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Obstacles Abound For Possible Heisman Repeat

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2007

NEW YORK - Ponte Vedra Beach Nease High football coach Craig Howard followed carefully news of the University of Florida's coaching search in late 2004. Ron Zook had been fired, and Howard knew the Gators' next coach could help chart the destiny of Nease quarterback Tim Tebow.

Three years and a few weeks later, standing in the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, Howard thought back to his prophecy.

"I told Bob Tebow during Timmy's junior year that there's this guy named Urban Meyer who was at Bowling Green who has gone to Utah," Howard said Saturday. "If he comes to Florida and him and Timmy get together, Timmy will win two Heisman Trophies.

"He might win three."

But can Tim Tebow pull off a repeat? Or, since he's a sophomore who says he intends to play four years, how about a three-peat?

Plenty of obstacles will stand in his way, not the least of which will be pressure to surpass his 51-touchdown sophomore season. Of the nine players who have returned for another season after winning the Heisman, only Ohio State halfback Archie Griffin (1974-75) has repeated as the Heisman winner. Oklahoma's Billy Sims was the only player to finish second.

Some players, such as Oklahoma quarterback Jason White (2003), put up good numbers but got outplayed. In 2004, Southern California's Matt Leinart beat out White for the Heisman - White finished third - then helped pound White's team in the national title game. Leinart came back in 2005 only to finish behind teammate Reggie Bush and Texas quarterback Vince Young in the balloting.

So how did Griffin manage to avoid the pitfalls that snared the other Heisman winners? He credits Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes.

"Woody used to say, 'If you're not getting better you're getting worse, you're never staying the same.' I just won the Heisman, I needed to win it again," Griffin told the Orange County (Calif.) Register in 2005. "I put pressure on myself really. You heard people talking about repeating, everybody thought you were going to win it again, it was always in your mind.

"Therein lies the pressure, whether you want it or not, it's there."

Sometimes, the pressure can be too much - especially when expectations grow unrealistic.

"People, they love to build you up and then tear you down," 1990 Heisman winner Ty Detmer told USA Today in 2004. "That was kind of what happened, people saying, 'It was a fluke; it was the system,' that kind of thing.

"They were always looking at what you were doing wrong."

Tebow deflected all talk of a repeat Saturday, saying he is "just trying to get ready for Michigan" in the Capital One Bowl. Meyer said he doubts Tebow will worry about winning the Heisman next year.

"We're trying to win another SEC championship," Meyer said.

But might Tebow grow complacent now that he has a national title ring and a Heisman? Not likely, those who know him best said. Tebow seems to have plenty of goals ahead. Friday, someone asked him what he would have left to accomplish at Florida if he won Saturday.

"Do it again," Tebow said. "Go win a national championship as a starting quarterback, as my team. That's more important than being here for the Heisman. That's the ultimate goal, to win the SEC title and get back on top."

Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.

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