Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton spent Friday celebrating his graduation from the College of Communication and Information. This summer, he'll begin work on a master's degree in sports psychology.
But when it comes to learning a new offense, Crompton is more than an undergraduate.
"I might be on my Ph.D. with that part, I don't even know," Crompton joked Friday morning during a reception for graduating student-athletes at the Thornton Center. "I've had a new offense to learn every spring I've been here, so that gets difficult. But it's fun. It's always challenging, but it really tests your true character and the teammates around you and kind of tells you who you are as a person on and off the field."
Some 47 men's and women's student-athletes graduated this week, including 15 former and current football players.
When the football team takes the field Sept. 5 against Western Kentucky, 11 Vols will be working on a master's degree. Five more will be finishing a second undergraduate degree.
Among those heading to graduate school is offensive lineman Jacques McClendon, who graduated Friday with a degree in economics after just three years.
"I'm on track to finish my graduate school before I leave here," he said. "That was a great thing to be able to get those here while I'm on (scholarship). That's a big plus for me."
But it wasn't just for himself.
"It's been a constant grind, but it's something that I promised my mother when I was of a very young age," McClendon said. "I know that means a lot to her. I told her I was going to do that, and I'm a man of my word, so I made sure I did that."
Cornerback Marsalous Johnson also graduated this week with a degree in legal studies and is still deciding whether to enroll in graduate courses or pursue a second undergraduate degree this fall. Either way, he's ahead of schedule.
"It's tough, but I came to school with it as one of my big priorities, just like football is," Johnson said. "I came to college not just to play football but be a student-athlete. I took that to heart. My mom, that's how they raised me. Football isn't always promised after you leave college. To get my degree was a big thing."
It took Crompton a lot of long nights to finish in four years, he said.
An average day starts with a workout at 6 a.m., followed by class, position meetings and practice. Then it's time for schoolwork and extra film sessions.
If there was a casualty for Crompton, whose position demands extra time in the film room, it wasn't football or school. It was sleep.
"I've stayed up until 1 (o'clock), 2, 3, maybe 4 in the morning doing homework and have to be up at 6 o'clock in the morning to go to football," Crompton said. "It's difficult, but it's the thing I chose to do and the thing I love to do.
"It's fun once you get used to it. And then the days you don't have it, you feel like you're missing something."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 95
panties4tebow writes:
I give up...what do they have in common?
panties4tebow writes:
Sorry, I disagree with you!
TommyJack writes:
Props to JC
RoadTrip writes:
I wonder if he will get to analyze himself when he goes into the sport psychology program? He is a textbook example of someone needing some couch time. Why do good performances in practices not translate into good performances in games? Will he discover his inner self in time to lead the Vols to more wins? Back with more at 11.
BigOrangeCrazy writes:
Hey BobbeaVol, you're entitled to your opinion and you sure have a lot of them.
I got a question for you, has there ever been a black or non-white Volunteer that was overrated, under preforming, or pathetic, as you put it?
Voluvr writes:
Tell us, just what is it that you are adding to this site, or the university. Fact is, you're a big mouth wuss that never strapped up and layed it on the line yourself like all these people you mention.
Your not upsetting anyone, you're just making yourself look bad.
Fossilfiction writes:
Way to go guys. A degree will carry you not football(reference the 2009 draft for an example).
Really the players listed in the comments on this story are sad? A bunch of middle age dummies with a keyboard who never played any college sports then judge those who do seem sad to me.
These young men managed to get their degrees and play for UT. I may be wrong but I do not believe any of those you people spoke of had off the field trouble?! Stand up in my book for academic accomplishment alone. Go back under your rocks or to that couch you cry on everynight cause your life is 1/10 of what these players/explayers.
teampenny#658108 writes:
Agree this is good thing no one should twist it around. Plenty of bad stuff that goes on at all campuses poke fun or slam that but JC does not deserve this.
dvhill100 writes:
It's great these players are getting their degrees. Playing football and the time requirements are just nuts. Kudos to them all.
DennisVols writes:
These are the kind of leaders you want on your team. Their dedication to the team and the classroom is incredible. Many students struggle to get a degree in 4 years without the expectations placed on student-athletes.
Congratulations to all the UT student-athletes who graduated.
We have heard enough stories about the ones who quit lately. It is great to finally hear about the one who weren’t willing to give up, who set goals and achieved them.
gatorzwearstebowpanties writes:
None of them are a pos like you
BigOrangeCrazy writes:
Here's some links for some great gator videos on youtube.
