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Backlash Could Derail Tebow
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Published: December 4, 2007
TAMPA - With ballots from the 925 Heisman Trophy voters due in New York by Wednesday afternoon, a curious phenomenon is sweeping through the airwaves.
The anti-Tim Tebow movement.
Just when you think Tebow, the University of Florida quarterback, has stiff-armed the competition, you hear sobering words. Just when you believe Tebow will actually become the first sophomore to win a Heisman Trophy, you hear a national radio interview with Tim Brown, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer.
"Everybody has been on me because Tim Tebow is not even on my list," said Brown, the former Notre Dame wide receiver who gets a vote as the 1987 Heisman winner. "Look, if you're a quarterback, in my mind, you've got to be playing for a national championship. I can't take a quarterback who has lost three games.
"Everybody wants to talk about his numbers. But it's like he's running quarterback sneaks from the 5-yard line. I don't necessarily find that as impressive as everybody else."
Just when you imagine the potential scene Saturday night, as Tebow steps to the podium and humbly assumes his spot among the college-football legends, you are corrected by Craig James, the former running back who works on ABC's studio highlights show.
"In my opinion, Tim Tebow is not the most outstanding player in college football," said James, who voted for Arkansas junior running back Darren McFadden.
Just when you are convinced by Tebow's astronomical statistics - he's the first player in Division I-A history with 20 rushing touchdowns and 20 passing touchdowns - Hawaii coach June Jones checks in with a blunt assessment while pushing his own Heisman candidate, senior quarterback Colt Brennan.
"Colt is not a system quarterback like Tim Tebow," Jones said during a Sunday night interview with ESPN. "Colt can run any system. I'm not sure Tim Tebow can run our system. He's not a natural passer."
Make no mistake.
Tebow is considered the favorite over McFadden, Brennan, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and West Virginia quarterback Pat White.
But the opinions are flying, fast and furious. Many commentators and journalists are painstakingly picking apart Tebow's game, seemingly searching for ways to diminish his accomplishments.
"The winner, of course, will be Florida's Tebow ... because many of the voters are sheep, following as gospel the words that tumble from the mouths of Tebow's media supporters," wrote Mitch Vingle, a columnist with the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette. "Yes, Tebow is a wonderful player ... but the publicity around him has gotten out of hand."
Some feel the publicity is justified.
"Tim Tebow is an anomaly," said Spencer Tillman of CBS Sports, a regular on the network's studio show for SEC football. "He has more rushing yards than most running backs. You can't look at him through the same lens as other players."
"You get a guy like this once in a lifetime," ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said. "This guy Tebow is doing it like RoboCop. He's running through people. He's running by people. He's throwing over the top of people. Go beyond the numbers. It's not just the numbers. It's how he's doing it."
The debate will continue until Saturday night. Then we will know for certain.
"It doesn't say the Heisman only goes to a guy on the best football team," former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz said. "It doesn't say the Heisman only should go to a junior or senior.
"It goes to the best player. That's Tim Tebow."
Stay tuned.
Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( lumi_nara ) on December 4, 2007 at 7:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
THANK YOU LOU HOLTZ! At least somebody has a brain! Yes, Tim Tebow IS the best player, and yes, I'm partial, but here's the thing... McFadden has what, maybe 2 good games all year... Tim has had 10 great games and 2 good games. He has broken an NCAA record... not just an SEC... AN NCAA RECORD!!! What has McFadden done? What has Brennan done? NOTHING in comparison to that.
And imo, only allowing juniors and seniors to get it in this day and age... is borderline bigotry! These guys leave in their sophomore and junior years, it's not fair to make them wait till their senior years to win one.
Tebow should get it. He played his heart out all year long, through multiple injuries including a BROKEN HAND that occurred in the 3rd quarter of the Florida State game... and he CONTINUED TO PLAY! This boy has heart, and I can't wait till all our boys come back from injury next year and we take it to the house, and Tim has another stellar year!
Tim for the He15man!!!
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Posted by ( lumi_nara ) on December 4, 2007 at 7:56 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
You are right, bigwash, it has lost it's lustre, due to the fact that they're not giving it away to the ones who really deserve it, they're just giving it to the seniors. Well hopefully this year, all that will change! And it WILL go to the one that deserves it... TIM TEBOW!
