Tebow: The King of Gator Nation

TEBOW'S MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Here are five things to remember from Tim Tebow's on-field performance with the Gators:

•Going For It: With Florida trailing on the road at Tennessee, Tebow, a freshman, was inserted on fourth-and-1 in the final quarter. Tebow bulled ahead for 2 yards, allowing the Gators to drive for the winning score in a 21-20 victory, keeping them on course for a national title in 2006.

•Jump Pass: Locked in a tight game against LSU in 2006, Tebow appeared to be running on a goal-line play late in the half. But he stopped short, leaped in the air, pumped and delivered a floater to tight end Tate Casey in the back of the end zone with 22 seconds remaining. Florida prevailed 23-10 in 2006.

•Heisman Punctuation: Making a late-season push for the Heisman Trophy in 2007, Tebow scored five rushing touchdowns against South Carolina (and former UF coach Steve Spurrier). Overall, Tebow accounted for seven TDs in UF's 51-31 victory.

•Braveheart: Incensed because the Doak Campbell Stadium crowd cheered an injury to teammate Percy Harvin on a rain-soaked day in 2008, Tebow said he was "irritated" and asked for the ball on every play because he "wanted to hit somebody." Tebow passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in a 45-15 win against Florida State. By game's end, Tebow's white uniform was stained with some grass, mud and garnet-colored paint.

•Rolling The Tide: Alabama led Florida 20-17 heading into the fourth quarter of last season's SEC Championship Game. That was simply Tebow's cue to take it up a notch against one of the nation's best defenses. Tebow led Florida to a pair of touchdowns, clinching a 31-20 triumph.

THE TEBOW LEGEND

Part-football player, part-folk hero, part-urban legend, here are five things that resonate from Tim Tebow's high-profile career:

•The Documentary: Before he ever suited up for the Gators, Tebow was the subject of a one-hour documentary - "The Chosen One" - which was seen on ESPN2. It spotlighted his high school career at Nease, which concluded with a Class 4A state title against Armwood (in which Tebow entered the game at nose guard, trying to prevent a late Armwood comeback).

•The Circumcision: Tebow has made several mission trips to the Philippines, working for his father's ministry. Primarily, he went to preach. But on one trip, he assisted at a temporary medical clinic for impoverished children. At first, he was just a helper. But by the end, he wore gloves and a surgical mask, performing circumcisions.

•The Promise: Following a bitter 31-30 loss against Ole Miss in 2008, here's how Tebow concluded his news conference: "To the fans and everybody in Gator Nation, I'm sorry. I'm extremely sorry. We were hoping for an undefeated season. That was my goal, something Florida has never done here. I promise you one thing. A lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season. God bless." The Gators went on an eight-game winning streak, outscoring their opponents 414-97 to reach the SEC Championship Game. Then they defeated two No. 1-ranked teams - Alabama in the SEC title game and Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game.

•The Other Promise: At SEC Media Days in July, someone asked Tebow if he was saving himself for marriage. Unblinking, Tebow responded: "Yes, I am." As reporters alternately gasped and nervously chuckled, Tebow said, "Y'all are stunned right now. I was ready for the question. I don't think y'all were."

•The Concussion: Tebow suffered a second-half concussion, which knocked him out of the Sept. 26 game against Kentucky. Gator Nation spent two weeks debating the merits of whether Tebow should play at LSU, even if it cost UF an unbeaten season. Was there ever a doubt? Tebow, cleared medically, led the Gators to a 13-3 win in LSU's hostile environment.

THEY SAID IT

CAREER PASSING STATISTICS

YearAtt.Comp.Pct.Yds.Int.TD2006332266.735815200735023466.93,286632200829819264.42,746430200924416266.42,166417Totals92561065.98,5561584 CAREER RUSHING STATISTICS

YearNo.YdsAvg.TD2006894695.3820072108954.32320081766733.81220091937964.113Totals6682,8334.256 SEC CAREER RECORDS

