TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Tebow Got Calls Before Saturday's Game
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Published: October 9, 2007
Gainesville - Gainesville - University of Florida QB Tim Tebow said Tuesday that he received hundreds of threatening phone messages in the week leading up to the Gators' matchup against Louisiana State.
The sophomore said he wouldn't repeat the messages because he "doesn't use that language too much," and he acknowledged that some of the calls promised physical threats.
"Some people did take it way too far. Farther than you should take it with sports," Tebow said. "But I think for the most part people were just having fun. But unfortunately there's people like that everywhere.
While Tebow let most of the calls go to his voicemail, he did say that he picked up the phone several times out of habit, but he would quickly hang up.
Tebow's father, Bob, was shocked about the ordeal, according to The Associated Press.
"It's absolutely insane," he said. "It's egregious. [Messages] were pouring in. He would not tell me all the stuff. He told his brothers and they told me some, but they wouldn't tell me everything."
UF coach Urban Meyer said he talked to Tebow's family and consulted the team's police officer about the situation.
"I just worry about a young player's safety," Meyer said. "I told Tim just dump [the phone] and get another one. He changed his number and all that."
The experience didn't seem to faze the quarterback but rather fueled a form of taunting.
After Tebow threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kestahn Moore in the first half, the quarterback faced the Tigers crowd, mimicked dialing a phone and then put his hand up to his ear.
"They were just having fun with me, so I was having fun with them, too," Tebow said. "It's what college is all about."
TARTT CLEARS THE AIR: Florida OG Jim Tartt dispelled any rumors that Louisiana State DT Glenn Dorsey took some extra hits during the Gators' loss to the Tigers on Saturday night.
Rumors circulated after the game that Dorsey had taken a cheap shot on Tartt by poking him in the eye.
"He was just pass rushing," Tartt said. "He was just swinging his arms and his thumb went up in my eye. It wasn't a big deal."
The redshirt junior seemed to enjoy his experience going up against the All American tackle.
"Me and my boy [Maurkice] Pouncey handled him all day, know what I'm saying?" Tartt said with a smile. "He's a good football player, though. He was real good."
BAD SPOT: Meyer said Tuesday that Florida turned in video to the Southeastern Conference office from the LSU game about a questionable spot.
LSU's Jacob Hester rushed on fourth-and-one at the Gators seven-yard-line, and he appeared to be stopped short.
The officials spotted the ball at the 5-yard line, and the Gators did not review the call. Florida will wait for a verdict as Rogers Redding, the SEC coordinator of football officials, reviews the footage.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( gonoles13 ) on October 10, 2007 at 8:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Typical Gators, making excuses after losing. You got beat by a better team, deal with it.
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Posted by ( Dmiller ) on October 10, 2007 at 8:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Excuses? We beat up the number 1 team in the country all night long. They won because they scored with 1 minute left, give us an extra 30 seconds and you have a different outcome. The refs gave him a favorable spot, bottom line-but we'll see LSU again. And it will be a different outcome on neutral turf.
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Posted by ( gonoles13 ) on October 10, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
They won because they were better than you. You will not see LSU again unless you are watching them on TV. SC and Spurrier are going to beat you by 14. Kentucky might even beat you. Your defense is horrible.
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Posted by ( Dmiller ) on October 10, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow. I assume we are going to lose to your precious noles also?
SC will choke as will Tennesee and Kentucky, obviously you know nothing about the SEC because you are fan of the soft ACC Georgia Tech, Duke and Miami.
10-2 in the SEC earns you a BCS bid, LSU proved that last year. Dont open the can on FSU, you have a QB who barely graduated High school in X Lee. He is dumb as rocks. We will see LSU again in Atlanta, maybe the 'Noles can enjoy another trip to the Emerald Bowl, if it still exists this year??
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Posted by ( footballislife ) on October 10, 2007 at 11:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Noles fan, Maybe you should watch a game or two before you post another comment. We lost to the #1 team in the nation in the final minute. Clearly watching ACC football every Saturday has warped your brain.
Seriously, the Gators might beat you by 50 points this year.
The ACC is a joke.
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Posted by ( gonoles13 ) on October 10, 2007 at 1:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
SEC stands for So Easy Conference. Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss St---yeah they are real powerhouses. The SEC is overrated every year. You also lost to unranked Auburn at home. You have a QB who makes out with other players and jumps around like a high school cheerleader. I guarantee you won't put 50 up on our defense. By the way we already beat Alabama this year who was ranked until we dismantled them. I believe they are in the SEC. Start playing someone other than Western Kentucky out of conference. I am sure you will come back with that lame excuse that the SEC is so tough that's why you don't. That excuse is tired like Tebow was answering them phone calls all week. HAHAHAHA Take your loss and like it. This bye week is the best thing for you. It's the only way you won't lose this week.
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Posted by ( Dmiller ) on October 10, 2007 at 1:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Good one, SO easy huh? Does that explain the SEC's 7 teams in the Top 25 compared to the ACC's 3? Come on bro, I mean if you want to talk numbers then lets talk numbers. The ACC sucks. We usually count on FSU being our tough non conference game, but lately that hasnt been the case. We'll gladly take our loss to the number 1 team in the country whose #1 defense we completely embarassed. Tebow makes out with other players? Get the facts straight, he got kissed on the cheek. Maybe in your world, thats making out and when you make plays like he does, you deserve to jump around and show some passion. It could also be that when you are as talented and phenomenal as Tebow has been, even guys want a piece of that.
As for pairing the SEC vs ACC, I'm sorry if you have any knowledge whatsoever, you would know that there is no comparison there.
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Posted by ( gonoles13 ) on October 10, 2007 at 1:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Dmiller it sounds like you may be hiding in a "closet". You can come out though as your worthless rhetoric has exposed your feelings. I have plenty of knowledge and in my opinion the SEC is always overrated. So some obnoxious Gator fan saying the SEC is better because of what a poll (who gets voted on by journalists AP) says means absolutely nothing. By the way Georgia Tech has won a National Championship and Miami has 5. Can you say the same for garbage Vandy and Ole Miss. I think not. Cry me a river and get ready for more disappointment.
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Posted by ( picogator ) on October 10, 2007 at 2:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ACC=Always Complaining Cellardwellers. The Coaches poll now lists six (6) SEC (Securing Excellent Championships) to only 3 for that other conference. And look at the weak sisters in that other confernce...Duke, WF, even Miami and Tech. Bring on that other conference anytime and UF will win...anywhere. Yes, GO GATORS....and Go USF (they would easily handle teams from that weak sister conference).
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Posted by ( gonoles13 ) on October 10, 2007 at 7:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Picogator you're a moron. Take your 4-2 record and cry. Cry baby cry!!!
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Posted by ( picogator ) on October 11, 2007 at 3:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Nolies may go from 4-1 to 4-2 tonight and may not earn the requisite wins to play a bowl game even in Orlando...what with such teams as Maryland,VT, BC, Miami and UF looming ahead.
BTW, I do not resort to uncouth and unseemly name calling.
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