WILL TO WIN: Tim Tebow runs the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS National Championship game on Jan. 8. (Doug Benc/Getty Images)
After a nail-biting loss to conference foe Ole Miss early in the season, Tebow willed his team all the way to the national championship, like he said he would, and the Gator is chomping for more.
What Tebow really wants, an undefeated season capped off with another national championship, is well within his grasp. So is a second Heisman trophy.
If these goals are achieved, Tebow will, hands down, be one of the best college football players of all time.
Two Heisman trophies and back-to-back national championships to go along with the one he won as a freshman, giving him three altogether, would be unprecedented and unheard of. These goals aren’t farfetched, especially with the confidence Tebow has in himself and his team.
At halftime of the national championship game he told his coaches, “Don’t be afraid of one–five holding that thing. Believe in us and believe in me, and we can get the job done.”
Tebow ended up leading the Gators to the championship with a 24–14 win over Oklahoma.
The Resume
Although he was not the starting quarterback for his freshman campaign (senior Chris Leak was), Tebow was a major contributor to the offense. When his number was called teams had trouble stopping the athletic young quarterback, as he ran for 469 yards and eight touchdowns.
Tebow also became a threat throwing the ball completing 67 percent of his passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns.In his sophomore year though, the Florida Gators were not as good overall but Tebow was remarkable as he became known as “Superman” during his Heisman campaign.
Tebow again completed 67 percent of his throws for 3,286 yards, while tossing 32 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
He also led his team in rushing with 895 yards and 23 touchdowns, giving him 55 touchdowns overall on the season. He became the first player to both rush and pass for over 20 touchdowns in a season.
This past season, the numbers may have been down, but his play was still up as he led his team through the gauntlet known as the SEC all the way to the national title game.
Tebow threw for 2,747 yards completing 64 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns and only four picks. He led his team in rushing again with 673 yards and 12 touchdowns.
With more talent around him, less was needed from Tebow himself, but his leadership was key to the Gators success.
Tebow sat and watched as Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford won the Heisman over him, which prevented him from becoming just the second player to win the award back-to-back—or even twice—leaving Ohio State running back Archie Griffin to remain alone to accomplish the feat.
The Gators quarterback got his revenge in the national title game though, beating Bradford’s Sooners 24–14, giving him what he wanted more than the second Heisman—a second national championship, and this time as the team’s leader.
Why the NFL Can Wait
With such a successful three years, most players would go pro.
Take Reggie Bush for example. The USC running back won two national titles and a Heisman before leaving the Trojans after his junior year for the NFL.The difference? Bush was a guaranteed top five draft pick. He was ultimately picked second by the New Orleans Saints. How many 21-year olds are really going turn down that kind guaranteed money?
On top of that Bush is a running back, and running backs only really have so many miles in the tank and so many hits they can take. The average career-span for a running back in the NFL is three years.
With such a decorated college career already, Tebow could bow out now and be pretty content, but what’s the point as he’s being projected to be picked only in the third or fourth round?
If you ask me, a player shouldn’t leave early unless they are projected for the first round. After that, too much money is lost when they can just come back to college with a chance to up their draft stock.
On top of being picked so low, many experts are saying he can’t even play quarterback in the NFL. They say he’s not accurate enough. Instead, they say, he’d make a good halfback, fullback, linebacker, or tight end.
By going back for a year, Tebow can refine his passing skills and show scouts he can play quarterback professionally.
And why leave when he could come back to a team that has all 11 starters returning to one of the country’s best defenses and seven starters returning on offense. The real big loss is the speedster at wide out, Percy Harvin, who is foregoing his senior season to enter the draft.
Why go to a league, the NFL, that wants to switch your position—or even if you stay at your position you’d be standing on the sideline with a clipboard and headset as a back-up QB?
Even if Tebow doesn’t refine his passing skills and he is still not wanted as a quarterback in the NFL, he would be great in the wildcat formation that has now emerged in the NFL and could continue to grow, which would, in turn, boost his draft stock.
Let’s not forget that, on top of all that, Tebow’s the ultimate competitor and wants to win more in college.
Tebow said himself, “I love being a quarterback. I love leading a team. I love being in charge.”
So there’s no need for Superman to leave early to go to the NFL, to what many think may be his kryptonite. The NFL dream can wait a year as Tebow continues to live the college dream and get his degree.
I, for one, am not complaining to get to see this kid suit up and lead Florida one last time in its title defense.
Matt Sugam is a writer based in New Jersey.
