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Tebow Begins Award Watch Tonight On ESPN

The Associated Press

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won the Maxwell Award and the Heisman Trophy last season. He'll go for his second Maxwell Award tonight.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 11, 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Tonight, University of Florida junior Tim Tebow will be in the same room as his competitors for the Heisman trophy – Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy of Texas.

Showdown? Not exactly. So far, it's more like a mutual admiration society for the three quarterbacks.

Tebow, who Saturday night will try to join Ohio State's Archie Griffin as the only two-time Heisman winner, is up for the Maxwell Award, which has been given since 1937 to the best all-around player in college football. Other Maxwell finalists at tonight's College Football Awards Show (ESPN, 7:30-9:30 p.m.) are McCoy and Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell.

After spending today at the Walt Disney World Resort, then completing tonight's awards show, the three quarterbacks will board an airplane for New York and Saturday night's Heisman ceremony.

"It's such an honor,'' said Tebow, who won last season's Maxwell Award, pulling off the first Maxwell-Heisman double since Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne in 1999. "I did a lot of stuff last year [at Disney and New York]. I'm actually looking forward to doing a little bit less this year, kind of taking it all in. I'm enjoying being around guys like Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy, getting to know them a little bit.''

Not surprisingly, the feeling is mutual.

Wednesday night, Tebow and Bradford stood together for a brief photo shoot. It was the first time they had met. They will meet again on Jan. 8 at Dolphin Stadium as the Gators (12-1) and Sooners (12-1) tangle in the BCS Championship Game.

"So far, it has just been small talk,'' said Bradford, who is up for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award along with Big 12 compatriots McCoy and Harrell. "I'm sure we'll compare notes. I'll see how he does things at Florida. It's all fun.''

McCoy, too, was meeting Tebow for the first time.

"Tim is a great leader and his teammates respond to him,'' McCoy said. "Unfortunately, I don't get to watch a lot of his games. But he's a former Heisman winner, so he's got to be pretty stinkin' good.''

Pretty stinkin' good?

"Yeah,'' McCoy said. "That's the way we say it back home in Texas.''

Other awards to be presented as the Chuck Bednarik Award (best linebacker), the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver), the Lou Groza Award (best kicker), the Ray Guy Award (best punter), the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman), the Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back) and the Doak Walker Award (best running back).

Alabama's Nick Saban already was announced as the Home Depot National Coach of the Year.

Additionally, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, completing his 33rd season with the Seminoles, will receive the National Collegiate Football Awards Association (NCFAA) Contributions to College Football Award.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353.

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