August 27, 2007
Adam Gorney
GatorBait.net Assistant Editor
Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow signs footballs and helmets and he probably has signed the college football preview magazines where he is on the cover. He's more than a popular guy. He has turned into a cult hero. Saturday afternoon he'll start his first college football game.
"I don't think it's overwhelming," Tebow said at Monday's news conference. "Being the quarterback at the University of Florida, there's going to be a lot of pressure but if you worry about the pressure or about completing passes, then I don't think you're going to play to the best of your ability. What you have to do is worry about what you can control.
"How hard you're working and what you're doing to succeed. If you're worrying about, 'Oh man, they're going to say something bad about me or I'm not going to be liked,' then I don't think you're going to perform very well. I just try to go out there and not worry about what everybody says. I worry about what I can control and how hard I go every day and give everything I have to be the best."
Tebow is recognized everywhere he goes. Even when he and senior safety Tony Joiner visit Wal-Mart people know him. When Tebow and Joiner visited the store a few days ago, a young teenager told Tebow that "I'll run over you." People offer advice, well wishes and ask him for pictures. There are Web sites dedicated to him - just visit TimTebowFacts.com. His Wikipedia page extensively chronicles his life.
It all seems like a dream come true for Tebow, who completed 22 of 33 passes for 358 yards with five touchdowns and an interception as a freshman. He finished second on the team with 469 rushing yards and scored a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.
Tebow shows up at news conferences with a smile on his face. He pretty much smiles the whole time, soaking in all the questions and then says thanks when he leaves. After practice, he sometimes waves to reporters standing outside. Part of the mystique is he hasn't been rattled too many times on this level. Part of it is that few expect him to change once those hard times arrive.
"It's a dream come true," Tebow said. "It's something you look forward to growing up, my whole life, watching those past quarterbacks. To dream of being a Gator and starting at quarterback for the Florida Gators, it's a dream come true and I'm looking forward to it."
He gets his chance at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the season opener against Western Kentucky. Tebow is so affable when asked Monday if Western Kentucky poses any serious challenges to Florida, he said the Hilltoppers' blitz package will be one of the most unique the Gators see all season. See, this kid really is pleasant.
Florida is the defending national champion. Western Kentucky hosts West Virginia Tech in the second week. The Gators' offense has enough firepower – led by Tebow, a prosperous running attack and a boatload of wide receivers – to carve up Western Kentucky's defense. Florida's offensive line is one of the nation's best and it's expected to handle anything thrown its way this weekend. Tebow said the bond between the quarterbacks and the offensive line is solid.
"Our relationship is great with all the guys, first team, second team, third team," he said. "We're all really close. We'll always hang out together, eat together, do everything together. Our relationship is great. Our line has been great this off-season. They worked hard in two-a-days. They came out every day, great attitude, worked hard. Even some of the guys maybe last year (who) weren't as excited about it changed and just love playing football.
"Everybody goes out there 100 percent, loving to play, playing with everything they have so I'm 100 percent confident in our offensive line. The leaders, the Drew Millers, the Phil Trautweins, they're leading the younger guys and the younger guys are jumping on board and picking up their play as well."
There is plenty of leadership on Florida's offense. Tebow is a natural leader and has been since Day 1 in Gainesville. Miller and Trautwein, two of five team captains, hold down the offensive line. Fifth-year senior wide receiver Andre Caldwell is another captain and he has helped develop the younger players at his position. Meyer said Monday people will see a much-improved Caldwell this season. Tebow said Caldwell and Miller are two of the team's best leaders.
"One of the main people on offense was Drew Miller," Tebow said. "He really stepped up his leadership and (is) doing a great job. Bubba Caldwell also stepped up with being a leader. Bubba has always been a leader, too, but I think this year he made it more vocal and helping everybody else out. Every day he goes out there and is not only worried about how he runs his routes, how he catches the ball. He's worried about how Jarred Fayson is running his routes and how Justin Williams runs his routes. He's done a great job of being a leader and being very unselfish in helping other guys."