Joe Henderson
Tebow Once Again Has His Way With Seminoles
By Joe Henderson | Tribune Staff
Published: November 30, 2008
TALLAHASSEE - Dear Tim Tebow:Published: November 30, 2008
Please turn pro, or save the whales, solve global warming, or join President Obama's cabinet as the Minister of Goodness. Do anything but play another season.
Leave school.
Love, your friends at Florida State.
There are many fine college quarterbacks in the land, but Tebow proved again Saturday he is something different. He is a runner who passes, a passer who runs, and the leader of an offensive juggernaut who plays like he wants to be a linebacker.
He is unselfish but still makes all the difference.
The team he leads is blessed with so many ways to move the ball, that Tebow is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner could almost slip your mind.
Not this time, though.
Florida would have beaten Florida State anyway Saturday, but Tebow was the difference between a nice, solid win and the 45-15 rout that unfolded on a dank and dreary day that was perfect for those whales Tebow could theoretically save.
In a game in which bodies were hydroplaning all over Bobby Bowden Field after relentless rains turned it into, well, a swamp, Tebow frolicked around like someone enjoying some fun in the back yard with his pals.
The Seminoles couldn't contain his running and couldn't stop his passing. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more, then just for fun made the option pitch to Jeff Demps that led to the Gators' final touchdown. He finished with 185 yards passing and 92 running, despite sitting out most of the fourth quarter.
The bulk of Tebow's running yards came early in the game, too, when the Seminoles still thought they had a chance.
"He brings a Bronko Nagurski to the quarterback position," Bowden said. "That's what he looked like to me. He reminded me of one of those old-fashioned fullbacks back there playing quarterback."
Back In the Race?
Dear Heisman Trophy voters:
You know, this guy is pretty good, yet hardly anyone is talking about him. So why not Tebow?
Who knows if Tebow has done enough to impress voters into giving him a second consecutive Heisman. His name hasn't come up much when that award is mentioned, possibly because on this team of mass weaponry he has been happy to share the wealth.
"He deserves to be mentioned again for the Heisman," Bowden said. "I don't know if I've ever seen a better leader."
Bowden said he was struck by the way Tebow stood up after the Gators lost 31-30 to Ole Miss and said it would never happen again. It hasn't. Indeed, Florida has routed every opponent since that day and Tebow is a major reason why.
He admits to letting his mind drift just a bit to the idea of standing on the podium in New York again - "You've got to be honest and say that would be cool," he said - but he has higher goals at the moment.
"When I came to Florida, it was for championships," he said. "Winning the Heisman was great, it was a lot of fun, it was a great award, but it's nothing compared to championships."
Next up: Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.
Let It Rain, Let It Reign
Dear FSU fans:
Next time a Gator gets hurt the way Percy Harvin did, don't cheer. It only makes Tebow mad. He will make you pay.
About the only bad thing for Tebow on this day was how FSU fans cheered in the second quarter when Harvin hurt his ankle and had to leave the game.
Young Tim rarely shows anger, but that one got him.
"I told Coach to give me the ball because I wanted to hit somebody extremely hard the next play," Tebow said.
He had to wait. His number wasn't called until the second play after Harvin's injury. Tebow bulled up the middle 4 yards for a touchdown. He pushed the pile back. His face was caked with traces of the red paint that covered the end zone.
It looked perfect.
We haven't seen the likes of Tebow before. Who knows if we will again, since he'll have to decide whether to return for his senior season or jump to NFL riches. We know how the Seminoles feel about all this. Tebow has accounted for nine touchdowns against them in the past two meetings.
"He's a tremendous player and a tremendous leader," Bowden said. "He's something else."
There was something else he didn't say, but he had to be thinking it. Save the whales. Save the country. Or at least show some mercy and save FSU from another beating next year. Enough is enough, already.