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Posted by ( Dmiller ) on December 4, 2007 at 8:40 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I hate to say this, but I think it could be true on some levels. Tim Tebow is going to change the game in a big way and we have a bunch of throwback players who played in the day, ie, Tim Brown and Craig James(who was a running back) who think TEbow doesnt belong. The bottom line is he has done nothing to cost his team any games, NOTHING! You cant argue the numbers!
MEMO TO TIM BROWN: A Touchdown is still a touchdown if you go in from the 5 yard line, if it were so easy, why havent a bunch of other QB's done it? IDIOT!
MEMO TO CRAIG JAMES: You are gay for running backs because you are one, but Tebow put up numbers every game and MCFADDEN didnt. Plain and Simple. So you want the Heisman to go to a 4 loss team? Doesnt make sense.
Gator fan or not, you cant argue, he is the BEST player in football and he will continue to revolutionize the game. For all of you Ole Timers, get over it!
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Posted by ( bleuzman ) on December 4, 2007 at 9:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am a diehard Seminoles fan, but if Tebow doesn't win the heisman then they should just quit giving it out. Where does Tim Brown get off with his holy'er than though attitude saying Tebow isn't even on his list. Obviously to many hits to the head for Brown. And as much as I hate to admit that Lou Holtz has a thought worth repeating he at least has the sense left to realize Tebow is the "best" college football player in the nation, which I believe is the criteria for winning the heisman.
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Posted by ( Swampy ) on December 4, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Craig James doesn't do his homework, as usual.
Colt Brennan's Rushing Stats:
73 rush/65 yards=.9 yards a carry.
8 rushing TD's/15 total yards= 1.9yds.
Hmmm, less than 5 yards a TD for Brennan. Of Brennan's rushing TD's, his longest rush for a TD was 3 yards.
Tim Tebows Rushing Stats:
194 rushes/838 yards= 4.3 yards a carry.
22 rushing TD's/112 total yards= 5.09 per TD carry. Hmmm more than 5 yards.
Tebows longest rushing TD was 23 yards!
Not bad for getting all his TD 5 yards and in!
Hey Craig, the Chicago Bears still have your jock strap you left on the field in the '86 Super Bowl ... quote: "However, he was dominated by the Bears defense in Super Bowl XX, who held him to only 1 yard on 5 carries." Nice work there Craig.
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Posted by ( tfb ) on December 4, 2007 at 11:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The award is for the best player period. Last year McFadden was the best player period. The award went to Troy Smith a senior. I will be surprised if Tebow gets it. Even though he deserves it.
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Posted by ( Swampy ) on December 4, 2007 at 11:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
These are nice teams that really challenged Hawaii's Colt Brennan, good source to support your QB Jones:
Colt's Teams:
North Colorado 1-11
Louisanna Tech 5-7
UNLV 2-10
Charleston Sth. 5-6
Idaho 1-11
Utah State 2-10
San Jose State 5-7
New Mexico St. 4-9
Fresno State 8-4
Nevada 6-6
Boise State 10-2
Washington 4-9
Tebow's Teams:
W. Kentucky 7-5
Troy 8-4
Tennessee 9-3
Mississippi 3-9
Auburn 8-4
LSU SEC Champ 10-2
Kentucky 7-5
Georgia 10-2
Vanderbilt 5-7
S. Carolina 6-6
Fl Atlantic 7-5
FSU 7-5
Average Team Record that Colt played against: 4.4 wins and 7.6 losses. 3 of the 12 teams Colt played against have a winning record. Wow, that's tough.
Average Team Records that Tebow played against: 7.08 wins and 4.83. 10 of the 12 teams Tebow played against have winning records.
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Posted by ( fred73spin ) on December 4, 2007 at 1:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
tebow played nine good teams and three mediocre teams and went six and three with the good teams so what makes him so great to win the heisman award
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Posted by ( maggie77 ) on December 4, 2007 at 2:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Colt Brennan threw for 58 touchdowns lasty year and we did not even hear about it. Why should we give the award to Tebow? He did not do anything this year HAHA!
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Posted by ( Capt42 ) on December 4, 2007 at 3:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's about how you play and how you affect your team. It's not about TEAM wins or losses. That's why they have a National Championship. In that regard its either Tebow or Mcfadden and I'd give the edge to Tebow. He was pretty much the gator offense without him they would of ad a hard time getting to .500.
This trophy is a joke anyway. The real reward comes in April when the NFL comes calling.
Also, isn't it funny how the award for the best college player automatically excludes half the team (defense).
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