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Imagine UF Taking On Tebow-Led Bama

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

What if the red paint that coated Tebow's uniform after Florida's victory was his natural color?

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2008

GAINESVILLE - Hey, Urban Meyer. Think about the Florida Gators without Tim Tebow at quarterback.

Now, imagine him playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide - Saturday's opponent in the SEC Championship Game.

"Oh, gosh," the Florida coach said. "I'd be gone."

It almost happened. Tebow to Alabama, not Meyer gone - but, then, you can never be sure.

Before the Florida Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback signed with the Gators out of Ponte Vedra Beach Nease High School three years ago, Alabama was very much under consideration.

"I'd say we were behind most of the time in the recruiting effort," Meyer said. "I'm just glad we got him."

Tebow acknowledges it was a close call. He very much liked then-Alabama coach Mike Shula. Even now, Tebow and Shula, a Jacksonville Jaguars assistant, are in regular contact.

"I was up in the air," Tebow said. "I grew up being a huge Gator fan, loved Florida and loved everything about Florida. But I really liked Alabama. I liked Coach Shula. I liked what he stood for on and off the field, and I liked everything about their program and the passion that their fans have for football."

With Tebow on his roster and in college football's record books, Meyer can look back and vouch for the impact Tebow's signing made on the Florida program. If pressed, he'll admit knowing the importance before it happened.

"True story," Meyer said. "We were in Pennsylvania recruiting someone. It was the day before decision day and Alabama was with Tim and they went on a 12-hour home visit. I had play-by-play from his high school coach, every second I'd walk outside. We didn't get him because I did an awful job; I was on the phone with someone else the entire time.

"Our plane is leaving about 10 o'clock at night and the coaches from Alabama are still there with the family. I had convinced myself, if we lose him we were still going to be OK. It was about five degrees. (Former co-defensive coordinator and current Baltimore Ravens assistant) Greg Mattison is setting next to me. You can't turn the heat on in the plane until it gets going. I'm freezing. I look over at Greg and he says, 'Do you realize if we don't get Tim, it will set the program back 10 years?'

"Oh, shut up. He says, '10 years.' I got so upset with him I just grabbed a blanket and didn't talk the rest of the trip. But he was right. That's how important Tim was."

Three seasons later, Tebow has a Heisman Trophy, records galore and universal admiration to prove it.

Going into Saturday's title game with the Crimson Tide, he is 160 of 246 for 2,299 yards and 25 passing touchdowns. He ranks fourth on the team in rushing with 507 yards on 137 carries and has the most rushing touchdowns on the team with 12. Tebow is tied with Auburn great Bo Jackson for fifth all-time in the SEC with 43 rushing touchdowns and already holds the Florida school record for career rushing scores.

"In the end, I loved Coach Meyer and just being a Gator, I couldn't pass it up," Tebow said "I really just thought Florida was the best fit for me - playing for Coach Meyer and staying closer to home and staying in the state of Florida. I think those factors kind of were the biggest things for me."

UF SHORTS

•For the 18th consecutive season and the 19th time in program history, the volleyball team is among the NCAA Tournament field of 64. The Gators (25-3) earned the No. 15 overall seed and begin tournament play 7:30 p.m. Friday in the O'Connell Center against Florida A&M.

•For their play Saturday against Florida State, QB Tim Tebow is the SEC Offensive Player of the Week and DE Carlos Dunlap is Defensive Lineman of the Week.

•The women's basketball team has won six straight since a season-opening loss, including an upset of then No. 21 Arizona State to win the Junkanoo Jam championship in the Bahamas.

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