Having experienced adolescence during the 80's and 90's I know what it means to hate Florida.  I watched Spurrier take those snarky jabs at Tennessee.  I watched as some of our most talented athletes continiously fell short against those boys in blue.  And I watched Collins Cooper (not gonna lie, I totally googled that name) pull one left of the uprights and start one of the most emotional releases I've ever seen at a game.  I know all about hating Florida.....

Which is why the following statement is so hard for me to say. 

Tim Tebow is one of the best football players I've ever seen in person. 

 

I'm not talking about statistics because there weren't any of note for Tebow aside from two TD passes Saturday afternoon.  He didn't gash us for some crazy long run or knock anybody's hat off like he did two years ago.  He managed the game, played mistake-free, and made plays when needed.  Yes he had the most rushing attempts for a player, but for the first time in a long time, the Gators spread the wealth of the ground game to players not named Tebow and Harvin.  The Gators got Rainey and Moody involved and sort of ground us into submission.  Which I'd hoped we might try (We pass entirely too much on second down by the way...). 

Enter why I was so fascinated by Tim Tebow: I sit in Section T right behind the visitor's bench and I love to play this game with friends and family called " 'Player' Tracker."  A fan is assigned a big time player from the away team and at any given time, the viewer can be called out.  For example, last year it was, "Dad, where is McFadden?"  If Dad wasn't able to point him out on the field or on the bench, he'd have to do something like grab a cheap concession or buy a round of beers post game.  This past Saturday, I got assigned Tebow. 

Observation #1: Right off the bat, no matter how many times you've seen him on primetime the first thing you notice is that this kid is built like a friggen linebacker.  It’s like someone bred Donovan McNabb and Ray Lewis.  He's just so thick.  He's got arms as long as I-40 and is built like a truck.  I swear he was mocking me everytime he sat down and stretched that wingspan across the backrest of the bench as if to say, "Yeah, we're gonna win by this much and by the way Jesus loves even you Vol-fans."   I don't have to tell you who all the girlfriends, sisters, moms, and wives were admiring.

Observation #2: After the offense would come off the field, he'd put on the headset, chill out on the bench, get his wind, and then he'd get up and start stretching again.  Then while his defense was on the field, he'd start running half-speed sprints on the sideline.  He'd start high stepping to keep warm.  He was  essentially saying, "Well we're playing Tennessee today....might as well get a little workout in while I'm waiting for our defense to get off the field."  Apparently playing Tennessee was not challenging enough.  I realize that players like to keep warm and will ride stationary bikes to keep loose but this was a little different.  He genuinely did not seem challenged by the task of playing the Volunteers.  Completely unflappable. 

Observation #3: And for a sophomore Heisman winner, is anyone else impressed by how unselfish this guy is?  Did anybody see him pout about not getting numbers?  Did anyone see him cop an attitude?  Is he worried at all about winning another Heisman and joining Archie Griffin?  Not that I could tell.  From watching him on the sideline, this guy seems like the consummate football player, the consummate teammate, and from all other accounts from the media a genuinely good human being.  The only thing that came even remotely close to seeing Tebow taunt us, was when he gave this pseudo wave to a ridiculous looking jort-wearing-gatorbeads-gatertoy-on-a-strawhat looking gator-goofball sitting in the front of Section T who nearly did a face plant on the new brick wall when he threw himself into the air and screamed some Tebow worship/man-love chant so loud that Tim couldn't help but look his way (Side Note: By the way, <sarcasm>great job</sarcasm> dear season ticket holder on hocking your tix out so that weirdo could remain in my field of vision for four hours)

I hate Florida.  But I'm finding it hard to dislike Tim Tebow.  Man I wish the Vols can find a player as good as that.....Soon.