Jonathan Crompton Officially Named Starting QB by Lane Kiffin

by Will Shelton on Aug 24, 2009 7:15 PM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

Update 8:42 PM EDT - Wes Rucker from the Chattanooga Times Free Press has full quotes from Kiffin and Crompton.

It's been an assumption since the end of spring practice, and one that Crompton worked hard to validate in the first three weeks of fall camp...and while our old friend #8 hasn't exactly set the world entirely on fire, he has done enough to maintain his edge over Nick Stephens, and be named officially today as the Vols' starting quarterback (KNS).

First...tough break for Stephens, who was injured all spring and really never got the full opportunity that Crompton saw with the new offense because of it. He becomes the backup (and the default option for 2010), returning to the role he was playing this time last year.

It's the same for Crompton, who gets his first taste of definitive good news in a Tennessee uniform since throwing two touchdown passes to Robert Meachem, which feels like it happened decades ago. His fresh start is now a reality, and the majority of Vol fans will be behind him at kickoff.

Kiffin was interviewed by Mel Kiper Jr. on ESPN Radio this weekend (which I listened to while driving but have been unable to find on the net), and he reiterated that he will not rotate quarterbacks - that the Vols would tailor their offensive system to the guy who was #1, and would utilize his full strengths. He again mentioned how important it was for the team to know who that guy was and to put their faith in him. Kiffin rotated quarterbacks in Oakland with little success.

Either way, Jonathan Crompton's destiny is in his own hands again...and the fate of the Vols' season goes with him.

Poll

Will Nick Stephens take a meaningful snap for the Vols in 2009?

Yes

122 votes

No

51 votes

173 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Only if Cromp is injured

We better all be praying that Stephens doesn’t take any snaps. That means we aren’t doing well.

Crompton will do fine. Kiffin will move the pocket. Crompton will be successful.

by rblakeh on Aug 24, 2009 8:05 PM EDT reply actions

I voted yes because of injury.

by memphispete on Aug 24, 2009 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Stories like these are why i watch college football

Im sure weve all heard the saying, “its not what happens that matters, its how you respond to it” or something of that ilk. Anyway, Crompton faced some terrible adversity in 08, and theres no bigger story in college football in my eyes than whether or not Crompton can battle back from adversity and go out with a season to remember. It would be wonderful for him to have a season that he could tell his children and his grandchildren about with pride some day.

by cincyvol6198 on Aug 24, 2009 9:26 PM EDT reply actions

Kiffin rotated quarterbacks in Oakland with little success.

Hmm. I Al wonder why he Davis would do a thing like that.

by David Hooper on Aug 24, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

When he said that in Kiper's interview

it was almost defiant…he answered the question about rotating quarterbacks immediately and emphatically in the negative. And I like that – the additional security helps Crompton, and Stephens will still have a leg up on any incoming freshman for next year, and he’ll realize that more fully in time.

Will - Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Aug 24, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I see what you did there.

by bobo_the_vol on Aug 25, 2009 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Of course you did, psychic.

Official MCM Hater!

FREE BRYCE BROWN!

by gramsey712 on Aug 25, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually, ALL Vol fans will be behind him at kickoff.

The only ones who won’t be are the batsh!t crazy ones (GVX forum regulars, I’m looking at you) and I refuse to acknowledge them as Vol fans.

by danmarcel on Aug 24, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions

He had to be named the starter.

He’s probably the most expensive QB in college football history. Look at how much he’s cost UT in buyouts and new salaries. I hope we get some kind of return on that investment. Maybe he’ll pick up cups after the games….

by wvvol on Aug 24, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

How much did Clawson cost in buyouts and new salaries?

;-)

by David Hooper on Aug 24, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Who hired Clawson?

The same person who recruited Crompton? Maybe we should challenge that buyout…

by wvvol on Aug 24, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Will you come back and apologize if Crompton has a good season wvvol?

Or just slink back into obscurity?

by danmarcel on Aug 24, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

IIRC, he said earlier he'd man up over it.

It was in comments earlier this summer, somewhere. Not sure how to easily search back for it without remembering the wording, though.

by David Hooper on Aug 24, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Obscurity?

I think you’ve got me confused with someone else.

I’ve said it before, I hope he makes me eat my words. Another bad year, and it’s probably gonna take 5-7 years to get back to where we need to be.

by wvvol on Aug 24, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

That's the one.

But yeah, I don’t see wvvol going anywhere anytime soon.

by David Hooper on Aug 24, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

He does sound like a man who will stand behind his words, right or wrong

I like that.

by memphispete on Aug 25, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps you did.

But I perused your comment history, and all I saw was complaining about Crompton. Instead of hoping to have to eat your words, how about some positive vibes in the first place?

by danmarcel on Aug 24, 2009 11:51 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, I had positive vibes in the first place.

The first place was last year… Not a lot to be positive about after the UCLA game.

If he could hit the open receiver, I’d be asking the university to retire his number for the good things he’d done, instead of asking for it to be retired to save fans from having nightmares seeing that #8 on the field.

by wvvol on Aug 25, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Here's my nightmare.

Crompton skates by against WKU and tanks against UCLA, and gets pulled, leaving Stephens to get fricasseed at midfield in Gainesville.

________________________________
I will give my shirt for Tennessee today.

by Holly Anderson on Aug 25, 2009 1:17 AM EDT reply actions

No sharing nightmares, Holly! You make it too hard to sleep at night,

dreaming about back-up QB’s throwing interceptions at the Swamp and mismanaging the game after being rattled in their first game as a starter in Kiffin’s new offense.

Mommy, make the mean lady stop it. She’s saying bad things about my Vols. Where’s my Big Orange blankie? Ahhhh, zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

by memphispete on Aug 25, 2009 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I think

He’d have to have an Erik Ainge shoveling it to LSU from the end zone moment to get pulled before the Florida game, and maybe not then.

"Florida didnt win their first SEC title until 1991 and now they think they invented football."
-Ron Zook

by rustytanton on Aug 25, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Mommy, Mr Rusty is being mean, too. You said no one would talk about that ugly LSU game anymore...

More seriously, I agree that Crompton is the man. No way Kiffin wants a QB controversy and Crompton would have to cost us the first two games by throwing six interceptions, two fumbles and hitting the center in the helmet with a pass before getting pulled.

by memphispete on Aug 25, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

LoL

Phil,GO VOLS !!!

by bulldurham on Aug 25, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

So you're saying there's a chance?

Eric Berry for sending the guy who wins the Heisman spinning 720 degrees in the air at the podium - or for intercepting it and returning it to where it rightfully belongs

by Chris Pendley on Aug 25, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Mine is the '05 QB situation all over again.

I had a theory that one QB was going to have good games in the odd-numbered games and the other was going to have good games in the even-numbered games – we just flipped the rotation.

Eric Berry for sending the guy who wins the Heisman spinning 720 degrees in the air at the podium - or for intercepting it and returning it to where it rightfully belongs

by Chris Pendley on Aug 25, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions