University of Tennessee Athletics
Crompton's Leadership Revives Montreal
November 22, 2014 | Football
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
Do not let the flowing locks fool you, that is THE Jonathan Crompton starting at quarterback for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. And the former Tennessee QB has his team one win away from playing for the Grey Cup in one of the most improbable turnarounds in CFL history.
That Crompton is even in the position he holds is also improbable. He attempted 58 passes a season ago as the backup in Edmonton, but was cut from Eskimos roster in July, just after the start of the season. He signed on in Montreal and saw his first action in relief of Alex Brink against Winnipeg on Aug. 22, the final game of a 1-7 start for the Alouettes.
From there, Crompton went 8-2 down the stretch, moving the Alouettes to 9-9 and into the CFL playoffs. Crompton won his first playoff game as well, a 50-17 blowout of British Columbia, a team that had beaten Montreal 41-5 prior to Crompton's signing with the team.
"I've started 11 games, it's been fun," Crompton said. "It's been a journey to be able to play the game that we love. I have some great teammates around me, a great coaching staff, and a great organization. I'm blessed to be where I'm at."
Crompton has thrown for 2,482 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, while completing over 58 percent of his passes.
After leaving Tennessee, Crompton spent time with NFL teams in San Diego, New England, Tampa Bay and Washington. He was among the final cuts from the Redskins in 2012 and was out of football until signing with Edmonton for the 2013 season.
Being cut from that spot just before this season may have had some players thinking of hanging it up, but not Crompton. He has been through this before. He lost his starting job at Tennessee twice, to Nick Stephens and B.J. Coleman in 2008. But he won the job back in 2009, and led the Volunteers to an appearance in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
Those challenges also helped him rally his team when he was named the starter of a group with a 1-7 record this season.
"Everything happens for a reason," Crompton said. "Nobody outside of each individual team or organization really knows what goes on behind closed doors. I just think back from my experiences in the past and learn from them and make them into a positive. Our team here has a very good mindset and a short-term memory. We just stayed the course, believed and had fun with it."
His new flowing hairdo is not without purpose. He has been growing since June of 2013 with the intention of donating it to Locks of Love, which makes donated hair into wigs to be worn by those going through cancer treatments.
"I feel like everybody in some way, shape or form is affected by cancer with someone they're related to or close to," Crompton said. "I just figured if I was able to, I would grow my hair and donate it."
Crompton revealed during an interview with Canadian channel TSN in September that his ex-fiancée had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had passed away earlier in the month.
His hair has drawn the attention of fans from Canada to east Tennessee on Twitter and in the media, but he does not mind all the jokes out there on the hair. They all help draw attention to the cause.
"People have fun with it, it's all in good fun, but I'm doing it for a serious cause," Crompton said. "If you can't laugh at a joke, you're taking things too seriously. As long as I know and the people around me know what's happening, that's all that's important."
And though his CFL seasons have kept him from a recent return to Rocky Top, Crompton has definitely been paying attention to the Butch Jones era at his alma mater.
"I don't make it back as much as I would like," he said. "But Tennessee will get back on top like it always has been."
