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UF's Tebow Says He'll Return For Senior Year

The Associated Press

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, left, talks with coach Urban Meyer during a ceremony honoring Florida for their win over Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship in Gainesville Sunday.

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The Associated Press

Published: January 11, 2009

Updated: 01/12/2009 12:51 am

GAINESVILLE - When you throw a party and end up celebrating the celebration, life is pretty good.

Just ask the Florida Gators. An estimated crowd of 42,000 came to The Swamp to honor Florida's national championship football team that on Thursday night won the school's second BCS title in three years by beating Oklahoma. It ended with the party spreading to all Gator Nation.

Junior quarterback and Florida folk hero Tim Tebow put an exclamation mark on the day's festivities by announcing at the end that he plans to return next season for his senior year.

Parr-ty.

Even before Tebow made his announcement, it had been an afternoon to remember.

Don't believe it? Then name the last time you saw a guy riding down University Avenue on a 24,000-pound Brahman Bull with "Gators, Tough as a Bull" written in orange paint on the animal's side.

That was Gainesville resident Lyle Brown aboard Stardust.

"Why not," Brown said. "This is something for everybody to enjoy."

In case you are wondering if Stardust is legal transportation, apparently there is no problem – at least, not when the Gators are celebrating a national championship.

When a Gainesville City Police officer, patrol car parked to the side, saw Brown riding past, she called him to a stop – to get a camera and snap a quick picture.

"I heard on the radio that there's somebody on a Brahman Bull at the gate off University Avenue," Greg McGarity, associate athletic director, said. "That's something new."

As for national championship celebrations, the Gators have done it before – twice, including 2006. But it's something that will never get old.

A replay of the BCS Championship game was shown on the scoreboard's jumbo screens. Impromptu "It's great to be a Florida Gator," cheers broke out. Gator chomps were all about. Albert the Alligator led "Two Bits" cheers, dressed in the trademark style – yellow dress shirt and orange and blue tie – of recently retired unofficial cheerleader George Edmondson.

All the team's seniors – every one of them already having earned their degree or on schedule to graduate in the spring – were introduced. Two new south-end zone signs were unveiled in the ring of honor, recognizing the school's eighth SEC title and third national championship.

Florida coach Urban Meyer then called the Gators "one of the greatest teams in college football history."

Meyer rattled off his reasons:

- Florida's schedule ranked second most-difficult in the nation, playing 11 bowl teams.

- The Gators were the most complete team in America: Top five in offense, top five in defense and top five in the kicking game.

- Offensively, the 2008 Gators were the best offense in UF football history.

- The most balanced offense in America, running and passing for over 210 yards per game in each category.

- Defensively, the Gators ranked No. 4 in the nation, leading the country in interceptions. For the last eight games, the defense allowed six touchdowns. "Total," Meyer said. "That's it."

- Broke a school record by blocking nine kicks.

Meyer's list went on, but you get the idea.

It was a happy time.

And then Tebow announced his decision to return.

"I'd told him I loved him no matter what he did," Meyer said.

Same for Gator Nation, only now they love him just a little bit more.

So what about the other two juniors who are debating the NFL future? Linebacker Brandon Spikes and wide receiver Percy Harvin must make their decisions and notify the NFL by Thursday.

Might Tebow's decision create a situation as the UF basketball team, when after winning one national championship the entire starting lineup pledged to come back and do it again - and did?

"I hope," Meyer said. "I don't know. The good thing about these guys, you're talking about quality families and you're talking about educated guys. Four years ago, if you asked me that, I had no idea. I wasn't involved. There were some people that shouldn't be involved. Some making horrible decisions. I don't blame them.

"I didn't recruit them. I didn't know them. They weren't my people. You would think after a while, I'd be their coach, but that didn't happen. These guys will make the right decision."

Anybody want to party?

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