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Tebow Performance: Effortless

By KARL HYPPOLITE

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 9, 2008

Updated: 11/09/2008 12:46 am

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The best way to describe quarterback Tim Tebow's performance against Vanderbilt is effortless.

Even the 42-14 final score might not be indicative of how effortlessly Florida's offense zipped up and down the field.

It started with a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Louis Murphy on the Gators' opening drive.

It continued when Tebow decided to do it himself on Florida's second drive as he ran for a 26-yard score - a career-long touchdown run.

That was not Tebow's most impressive run of the night.

It was on the Gators' third drive where the reigning Heisman Trophy winner did his best impression of UF playmaker Percy Harvin.

With Florida on the 8-yard line, Tebow ran to the right, cut back to the left and waltzed into the end zone.

"He was very aggressive," Coach Urban Meyer said. "Some of those runs weren't designed, but he just put his pads down and went. Their defense had a plan, and it was to force him to run the ball a little bit. They made a decision to make him run the ball a little bit and maybe get a few hits on him."

It was a vintage game for Tebow, as he finished 12-for-17 passing for 171 yards and three touchdowns, and he had 88 yards and two TDs on 11 carries.

Tebow saved perhaps his best play of the day for the end of the first half. With eight seconds left in the second quarter and a strong pass rush barreling down on him, the junior stood calmly in the pocket surveying the defense.

Receiver David Nelson caught Tebow's eye as he streaked toward the end zone. Tebow hit Nelson in stride for a 40-yard touchdown.

Tebow has five rushing touchdowns and five passing in his past two games, pushing his season total to 27 (17 passing, 10 rushing) to insert himself back in the Heisman race.

"It's an honor and an unbelievable event, and it would be an honor to go again," Tebow said. "It's cool, but it's not a focus or something I worry about."

The matter that has Tebow's attention is the SEC title game after the Gators clinched a berth with Saturday's win.

"We're just focused on taking care of business, and if we do that we'll have a chance at our goal of winning a national title," Tebow said. "Everything else will take care of itself."

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