a majority of posters were crying for Cutcliffe's scalp and now a large number seem to be regretting his loss. I don't care to take the trouble to find out if the same people have flip-flopped or different ones are speaking up now, however.
jmatt62 writes:
I've only been watching the Vols since the late 60's and JC is hands down the worst I've ever seen behind the center wearing the Orange. Matter of fact, it's not close. And lest we forget, he has had 3 full years of prep for this, working behind an NFL QB and a darn good OC in Cutcliffe. Coach Fulmer must make a change or he could be looking at a pink slip by the end of the year.
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
Papa John bowl? Bowl? LOL...that word isnt even in our vocabulary. We are 1-3 and still havent played UGA, Bama, South Carolina, Vandy, Kentucky. That right there could in all honesty be 1-8. I know we have N Illinois in there. La di fu@#ing da. We need to stop the bleeding NOW. It can only get better. Put Nick in and see. If that doesnt work put Coleman, G gun, someone, but find a solution. Ive said it in numerous posts before but............................THE DEFINITION OF STUPID/MORON IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, BUT EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS.......................
Everytime we send JC out the Vol Nation is going, I wonder how many ints he will have. Who will he run into today in the backfield, will he actually get a ball into the 4th row of the stadium. These are ?s that I dont wanna know the answers to. CHANGE IT UP PHIL...FORGET FEELINGS...cuz I assure you, 8 wins is not even close to manageable with the way the team is going now.
OldNumber7 writes:
I agree; both on QB talent and coaching.
jasonn1970 writes:
How could it possibly have taken this coaching staff 4 games to realize a change is needed at QB?!?! Now it's time for a change at the top.......
richvol writes:
Just because a guy can throw a football doesn't mean he can quarterback . It's obvious that Crompton doesn't have the mental ability to play QB at this level.
That was Cutcliff's problem with him and that doesn't make it Cutcliff's fault.
wkjq#213863 writes:
I hope this is right because I only see about 3 to 4 wins on the schedule.
givehim6 writes:
Come on Phil baby, Joh Boys not that guy. Be a man phil abmitt it. You did when you were younger know when it was time to change that's why it's time to give it up.
scruffylookingnerfherder writes:
It's funny that Strange brought up the Titans. I read an article about their first ever 4-0 start in franchise history where one of the DB's was quoted as saying that the team had a lot of work to do. He had the attitude that even though they had won all of their games, the team was frustrated at the many mistakes and miscues keeping them from playing a complete game.
Contrast that attitude to the Vols' attitude. 1-3 and looking like a bad high school team on offense the quarterback doesn't once come out and own any of it. "I'm the guy..." "we just need to look at the film..." "we'll be fine..." is all you hear from these guys. It would be nice if the starting quarterback would at least stand up and take some of the heat. It feels like he is not improving because he just can't see that there is really a problem with his performance.
SomeGuy writes:
>>that is, Mike Hamilton needs to put together a list<<
No, no, no, and NO! Mike Hamilton should not be allowed to have anything to do with the hiring of a new coach because he should be fired one minute BEFORE Fulmer is fired. Fulmer can be blamed for a lot of things but no one can blame him for not quitting as long as UT is stupid enough to continue paying him $2.2M+ every year. But Hamilton - he's the guy who just gave CPF a sweetheart contract that rewards him with raises and extensions for merely achieving South Carolina-type results. Hamilton should be run out of town on a rail, followed immediately by his buddy CPF. Under no circumstances can Hamilton be allowed to have anything at all to do with the hiring of CPF's successor.
rootin4volz writes:
Amen, Mike Strange...Amen.
And by the way, if you look at the photo attached to this story on the front page of GVXtra, you can clearly see who has focus in his eyes, and who lives in his head. Interesting.
finn writes:
On the off chance that Fulmer wises up, makes the necessary changes, and we stagger back to an 8-4 season, I still say he gets canned. Constantly fixing your own mistakes and poor prior judgment is not what we need. Constantly play catch-up is Fulmer's M.O. His supposed great trait of coming out fighting when he's backed in a corner belays the fact that his own stupidity and ineptitude got him there in the first place. Let's do it right the first time for once!!
elchichon writes:
You're exactly right. JC looks lost. Stephens will surely be the guy come Saturday. Something's got to give.
govolsfan#214750 writes:
Play the backup and maybe...........just maybe Neyland wont be a ghost town this weekend. Play JC and no one is going to show.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
SomeGuy, I agree with you! I was just trying to be kinder than Mikey & Co. deserve(;-P)! Besides, most people think that it was Ernie Grunfeld who convinced Hamilton that CBP should be the new basketball coach. I at least give Mikey credit for listening to the right guy for a change.
proudtngirl writes:
Tennesse has many problems. When it comes to the QB it is time for a change JC has had 4 games to prove himself and has not been able to prove much of anything. Why let him play when you have two other QBs on the side lines. JC is a Jr. and Tennessee cant go through the rest of this year and next year like this. Tennessee needs to put in Nick Stephens or I perfer B.J. Coleman and see if they can help turn something around. Tennessee needs to learn to play the best not the oldest and Stephens or Coleman would be better than JC right now.
rockytop4ever writes:
Where is Jim Bob Cooter when you need him? Come save us Jim Bob!
Madkels writes:
Remember how cold it was? I also remember how fast the Rocket was for ND. Our defense strung him out as he ran to the right heading toward the north end zone from around the 30 yard line. He hit the after burner, zipped around the corner and jetted to the endzone. I couldn't believe his speed. We returned the favor next year!
vol2211insc writes:
Guys I can't take this anymore. It's bad when I am a vol fan living in Columbia, SC and everytime my team has a big mishap and loses I have to answer to all of my gamecock friends!! Nothing against S.C. but this is embarrassing! I don't wanna hear all this stuff about talent, Oregon State proved that the team that wins is the one that executes best. Right now we can execute simple plays! I know what to say. I feel bad for Clawson because he's gotten the passes open but crompton is always too low or high or stares down a reciever. Come on man! you quarter back for the UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE!!! PLAY UP! It's time to sit crompton for awhile and let stephens get a shot. Hopefully this will help.
tennvols1 writes:
QB CHANGE IS NEEDED BADLY, REMEMBER A GUY THAT CAME OFF THE BENCH NAMED MANNING, NICK IS NO MANNING , BUT HE CANT BE WORSE THAN WHAT IVE SEEN
shoalcreekvol writes:
If I drive from Hellhole, Alabama (redundancy noted) all the way to Knoxvegas for the Northern Ill game and Crompton runs out on the field, I think I'll puke. Puke I tell you, PUKE.
tennesseeike writes:
I truly believe JC was a great prospect comming out of high school. If he could have had some realtime experience over the last three years I think he would be good today.
He has been religated to the bench to the point he has lost his focus and self confidence. He may never recover,and he above anyone else deserved a chance.
Who knows,maybe he will recover. Took me several years to recover from"the shanks" in golf. MENTAL is 90% sometimes.
Good luck Jon.
shoalcreekvol writes:
You hit the nail on the head (no pun intended) about the mental part. No doubt JC has all the physical tools to be a star, but it seems his problem is between his ears. I'm not questioning his intelligence, but I am questioning his concentration and his maturity. One only needs to read or hear one snippet of one interview with him to understand what I mean.
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