Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin said former quarterback B.J. Coleman had improved during the spring practice period.
“We wish B.J. the best of luck and wish he would have stayed,” Kiffin said Friday in a statement. “We think he definitely had improved during our short time with him.”
Kiffin did not comment further about Coleman’s decision to leave.
The rising sophomore told the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Thursday he was choosing to go because he was frustrated and didn’t feel he would get a fair chance at becoming starting quarterback.
Coleman did not return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.
The rising sophomore told the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Thursday he was choosing to go because he was frustrated and didn’t feel he would get a fair chance at becoming starting quarterback.
Coleman did not return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.
He was competing with senior Jonathan Crompton and junior Nick Stephens for the starting job. The trio split time at quarterback last season with none emerging as the clear starter, but Kiffin said many times that he did not care what any player had done for the previous staff.
Coleman has not said what he plans to do next, but he would have to sit out a season if he transfers to another Football Bowl Subdivision school.
With Stephens sitting out much of the spring after breaking the wrist of his throwing hand, Coleman spent most of the spring practicing with the second team while Crompton practiced with the first team.
In three scrimmages, Coleman finished 41 of 60 for 425 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions while Crompton was 31-for-70 for 324 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Kiffin praised both Crompton and Coleman’s performances in the April 18 Orange and White spring scrimmage game, but indicated the competition among the three would continue into fall practice.
The Vols’ only other options at quarterback may include Mike Rozier, a former pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization who is expected enroll at Tennessee this summer and walk on for the Vols in the fall. Wide receiver Gerald Jones and All-American safety Eric Berry, both former high school quarterbacks, took snaps under center last year as well.
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Comments » 238
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Crompton will be fine. No problems
CoverOrange writes:
The most glaring thing is with only two QBs and an "open" competition, why did JC get so much time with the 1s and BJ with the 2s? If I were BJ, I could understand why he didn't believe it was "open".
ArealVolFan writes:
Well, regardless of how you feel about it...its over. Crompton, Stevens, and Rozier will duke it out now. I personally don't think this a huge loss other than depth. All the Qbs still have a long way to go.
tdforvols writes:
Well, This doesn't really tell us much. Looks like coach Kiff is going to stay silent on this one.
just4utk writes:
Here is the history. . .
Cutcliff recruited BJ.
BJ red shirted his freshman year.
Cutcliffe told Fulmer he wanted BJ to be the QB.
Fulmer wanted Crompton. They didn’t see eye-to-eye about this.
So, Cutcliff leaves for Duke. BJ stays and rides the pine.
Clawson wanted to play BJ, but Fulmer wasn’t going to let Cutcliff’s boy show him up.
Fulmer gets fired.
Kiffin comes in. Says it’s open competition.
BJ sees the writing on the wall that Kiffin wants to play a senior because playing a sophomore might scares a recruit away.
BJ bolts.
I hope Nick Stephens doesn’t get hurt.
As far as that big recruit coming in, well, that’s to be continued.
VolsR4real writes:
I didn't think any of the 3 QBs were great at the O&W game, but I thought Coleman would be the starter against WK. There goes that theory. Good luck BJ
ArealVolFan writes:
This whole indecent just proves the old adage is true...the most popular guy in town is the backup Qb.
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
I hate to keep bringing this up, but JP Wilson was no better than Crompton until a coaching change then he was not great but adequate. It is possible the same could happen with Crompton and/or Stephens.
pammyvol1000 writes:
BJ will probably go somewhere and start and put up great numbers the next 3 years..
Good Luck wherever you end up!
VolsInYourMouth writes:
LOL!!!! Funny Guy!!
BJ was our only hope. If I remember correctly he was namd player of the game in the O and W game. If Crompton is our only choice then this year will be as long as last year was.
