It will be very difficult for Tennessee football fans to find something to be thankful for this week after Saturday's loss to Vanderbilt.
No bowl trip, no winning record, and recruiting woes. It's not a pretty picture for the Orange Nation.
Maybe a little reminder about the background of quarterback Jonathan Crompton will help the Thanksgiving meal go down a little easier.
When spring practice rolls around, Crompton will be battling Eric Ainge for the starting nod at quarterback for the 2006 season.
Crompton may have been able to help the Vols this season, but suffered an injury to his right shoulder in August. He underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum, and should be full speed for spring drills.
A red-shirt freshman for next year, Crompton left little doubt he wanted to play for the Vols by committing a year early out of Tuscola High School in Waynesville, N.C. He turned down an offer from South Carolina when Steve Spurrier took over the Gamecocks.
The following are Crompton's rankings out of high school by three recruiting services:
Rivals: No. 60 overall prospect. No. 2 overall pro-style QB. No. 3 overall in North Carolina.
Scout.com: No. 3 overall QB. No. 49 overall prospect. No. 3 overall in North Carolina.
Tom Lemming (ESPN): No. 5 overall QB. No. 61 overall prospect.
As a high school senior in 2004, Crompton passed for 2,423 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 801 yards and 17 touchdowns. He threw for 2,323 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior and 2,011 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore.
A Parade All-American, Crompton was a three-year starter at quarterback with records of 8-4 as a senior and 9-1 as a juior. He also played safety as a senior with 147 tackles and three interceptions while punting for a 44.6-yard average.
Tennessee fans need something to be thankful for this week. Maybe it's Jonathan Crompton.
PICKING WINNERS
FRIDAY
Arkansas at LSU (3:30 ET, CBS): The Tigers will be Atlanta-bound after this one. LSU by 17.
SATURDAY
Tennessee at Kentucky (12:30 ET, Jefferson-Pilot): Vols will find a way to win this one. Tennessee by 3.
Ole Miss at Mississippi State (2:30 ET, no TV): This will be the 102nd meeting of these teams. Rebels run win streak to four. Ole Miss by 4.
Florida State at Florida (3:30 ET, CBS: These teams have split the last four games. Flip a coin. Florida by 1.
Georgia at Georgia Tech (8 ET): 'Jackets sure looked good last week at Miami. Georgia Tech by 3.
Last week 5-1 (.832); Overall 61-18 (.773)
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)