Total Offense Gained

11,389 - Tim Tebow, Florida, 2006-present

11,380 - Chris Leak, Florida, 2003-06

11,270 - David Greene, Georgia, 2001-04

11,020 - Peyton Manning, Tennessee, 1994-97

10,841 - Eric Zeier, Georgia, 1991-94

10,637 - Jared Lorenzen, Kentucky, 2000-03

10,500 - Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1993-96

9,989 - Eli Manning, Ole Miss, 2000-03

Touchdown Passes

114 - Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1993-96

89 - Peyton Manning, Tennessee, 1994-97

88 - Chris Leak, Florida, 2003-06

84 - Tim Tebow, Florida, 2006-present

81 - Eli Manning, Ole Miss, 2000-03

79 - Andre Woodson, Kentucky, 2004-07

78 - Jared Lorenzen, Kentucky, 2000-03

Most Touchdowns

56 - Tim Tebow, Florida (51 games), 2006-present

53 - Kevin Faulk, LSU (41 games), 1995-98

52 - Herschel Walker, Georgia (33 games), 1980-82

50 - Dalton Hilliard, LSU (44 games), 1982-85

50 - Shaun Alexander, Alabama (41 games), 1996-99

46 - Cadillac Williams, Auburn (42 games), 2001-04

TIM TEBOW

Birthdate: Aug. 14, 1987

Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 240 pounds

Hometown: Jacksonville

High School: Ponte Vedra Beach Nease

Parents: Bob and Pam Tebow

UF Major: Family, Youth and Community Services

TEBOW'S KEY DISTINCTIONS

•Part of two national championship teams (2006 and 2008).

•First sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy (2007).

•Only player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in one season (2007).

•Has a 34-5 (.872) record since becoming Florida's starting QB. Including his freshman season, he has been part of UF teams that went 47-6 (.887).

BEST EVER?

Best player in state history? Best player in SEC history? Best player in (gulp) college-football history?

Where does Tim Tebow rate on your list? Here are some names to consider in each category.

State

•Deion Sanders, cornerback, Florida State (1985-88) - "Prime Time" was a two-time consensus All-American and winner of the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award. He also excelled in baseball and track.

•Emmitt Smith, running back, Florida (1987-89) - When he left UF in 1990 after three seasons, Smith had set records for career rushing yards (3,928), rushing touchdowns (36) and most rushing yards in a game (316).

•Freddie Solomon, quarterback, Tampa (1971-74) - "Fabulous Freddie" accounted for 5,803 yards of total offense (then 16th all-time in the NCAA), while rushing for 3,299 (then first all-time among college quarterbacks and 12th overall). He finished 12th in balloting for the 1974 Heisman Trophy and received 13 first-place votes.

•Charlie Ward, quarterback, Florida State (1990-93) - The 1993 Heisman Trophy winner was the catalyst for FSU's first national championship team, passing for 3,032 yards, 27 touchdowns and just four interceptions as a senior.

•Danny Wuerffel, quarterback, Florida (1993-96) - The 1996 Heisman Trophy winner led UF to its first national title. He passed for 3,625 yards, 39 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as a senior, while setting an SEC record with 114 career touchdown passes. No one else has won both the Heisman and Draddy Awards (given to the sport's outstanding scholar-athlete).

SEC (non-Florida)

•Don Hutson, wide receiver, Alabama (1931-34) - Before the Green Bay Packers, Hutson was a deep threat in an era that hardly utilized the forward pass. Hutson averaged 17.2 yards per reception as a senior. In a Rose Bowl defeat of Stanford, he had six receptions for 165 yards, including touchdowns of 59 and 54 yards.

•Bo Jackson, running back, Auburn (1982-85) - The 1985 Heisman Trophy winner had 4,303 career rushing yards and 43 touchdowns. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry. A celebrated dual-sport athlete, he also played baseball and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1989 All-Star Game.

•Archie Manning, quarterback, Ole Miss (1968-70) - The speed limit around the Oxford campus is 18 mph (for Archie's number). He might be best remembered for a loss (33-32 to Alabama, in which he passed for 436 yards, still a school record). His quarterbacking brood - Peyton and Eli - only have added to the legend.

•Peyton Manning, quarterback, Tennessee (1994-97) - He was runner-up for the 1997 Heisman Trophy, set 33 school records, threw 89 touchdown passes and now, there's even a road leading to Neyland Stadium called "Peyton Manning Pass." But Manning cemented his popularity by simply returning for his senior season.

•Herschel Walker, running back, Georgia (1980-82) - The 1982 Heisman Trophy winner rushed for 5,259 career yards in three seasons, leading the Bulldogs to the program's only national title and a 32-2 record. He skipped his senior season and jumped to the USFL, but all was quickly forgiven.

Nation

•Earl Campbell, running back, Texas (1974-77) - The 1977 Heisman Trophy winner had 4,443 career rushing yards and 21 games in which he rushed for 100 or more yards.

•Tony Dorsett, running back, Pittsburgh (1973-76) - The 1976 Heisman Trophy winner helped Pitt to a national title and rushed for 6,082 career yards.

•Red Grange, running back, Illinois (1923-25) - The "Galloping Ghost" helped to popularize the sport in the 1920s. In just 20 college games, he had 3,362 yards and 30 touchdowns.

•Archie Griffin, running back, Ohio State (1972-75) - Still the only player to win two Heisman Trophies (1974 and 1975), he rushed for 5,589 career yards.

•Roger Staubach, quarterback, Navy (1962-64) - The 1963 Heisman Trophy winner completed 63 percent of his career passes and was arguably the best player ever at a service academy.