I seriously would like to know what's running through Kiffin's mind right now? What are his plans? I'm worried as a Vol fan.
jwright13#576991 writes:
you're an idiot
VolsInYourMouth writes:
he'll have to sit out a year unless he transfers to UTC as I'm hearing. He can play a year there, then transfer to Duke his senior year.
turner_c writes:
That's the most convulted rewriting of history I've ever read.
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
I don't think that any of our QBs would scare any recruits away!
dvhill100 writes:
Either you trust LK's judgment or you don't. I do.
Rick4UT writes:
I am glad he is gone....we do not need his ego however he would have been an asset to the team. I am not even wishing him the best of luck....Nah ..I will too Good Luck
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cgbtn writes:
The Dallas Cowboys had a quarterback (I think his name was Doug Pelleur) who had all the physical skills anyone could ever want in a QB. When the TV did a close up off him under a pass rush his eyes looked like a wild colt. I had forgotten all about him until I saw Jon Crompton on TV. If JC is the QB this year, it is because CLK thinks he can blame failure on CPF the way President Obama blames his idiocy on Gerge Bush.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
now just how does that translate into ego if a kid honestly thinks hes not getting a fair shot?????----if doing well against the second unit does give him a shot to show what he can do against the first I can understand his thinking---he can only show what they put him in a position to show--------I'm a kiffin supporter but I can see BJs point if this was an "open" competition
Now to all the Crompton haters, I too think he was bad last year but if Kiffen is able to disregard last year and start everyone clean then the rest of you should be able to--------players can and do improve and the morons here seem to think that they all can except JC---I wasnt impressed either but hope he proves the haters wrong
TD_4_UT writes:
Does'nt it seem odd that Kiffin, who always has plenty to say anytime he has the opportunity, has very little to say about this. Does it mean that there's something to what BJ is saying? And why did'nt BJ get a crack at running the #1 offense? Was it because BJ really would show Crompton up? I don't know, it really does'nt matter now, we will never know for sure. Hope Stevens makes a big comeback in the fall. GO VOLS!!!
jobrando#216494 writes:
I'm moving on. The coach is determine not to have any Fulmer shadows on him and I cant say I would not do the same after giving it some thought.
TXTN writes:
I think Kiffin handled this the best way he could. He certainly could've lashed out at Coleman after Coleman quit on the team and didn't even tell him. I'm glad he didn't though.
cleVOLand writes:
Unbelievable rant!
I wish BJ the best and all, but honestly he isn't as good as he thinks he is. He really sounds like a spoiled brat. Obviously he only listens to those who blow sunshine up his buttons.
I believe he would have won the job eventually. If there was some gamesmanship going on for the sake of the recruits or to bolster the confidence of the other QBs (a ploy used to perfection by Cutcliffe with Ainge, by the way) then so be it; that is the prerogative of the staff.
I think this was a really stupid move on Coleman's part, and I do believe it will hurt the Vols. But I guess if he (or his dad) doesn't believe in the system, which he obviously doesn't, then he needs to move on.
HollywoodVolFan writes:
What do you mean he is an idiot... that is without a doubt what happened! I don't blame BJ or Kiffin. They are both doing what is in the best interest of themselves. We need Heaps and with BJ it would have made it tougher. BJ wants to play...let him go somewhere else. You got to gamble to win
txvolsfan writes:
I trust the guy who evaluates talent everyday vs. a bunch of guys who evaluate post everyday!!!
UTandETSUfan writes:
First, what previous posters? I have not seen anyone on here who agrees with your crazy view of the world. Secondly, when is your next blank panther party meeting? I'd like to know when the next weekend without having to read you on here is.
sidwalkvol writes:
I said this on another thread...
A sophomore, almost ANYWHERE, would both expect and be expected to show patience, be coachable, RESPECT the decisions of the coaches even when you think they are wrong, and put ego aside for the greater good.
It was NOT obvious that he was the best quarterback on the field--I was there, too--but he might have been later in the year with more reps (with whichever line).
He has made it clear that being the star is more important than helping the team in the above-mentioned ways. And then to impugne your coach in the same breath... please. There is nothing classy about any of that.
