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Canes Able To Slow Down Tebow
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Published: September 7, 2008
Updated: 09/07/2008 12:46 am
GAINESVILLE - Entering Saturday's duel between Florida and Miami, the prevailing logic was that Hurricanes redshirt freshman quarterback Robert Marve and freshman QB Jacory Harris would wilt under the bright lights of Florida Field.
Instead, it was the guy who owns a national championship ring and Heisman Trophy who appeared the most uncomfortable for the better part of the game.
The Gators' offensive line didn't resemble the unit that left quarterback Tim Tebow with a clean jersey in the opener against Hawaii a week ago.
The state-record 90,823 fans who squeezed into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium saw Tebow as they had never seen him. He was forced to hurry passes without his feet set, scramble when he wanted to pass and overthrow wide-open receivers.
Tebow completed 21 of 35 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns.
There were glimpses of the brilliance Tebow displayed last season - including a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Aaron Hernandez on Florida's opening drive, a 20-yard run in the second quarter and a 28-yard pass to Carl Moore on third-and-9.
Last season a Tebow rush up the middle meant that Florida was walking away with six points. But in the fourth quarter of a tighter-than-expected contest Tebow rushed up the middle on first-and-goal at the 2 and was stopped for a 1-yard gain and on second down he only managed to salvage the yard he lost.
The Gators then ran receiver Percy Harvin up the middle for their second touchdown of the night.
While Tebow's play has been less than spectacular this season, he has been successful at managing the game for a team with an improved defense and a wider array of playmakers than in 2007. Tebow set a Gators record for consecutive passes without an interception with 125.
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