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After Seven-Touchdown Game, Tebow In Thick Of Heisman Race

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Andy Staples/The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 11, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. — University of Florida coach Urban Meyer walked away from his postgame interview early Sunday morning repeating the same phrase.

"Seven touchdowns," Meyer muttered. "Unbelievable."

He referred to the seven touchdowns (two passing, five rushing) produced by Gators quarterback Tim Tebow in a 51-31 win at South Carolina. Moments earlier, Meyer had done the unthinkable; he had uttered the H-word in reference to Tebow.

"I think that was a Heisman performance," Meyer said. "I really do. I mean we're near the end of the season. I normally don't say stuff like that, but I had no idea about the statistics.

"You have a young guy have 120 yards rushing. Five touchdowns. Five touchdowns rushing? Five touchdowns rushing? That's unbelievable. Then he threw for 304 [and two touchdowns]. … Seven touchdowns accounted for. That's a pretty good day's work. I might buy him a sandwich on the way home."

Tebow entered the weekend behind Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon in most polls of Heisman voters. Dixon, who didn't play Saturday, still may wind up playing for the national title. Tebow, meanwhile, will need help to reach the Southeastern Conference title game.

Still, Tebow's statistics measure favorably against Dixon's.

Through nine games, Dixon has rushed for 549 yards and eight touchdowns and thrown for 2,074 yards and 20 touchdowns. Through 10 games, Tebow has rushed for 718 yards and 19 touchdowns and thrown for 2,532 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Tebow downplayed any Heisman talk early Sunday morning.

"That's an honor anytime you're named with that award, but I'm not going to think about that," he said. "I'm just going to go worry about the next two games and hopefully getting a shot at the SEC championship. That's our goal."
Several different scenarios could put the Gators in Atlanta, but the least complicated would involve Kentucky beating Georgia and Tennessee the next two weeks. And if Kentucky quarterback Andre' Woodson leads the Wildcats to wins and winds up holding a huge trophy in New York on Dec. 8, Tebow won't complain.

"Hopefully, Andre' Woodson has some great performances and goes and wins the Heisman for us," Tebow said. "That's what I'm rooting for."

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

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