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Tebow News Caps Perfect Celebration

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By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: January 12, 2009

GAINESVILLE - The University of Florida's national championship celebration was drawing to a conclusion Sunday afternoon inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Coach Urban Meyer already had addressed the announced crowd of 42,000, calling the Gators "one of the greatest teams in college football history."

All the seniors had been introduced and a pair of new south end zone signs unveiled in the ring of honor, recognizing the school's eighth SEC title and third national title.

Finally, Tim Tebow took the stage to bring the hourlong celebration to its official end.

The junior quarterback thanked Meyer. He praised teammates. He called coming to attend Florida "the best decision I've ever made." He spoke of memories.

Tebow then turned to walk off the stage, only to halt in midstride and return to the microphone.

"Oh, yeah," he added. "Let's do it again! I'm coming back."

Was this a celebration or what?

Instead of making himself available for the NFL draft, Florida's favorite Gator will return for his senior season, hoping to produce back-to-back national championships and produce the undefeated season that escaped him this year.

After extended discussion with Meyer, a number of NFL coaches and general managers - none which he would identify - Tebow said he reached his decision Saturday afternoon.

"Overall, I just felt loyal to this place," Tebow said. "I feel like I'm a role model and a lot of times today people start things and don't finish them. I didn't want to be like that. I wanted to be loyal to the university. I wanted to finish what I started and play another year."

The announcement likely means the Gators will go from this season's 13-1 national championship performance straight to this year's preseason No. 1 ranking. Only three senior starters will be lost from offense, although junior wide receiver Percy Harvin is expected to declare for the NFL draft. The defense, with no senior starters, could return in full.

Only junior linebacker Brandon Spikes, who would be an early NFL draft pick, is a possible loss. Spikes, however, has indicated his decision on whether or not to declare could be impacted by Tebow's plans. The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Thursday.

"I don't want to speak for him," Tebow said. "I want him to make the best decision, and Percy as well. It's a big decision in their lives so I think they'll do the right thing and I'm going to support them either way."

Meyer, who received Tebow's decision Saturday "and slept very well," was obviously happy with the news.

"It means a lot," the coach said. "Obviously, there's the functional football player part of it, but we all know it's much deeper than that. He is so good for college football. He is unbelievable. When my daughter texts me in the morning the Bible verse he has under his eyes, it's good for college football. It's good for young people, it's good for everything."

It was important, Tebow said, to make the decision quickly. He weighed feedback from NFL sources, talked with family, prayed and spent most of Saturday talking with Meyer.

"Talking to some NFL guys and just talking about things, the difference between this year and next year and just different things like that," Tebow said.

"Yeah, I wanted to get it done with because I could barely sleep as it is thinking about it. I just wanted to enjoy winning a national championship and not have to worry about this. It was a little bit of a burden on me. I wanted to just get it done with and enjoy winning a national championship for a week or so."

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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