I have read elsewhere today that he was in fact taking reps against the first team defense UNTIL two weeks ago, or so, making me think he digressed a bit. It is hard for me to imagine that anyone on this board or even the players have more experience/perception than a coaching staff, beginning with the head coach, who have seen a few fair quarterbacks in their day. He may have just found it hard to accept their conclusions, but that does not mean their conclusions were inaccurate or ill-considered. LEAVING at this juncture is, I think, ill-considered for someone who claims to be a leader.
doctorvol#211700 writes:
from what I'm hearing from those CLOSE to the source, there was plenty of lashing. BJ has very valid concerns, IMO, but his demand for (something) was not well received-at all. Maybe he was too demanding, I don't know, but CLK clearly was in no mood to address his concerns. His "lashing" was most inappropriate. Sad to see it, as I like both.
Volsfanstuckintx writes:
Coleman quit on the team period. I don't buy into anything that these people are posting about a recruit being scared away by a sophmore starting. That's BS and you all know it. Coach LK is concerned with getting W's this year and nothing else. He is going to put the best guy on the field to win games. I also thought that Coleman would eventually take over and be the head man, but I guess he didn't want to compete to earn his job. Best of luck to him whatever he chooses to do. I will continue to have faith in the coaching staff and trust that they will put the best players on the field with the best chances of getting wins.
UTandETSUfan writes:
I believe he meant publicly. Kiffin could have went to the media and said all sorts of things, but he didn't. Coleman on the other went crying to his hometown newspaper about how big ol' bad coach wouldn't give him the starting job that he wanted. And now that the AP has come calling, BJ has decided to keep his mouth shut. Maybe he should have in the first place, like Lennon?
drewgizzle writes:
BJ Coleman is the biggest crybaby in the world! Wheres the big fat baby gonna go? What a retard! He just has to WORK HARD to beat out Crompton and that other guy, I forget his name, whatever it may be.
drewgizzle writes:
Thats his name, Nick Stephens.
UTmama writes:
What planet have you been on?
the10sevol writes:
Just a theory, but I've said all along that the spring drills were like a combine, everybody's trying out, showing what they could do on the field. By keeping JC on one squad, and BJ on another (while NS heals up), the staff could get a much more accurate read on the OTHER 10 offensive players on the field. Offense is all about rythm and timing, and it's tough to establish either with revolving qb's. I think the qb competition isn't going to happen until August, when NS is ready to show his stuff, remember the staff wants to assess him, too! So they got a read on the rest of the players - line, backs, receivers - the supporting cast, if you will. They also have only 20% of the offensive system in place. so why name a starter (or even establish a firm depth chart) after seeing the trio run only the basics.
I've got a hunch Coaches Pearl and Summit aren't going to name their starters after watching only lay-ups and free throws. Considering the problems these qb's had with the offensive system last year, I think all the staff was trying to do was check for fundamentals - footwork, command of huddle, read progressions and the like. Give the qb's time to learn the nuts and bolts of the new offense, and really open it up in August, when all three are healthy, and have a much more thorough grasp of the playbook.
I think BJ kinda jumped the shark here. He would have - I think - blown away the other two in terms of knowledge of the offensive system come August, he's a very bright kid by all accounts, but I guess we'll never know.
Just my opinion. If anybody thinks I'm an idiot, feel free to tell me in a post. Just be sure to yell FIRST! when you do so, even though you won't be by some 40-50 years, LOL.
Good luck, BJ, August would've been right up your alley...
VOLFORLIFE writes:
Wow! Thirty-three posts and not one Gator 'loper. The closest thing was Bobbeavol, a.k.a. naffy.
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
volhallathunder writes:
Coleman should just STFU before he makes a bigger fool of himself. Kid turned out to be Rick Clausen reincarnated, marginal talent and an ego that was much bigger than his arm.
FLVol writes:
Do you honestly think Eric Berry and Gerald Jones would quarterback this team under this type of offense?
