The Back Alley Archives

GAINESVILLE - University of Florida offensive tackle Jason Watkins remembers quarterback Tim Tebow being a tad excitable in the huddle last season.

'He'd come and straight head-butt you - hard,' Watkins said. 'He hit me harder than the defense hit me.'

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'He's not a big fan of sliding,' Meyer said. 'There are times where you take a hit to get a first down. There's other times when you're in survival mode in the Southeastern Conference.

"We've talked to him about sliding and he's looked at me like I had six heads.'

The scene got uglier this month when Mullen had Tebow practice the classic, foot-first baseball slide that could spare him a concussion.

'As a baseball player, he didn't look real good at it,' Mullen said. 'I thought he would look a little bit better.'

Tebow offered an explanation only Pete Rose would love.

'Even in baseball,' Tebow said, 'I always slid headfirst.'