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Tebow ties Walker in TDs

The Associated Press

Tebow's 26-yard run in the second quarter of Saturday night's game at Mississippi State was the 49th touchdown of his career.

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2009

Updated: 10/25/2009 01:05 am

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Florida QB Tim Tebow's 26-yard run in the second quarter of Saturday night's game at Mississippi State was the 49th touchdown of his career, tying him with Georgia legend Herschel Walker as the SEC's career rushing TD leader.

Gators coach Urban Meyer said earlier in the week he is amazed when he sees Tebow's name mentioned with Walker.

"I was a Herschel Walker fan, like nuts about him, when I grew up," Meyer said. "He was (in college) right at the point I was in high school. I was actually a huge Georgia Bulldogs fan because of Herschel Walker. I got to meet him at the Heisman ceremony (when Tebow won the 2007 Heisman) and sat and talked to him.

"Everything I know about him, he's first class. He represents Georgia, he represents the Southeastern Conference."

Tense moments

Florida's first game against former offensive coordinator Dan Mullen didn't start as friendly as one would think.

After the opening coin toss, both teams left the sidelines and edged closer to midfield, jumping up and down in the process, and were within a few feet of each other before the sides had to be held back. It caused some tense moments for both coaches.

When Florida downed the ball to run out the clock at the end of the first half, the players had words a second time and had to be separated by coaches as they came off the field.

Ironically, Meyer had tried to calm any possible tenseness earlier this week.

"There's respect," he said of his relationship with Mullen. "There's no issue at all. I think I've read stuff lately, I get asked a lot of questions, it's not like, 'Hey, let's go beat Dan Mullen.' We don't do that."

Blackledge's take

ESPN's Todd Blackledge, who called Saturday night's game, said UF fans shouldn't compare last year's national championship squad to this year's team.

"I think that each year, teams are just a little different," he said

Florida is more defensive oriented this season and has won games by running the ball.

"The expectations are extremely high. I think the thing that's got people asking questions is they're not scoring like they were last year," Blackledge said.

As for Tebow's future as an NFL player, Blackledge said there's no doubt it will be as a quarterback. How well he plays could largely depend on where he lands.

"Obviously he's got to continue to work on his mechanics on throwing the football and playing quarterback," Blackledge said. "He won't be able to do a lot of the stuff that he does now as far as running it and running it as forcefully as he does. But he's such a fierce competitor and works so hard that I think he'll work like crazy to make it happen."

Injuries

Florida LB Brandon Spikes did not play Saturday night. Spikes, who suffered a groin injury last week against Arkansas, came out for warm-ups but did not see the field. Spikes missed time earlier this season with tendinitis in his Achilles'.

Senior Ryan Stamper played in the middle of the defense in place of Spikes and Dustin Doe replaced Stamper on the outside.

DTs Lawrence Marsh (ankle) and Jaye Howard (knee) also did not play. Omar Hunter and Terron Sanders started up front for the Gators.

DE Duke Lemmens played up front in UF's Joker package in place of Justin Trattou, who was out with a shoulder injury.

David Jones, Mike DiFerdinando

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