We have been here before. Eric Ainge is hurt! Will he play? Or will Jonathan Crompton lead the Volunteers? While it is certain Tennessee Football Coach Phillip Fulmer did not ask for this situation, it is just as certain that he is not going to show his entire hand to the California Golden Bear coaching staff either.
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer said Wednesday he expects his senior quarterback to play in Saturday’s opener at California, despite the latest news that Erik Ainge has a broken little finger on his throwing hand.
“He is going to play,” Fulmer said of Ainge. “He has thrown and it looks like he’s going to be able to throw just fine. I appreciate him showing the toughness to get himself back out there.”
Fulmer faced a similar situation last year when Ainge was injured late in an Oct. 28 win at South Carolina. Ainge started the next week against LSU, but Jonathan Crompton played most of the way in Tennessee’s last-season loss to the Tigers.
“If it doesn’t work out great, then obviously Jonathan will have to be ready,” Fulmer said. “I have the utmost confidence in Jonathan getting the job done. We have said all along we’re going out there to win this football game as a team, and that’s exactly what we’re going to try to do.”
Crompton, a junior, has one career start in seven appearances. He has completed 47-percent of his career passes (31-of-66) for 401 yards. The Waynesville, N.C., product passed for 183 yards last year in the LSU game, then followed that with a 174-yard effort in his start at Arkansas. Crompton had two TDs and one interception in each of those games.
art donovan ex colt player from the 50s said one time something like players in football now are whimps, hell we played with broken arms and leggs.now if they get a hurt pinky thye are out maybe the whole season... i tend to agree!!!
I don't think his willingness to play is an issue at all. I am sure Eric is wanting to play. The question is, is it in the teams best interest? Realistically, this is not expected to be a National Championship caliber team for us. Therefore, it might be more beneficial for us to play Crompton on Saturday and against Southern Mississippi if necessary to let the broken pinkie heal. Then we could trot Ainge out against Florida and pursue the SEC Championship which is all we need to play for this year.
Thanks for commenting.
Cheers!
Last edited by 14Falcons on August 30th at 9:24 PM.
14 Falcons: Great to see you write a College Football Post! As a former QB myself, a broken pinky finger is definitely a BIG concern. You have 3 digits that control the strength and aim of your throw of a football. The thumb, index finger, and the pinky. It sounds sad that a football player would be sidelined by a pinky injury, but the pinky is what really controls how hard and, most importantly, how accurate a QB can throw. Without a pinky he will NOT be able to throw more than 40 yards. Period. He will not be able to throw a deep out. Period. He will not be able to throw a post. Period. If he REALLY did break his pinky finger, then Fullmer better have Crompton play. If not, he will seriously be limiting his offense. I played with a jammed pinky finger, and was very ineffective. Believe me, I know how it can drastically change your game plan.
Just an old middle school aged tailback myself playing in a youth league, but I hear you. Of course I did play for the Junior Vols.
Anyway, the accuracy of throwing is doubly important to a speed team in the SEC. Our patterns need to be timed out as well as the pros to be a championship caliber team. We are already relying on receivers that have not proven themselves this year. If Ainge goes, and I am sure he will start, he needs to be able to deliver the ball to these untested receivers on time and on the money. If Ainge can not do that, we will need to go to Crompton pretty fast and see what he can do. If Crompton is effective, we can let him go with it. If not we may have to put Ainge back in, hurting or not.
On another note, did you hear ISU lost to Kent State at home tonight as Kent State rallied late? It is going to be a long year for our new ISU coach.
Last edited by 14Falcons on August 30th at 9:38 PM.
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