Check them out for a hearty laugh.
The second one is a must see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFBjud...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvBEtl...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7qd5k...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDJm2S...
dlobh writes:
Well, for one, Peyton beat Alabama 3 out of 4.
JMP_Vols writes:
- But when it comes to learning a new offense, Crompton is more than an undergraduate.
"I might be on my Ph.D. with that part, I don't even know,"
Uh, no Jon. You're stuck in remedial math taking it under your fourth different teacher.
JMP_Vols writes:
But seriously, he's done well getting his degree.
dlobh writes:
. . . and neither Shuler nor Manning ever lost to Georgia. So your point was . . . ?
CoverOrange writes:
You guys just don't understand Bob. He just has no appreciation for the players that play the game between their ears.
Voluvr writes:
All this gnashing of teeth from those with Orange Envy. All you naysayers should go back to your team's local site and talk about how good you're going to be.
You see your continued pesimism is validation that we are on the right track. Your presence in here is proof you are racked with Orange Envy.
On thing for sure when we have the NC in two yrs. the last thing we are eaten up with is 5-7 florida and their new coach.
Voluvr writes:
Florida got VERY lucky over the past decade or so. Here's why. First: It was Dickey that recommended to his gator hommies that they might want to take a look at the up and coming coach from Duke that just beat Tennessee at home.
Second: Combined with Spurrier who rewrote the book, Miami and Florida State both started nose diving. Fla.St started after '99. The point is neither were recruiting strong into the talent pool in Florida. So with an innovative coach and 1500 high schools to pick from, Florida gained momentum.
Lucky in finding Spurrier and fortunate with Free Shoes and UM down for a decade, UM longer. So, good for them! They have made the SEC stronger.
But, as validated by the presence of so many gator fans in here, they know the gig is up. Kiffin is taking florida commits, UM is coming back, Fla. St. is on the verge of a new era. They know their run is about up. That's whey they're eaten up with a 5-7 team.
vol_chaz writes:
Great job getting it done in the classroom, boys.. Lets translate some of that to the field..
volpreacher writes:
Maybe that's why his pro career lasted so long. Really, Casey was a really good college qb. But he wasn't close to Peyton, Shuler, Robinson, Holloway.
Better than Jeff Francis, Randy Sanders though.
Voluvr writes:
Florida is going to lose in a shocker in the swamp. Why? Because our players believe they will and they know what they can do. They know they will win. Also, they will never quit. I cannot wait for that day.
Then, with departing Tebow, Meyer will be coaching the fish eaters within two weeks.
Stomp Florida
Voluvr writes:
great point.
Voluvr writes:
BobbeaVol that says a lot. I'm a coach and the truth is that good players make good coaches. Fulmer had the best in 98 plus a few breaks. He didn't have the best system of strategies, but had the best players. I see the parallel.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Fulmer loves donuts like I love ICB.
If someone would have brought Fulmer a wide selection of donuts during a game he lost he would have won that game.
If Fulmer would have got to try a brand new flavor of donuts after he won a game he would never have lost---LMAO!
newtonrail writes:
Robert "Naffy" Ellison, resident racist who proclaims to be a Vol fan. What did you think of Gen Neyland, NaffY? You know he was white don't you?
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
sports psychology huh? Its doubtful even Freud could fix the bounce pass.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
I don't know about everybody else... but just like in the Famous Will Ferrell skit I got a fever and the only cure is some of that cowbell baby. I can't get enough of that COWBELL!
I think CROMPTON NEEDS SOME OF THAT COWBELL!
tennrich1 writes:
Yo sho izes wright, thare MR. Bob,,,yeah si,,yo sho is....
the10sevol writes:
reading your posts over time, you really aren't old enough to remember Bobby Scott?
you must have gotten his name from a book.
the10sevol writes:
he didn't like leak, "didn't fit the system".
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Cryer Winnie Meyer could go to Noturd DAM and get to coach with Jimmy Clausen.
I mean who would pass that up right?
the10sevol writes:
met Bobby at a fraternity golf charity event in 1975, and he told some great stories about the New Orleans Saints time he spent with Archie (who?, just kidding, Mr. Manning, we dropped that joke when Peyton came to Knoxville).
oops, sorry, bob, didn't mean to confront you with the Manning legacy, my bad...
HallowedHill writes:
Can I get 1 more for the 2010 class?
kevin151 writes:
CLausen beat Florida twice, Manning was 0-4
belayvol writes:
And i thought the answer was: Who causes you to buy the jumbo sized Butt Chapstick weekly.
txvolsfan writes:
WOW, I guess the interlopers aren't the only IDIOTS on our site!!!
