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Tebow Downplays Sooners' Slights

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2009

MIAMI - A day after Tim Tebow was relegated to fourth-team All-Big 12 Conference by Oklahoma CB Dominique Franks, Florida's 2007 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback declined to make the comments an issue.

"Who knows?" Tebow said Monday during a visit to Dolphin Stadium, site of Thursday's BCS National Championship Game. "Maybe. That might have been a compliment. We'll see."

On Sunday, Franks produced the week's biggest newsbreak by saying Tebow would "probably be about the fourth-best quarterback in our conference," behind OU's Heisman winner Sam Bradford, Texas' Colt McCoy and Texas Tech's Graham Harrell. He added that, as a defensive back, preparing for the multi-threat Tebow and 20-some passes a game, is easier than facing a Big 12 foe who throws 40 or 50 times.

Franks was angry because he believes Tebow insulted Big 12 defenses. During the SEC title game broadcast, CBS announcer Verne Lundquist said Tebow had admitted to him that, "I really would like to throw against some of those defenses in the Big 12."

Did Tebow, never known for controversial comments, actually say such a thing?

"I didn't say it like that," Tebow answered. "I dream of playing teams like Texas, Oklahoma, but also the Penn States, USC. So when I was talking about it, I was talking about it in a way like that, not like we're superior to them. That wasn't what I meant."

While Tebow discounted the comments, it's no secret that he looks for challenges at every turn.

"I like it," he said. "It's fun. It makes it more competitive, and I'll enjoy it."

McCARNEY'S IMPACT

A year ago Dan McCarney was an assistant at South Florida. This week he's with the Gators preparing for the national championship game. Speculation suggests that very soon, maybe in the coming weeks, he could be offered a head coaching position.

"Let me have him for a little while first," Florida coach Urban Meyer said.

Meyer heaped high praise on his defensive assistant for the impact he brought to the Gators' defensive team.

"All you have to do was look at the staffs and know that we went from one of the worst defenses in the country to one of the better ones," Meyer said. "The players really matured. So he was very instrumental."

BEEN THERE, BUT ...

The Gators are making their second national championship game appearance in three years.

Urban Meyer, however, is downplaying the value of that experience.

"I looked on the roster, and not many of them played in 2007," the Florida coach said. "Many of them got free sandwiches and hats and watches and all that but didn't play."

SEEING CLEARLY

QB Tim Tebow often seems immune to the pressures of big games.

It's all about perspective. After missionary-work experiences in foreign lands, things often take on a different look.

"Pressure is not having to win a football game. Pressure is having to find your next meal," he said. "From being in a lot of places that I've been with my dad and on mission trips, you kind of find out what true pressure is and what just is a game. Even though we love it so much, football is still just a game. A lot of people bleed over it and love it, and I'm one of those people. But at the end of the day, I know what's more important, and football is not more important than life, and pressure is definitely not football."

MURPHY GOOD

Senior WR Louis Murphy has turned into a Gators success story.

After coming out of Lakewood High School, Murphy went through some early issues.

Now, preparing for his final college football game, he has become one of the Gators' shining examples of good character.

"Graduated from college, three and a half years," Murphy said. "I got my Eagle Scout, and I had a citizenship award banquet, distinguished citizenship award back in St. Pete. It's just been a great feeling. God has brought me so far."

Meyer agreed.

"He was a nonfunctional guy when he went to Florida, without getting too harsh on him," Meyer said. "He knows, and I think this is such a positive, he would not have survived at the rate he was going, academically, socially, football-wise, no chance. And now he's a graduate, on his way to the NFL and playing for a national championship."

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