Oh, Pick Nick. We hardly knew ye.

I’m not much for keeping up with off season minutia. However, just the other day I’d been reading about the quarterback battle and how perennial bridesmaid Nick Stephens wasn’t the shoo-in we’d…well, not that we were expecting anybody to be a shoo-in, what with the new coach and all, but it’s his fifth year on the second string. And he’s concerned about not catching a break, again. So he’s taking his ball and going home.

I’m sad to see him go. I’ve been a fan and supporter of his ever since his first Orange and White game. I have always been on record as saying he should have started instead of Crompton in 2007 and did an admirable job when replacing the injured Crompton that year. I wanted Kiffin to start him and was discouraged that he so no playing time last season. I can understand why he wants to transfer, much as I’ll miss him.

However, Tennessee had thankfully moved on from Fulmer’s spoils system. I hate that Stephens was used and abused, I hate what’s happened to him (much as I did with Rick Clausen, who is still my favorite quarterback of all time), but it’s football and you have to earn your spot. And the stats we’ve been seeing aren’t going to earn you anything in the big time.