You're way off base here!!!
txvolsfan writes:
You're irrelevant.
Go enjoy your T-Blows T-Backs
HollySpringsVOL writes:
""I've had a new offense to learn every spring I've been here, so that gets difficult. But it's fun. It's always challenging, but it really tests your true character and the teammates around you and kind of tells you who you are as a person on and off the field."
A "dig" a BJ, methinks.
82cat writes:
They are all better looking and smarter than you and could beat you like a salvation army drum at any sport you choose!
gohawks1 writes:
Four different offenses in 4 years could rattle anyone's cage. I hope JC comes out shining on Sept. 5.
InertGas writes:
Graduating is great but we need some whiskey drinkiin', cussin' football players too.
CoachFulmer writes:
How is it a crime that these great athletes come back to the Univeristy they spent four years at? Dane Bradshaw was the man!
GO VOLS!
99gator writes:
heard this on the radio too.
you all can blame meyer for this all you want (and i know most of you will) but this has nothing to do with urban meyer.
99gator writes:
this is wrong in so many areas.
1. florida was not lucky to "find spurrier". he played at florida for crying out loud. i think they knew who he was. in addition, i have heard from many people that florida was going to hire him after charley pell was dismissed in 1984.....but, the interim coach galen hall, won the remaining 9 games on the schedule after taking over and ended the season with florida finishing first in the SEC. that never happened under any circumstances, so hall was hired as the head coach on a permanent basis.
when hall was dismissed during the 1989 season, the florida athletic director, bill arnsparger, wanted to hire the coach at west virginia don nehlan (sp?). the big money florida alumni put a gun to the athletic director's head and told him to hire steve spurrier.
dickey didn't have a damn thing to do with hiring steve spurrier. spurrier beating tennessee didn't have anything to do with him being hired at florida.
2. when spurrier left florida, miami was the reigning national champion and florida state was one year removed from playing for the national title in 2000. miami and florida state heading south happened during the ron zook years and had nothing to do with ron zook either.
3. if and when tennessee comes back to being the program you all want......florida ain't going anywhere. it's the assumption gator fans had when spurrier got florida rolling in the 90's. florida getting good didn't make florida state bad. florida state still finished in the top 5 every year.
personnally, i believe it will take 2, 3 years before tennessee puts a team on the field that will really scare florida.
this year's in gainesville and the level of mismatch is frightening. next year, tennessee will have 1/2 of their team or more be freshman. year 3 will be in gainesville again.
so, it will be awhile. that's what fulmer has left kiffin.
rockytopatl writes:
I agree with you Tweet. Casey didn't have all the talent in the world, nor the raw leadership ability of a Manning, but he was the best with the game on the line, especially on the road. I would kill to have him under center next year instead of Mr. PhD. We'd win 9 or 10.
volnbig11land writes:
Good thing crompton got his degree because he'll need it.
There is no way he will EVER play football at the next level!
I know, I know, he's much better than me but I didn't get a full ride at a great school to play QB.
He shouldn't have either....
OrangeMan_86 writes:
Some of the Casey Clausen haters are crazy. I'll take Casey at the college level over Peyton. Yep, I said it. Whoever turned it into a debate about the better quarterback at the pro level, wow. They aren't playing for the University of Tennessee at the pro level now are they. In other words you think a million quarterbacks were better in college than say Eric Crouch just because of their NFL careers? Right. Eric Crouch is one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time. He played a few games in the NFL retiring punts before retiring. Go ahead and tell me that Tom Brady was the better quarterback at Michigan than Crouch was at Nebraska because he is winning in the NFL. Not at all.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
little boy, you're not ahead---you're a total absolute idiot!!!!
99gator writes:
for sake of argument.....based on what.
some of you hate on peyton for what he did against florida more than florida people......because peyton's record against florida is really the only thing to be critical of in his college career.
florida was at its peak under spurrier while manning was in school.
but, aside from that. peyton got an SEC ring, clausen didn't.
peyton had his team playing in a national championship game. (if wash state beat michigan and tenn beat nebraska, tenn is the national champ). clausen didn't. manning had as much to do with tennessee losing to nebraska as danny wuerffel did losing to nebraska. qb's can't block or play defense.
peyton carried his team. clausen never had to. clausen's biggest moment of glory came when he handed the ball off to travis stephens against florida in 2001.
this comparison is really, really bad.
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