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Gators Facing Tough Climb

Tribune photo by COLIN HACKLEY

Florida's Tim Tebow goes for a rushing touchdown during the third quarter against LSU.

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 21, 2008

GAINESVILLE - The first Bowl Championship Series standings of the season were released this week and they weren't particularly kind to the Florida Gators.

To fulfill its national title game aspirations, Florida has some catching up to do.

Despite dusting previously undefeated LSU in its last outing, the 5-1 Gators earned only the No. 10 spot in the composite poll used to determine the national championship game pairing.

There will be plenty of opportunities to climb, but the distant start does create some questions.

No. 1 Texas tops four Big 12 teams (No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 6 Oklahoma State and No. 8 Texas Tech) in front of the Gators, suggesting the league champion will have a strong claim. Two SEC teams - No. 2 Alabama and No. 7 Georgia - are also in front of Florida, although by winning out the Gators would jump past their conference rivals. However, either No. 3 Penn State or No. 9 Ohio State is expected to come out of the Big Ten, and No. 5 USC will be a factor.

"I don't care," Gators quarterback Tim Tebow said of the ranking. "That's fine. Nothing really matters too much now. That's really what my attitude is. It's fine those other teams are ahead of us. We still have opportunities to play some of them."

MEYER SATISFIED: The Gators are coming off a bye week as they prepare to host Kentucky in Saturday's homecoming game.

That always brings into play the question of readiness.

"I asked this team to be professional, to treat their bodies like professionals, to treat their profession like professionals, which is to go to school and to play football," Coach Urban Meyer said. "So far they haven't let me down. I've seen a very workmanlike approach the last couple of weeks."

VOTE EARY: If Tebow had a Heisman Trophy vote - wait, he does - Texas quarterback Colt McCoy would be his pick, at least right now.

Last year's winner is impressed by McCoy's ability to win games with his arm and his feet - and his faith.

Sound familiar?

"I think he's done a great job just handling everything," Tebow said. "His interviews after the game, I watched too. Just getting to know him a little bit, I was very proud because I think he represents college football really well, and handled his faith extremely well, too. He is never ashamed of that, which I respect as well."

McCoy has hit 160 of 197 attempts for an 81.2 percent completion percentage, 1,894 yards and 19 TDs. He also leads the Longhorns in rushing with 371 yards and six touchdowns.

"I haven't seen everybody so I don't know, but I don't think there is anybody above him right now," Tebow said.

Would he vote for that Tebow guy? "Ah, no. He's all right."

GATOR BITES

•Tampa resident George Edmondson, know affectionately to Florida fans as "Mr. Two-Bits," will end his cheerleading career at the end of this season. The 86-year-old Edmondson has led his famous cheer at Gators games for 60 years. He will be honored in a pregame ceremony before Saturday's homecoming game against Kentucky.

•Junior linebacker Brandon Spikes has been named to the list of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker. Spikes leads the Gators with 46 tackles and has intercepted two passes (both against LSU), one of which he returned 52 yards for a touchdown. Spikes ranks third in the SEC with 9.2 tackles per game.

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