Swifgriff writes:
What are you smoking ??????
belayvol writes:
Strange how this brings back memories of when CPF was on the hot seat and then let go. As far as the fans coming out of the woodwork and two polar opposite opinions that is.
belayvol writes:
Al Sharpton called. He want's his suit back.
SEAL_9821 writes:
It f------- pisses me off that this phooey takes place. First off, not one of these QB's are good enough to be a top premier SEC QB. What will happen if Stephens thinks he's not getting a fair shake in the job? My point being is that these guys are average at best and not one has showed he can lead a team. So, what makes them think there gonna go somewhere else and be a great QB. It takes a leader and the heart of a lion to lead a team in this conference and Coleman didn't have it...BOTTOM LINE! If he did, he would've stayed and proved it this fall. Now, it's up to Stephens and Crompton to lead and I hope they both give it their all for the "T" on that helmet.
belayvol writes:
I agree Seal.
teampenny#658108 writes:
Open comp was just coach talk or did LK stretch the truth. We will never know BJ and LK do. Go Vols
TopperVol75 writes:
Hey Naffy,
Are you a resident of the Leonard Little ghetto?? At least Peyton did not kill any innocent people!! I am sorry for stooping so low people as I ALWAYS admired LL, but he made poor choices. Peyton only represented our U well and to refer to his following as "trailer trash" is racial and uncalled for. Thus, my question.
VolsInYourMouth writes:
Ego? Turn back time to last year and read some of Craptons egotistical comments!! JC is an idiot!!! In the O and W game he was still throwing at the receivers knees. I swear, he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn!
ckeller18 writes:
They quoted The Chatt. Times several times here, but did not mention the part about LK canceling 2 meeting with Coleman to talk about his future. Doesn't really sound like LK wanted him to stay. I just read the article in Chatt. Times and it is worth the read. Some intersting things in the article that the "News" left out.
GhostofRobertNeyland writes:
Amen. Either get on board or get the "h@ll" out of the way! GO VOLS!
gobigorange1 writes:
My take on this is... well, I don't really have a take on this. Check it from a young player's perspective: kid's recruited under Cutcliffe's watch, Cutcliffe leaves, Clawson comes in, installs an offense that either doesn't work or won't be allowed to work due to certain old-school "The buck stops here" influence, then the board gets wiped clean of everyone. Given what's happened over the last three seasons, I couldn't blame a player for wanting to leave, stay or decide he wants to invest more time in lawn darts. Fact is, whatever "lashing" may or may not have transpired, CLK's probably being mum because he knew such things would inevitably happen. I wish BJ luck, but the fact is that even if he stayed, we'd still have to wait until September to see if last year was a quarterback anomaly or if our guys really don't have what it takes. A departing sophomore won't scare recruits away. A new coach who's mouth writes checks his players can't cash will. Personally I think we're going to be just fine, maybe not 10-win season fine, but fine. Again though, September is our litmus test, not the departure of a sophomore quarterback who's play last year, ill-coached or not, was no better than anyone else's. Long as we can hang with the the Gator-Bulldog-Bammer trifecta (maybe not beat 'em, but keep it close), I'll be a happy camper for all the transitioning we have to do. Go Big Orange!
GhostofRobertNeyland writes:
That's what I'm talkin' about!
mdvol writes:
We will definitely have the #1 recruiting class in 2010 based on sheer quantity. Hell, how many scholarships are available now.......40???
bjpatter writes:
Kiffin is the new sheriff in town. He has the right to choose his players regardless of what the fans say. BUT, Mr. Kiffin, do you want a deputy standing next to you who fumbles with his gun and accidentally shoots himself or YOU or worse yet faints when the fight starts? You definitely have that in JC. Too bad you drove off BJ, your best deputy. He would have drawn his gun faster than you, hit the RIGHT target, and would have stood shoulder to shoulder with you in the fight. Good luck with your Barney Fife deputy (JC). The two of you deserve each other.
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