Tebow or Brantley? LSU to Adjust

OK, so we know that Tim Tebow has been cleared to act like Tim Tebow. He can go to class, he can watch TV and game tape, he can tolerate bright lights and he doesn't have a headache. That was Florida coach Urban Meyer's latest medical update Monday concerning his recovering quarterback as the top-ranked Gators prepare for Saturday's showdown at No. 4 LSU.

While the big question remains -- when will Tebow be cleared to play football after suffering a concussion late in the third quarter against Kentucky two weekends ago? -- LSU coach Les Miles says the Tigers are prepping to face either Tebow or his backup, John Brantley.

"I am told that Brantley has good feet and can move it and run the football as well," Miles said Monday.

"Their offense has great, strategic definition, and I suspect that they'll do similar things. They'll speak to the talents of the guys that they have, but we're going to prepare for the Florida offense and adjust that feel based on who's the quarterback."

With Tebow's status still uncertain, the Gators are preparing Brantley for his first career start. Meyer continues to stress the Gators have plenty of confidence in Brantley, who has completed 22 of 30 passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions this season. His 182.3 passer rating is the best in the nation of any quarterback with at least 30 pass attempts.

Miles believes.

"... We're going to prepare for the Florida offense and adjust that feel based on who's the quarterback." "He's a very talented passer," said Miles, who also admitted the Tigers would love to compete against Tebow if he was healthy and capable. "He's a guy who has quick feet. He'll fit right in there and understand that offense very well. He executes it like the starter."

Naturally, the hype has already started to build for the game, which will be the highest-ranked matchup in Tiger Stadium since No. 1 LSU beat No. 3 Ole Miss, 7-3, in 1959. It's also the first top-10 match-up in Tiger Stadium since 2007, when No. 1 LSU beat No. 9 Florida, 28-24. While LSU was drummed, 51-21, by UF at The Swamp last season, the Tigers have won three of the past give games against the Gators.

Traditionally, the bewitching hour begins at midnight and is the time when all kinds of strange and otherworldly things may happen. Once the sun dips in Baton Rouge, La., however, Tiger Stadium comes to life.

With the game scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff, the late-night mystique of Tiger Stadium will be oft-debated this week. LSU has won 32 straight Saturday night games in Tiger Stadium, and 21 consecutive night games -- LSU's last night loss in Tiger Stadium was against Tennessee on a Monday night in 2005 (30-27 in overtime).

"I don't know if there is any place like it in America," Miles said.

"Now, that certainly enhances the home-team advantage, and our guys play to the passion of that stadium and become very competitive in that environment. There are (many memories) and probably too numerous to name and would take a little bit of the magic away if you tried to identify them too fully."

Magic aside, this fact remains: there are questions concerning whether the Tigers have played their best yet.

They needed last scores to shake Washington and Vanderbilt in their first two games. They needed a late goal-line stand to survive at Mississippi State, and they needed a pair of late fourth-quarter touchdowns to escape at Georgia last week. Their only breather was a 31-3 win over Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Gators, meanwhile, have won 14 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in program history and longest active winning streak in the nation.

They rank first in the SEC and in the nation in total defense (212.8 yards per game), pass efficiency defense (75.3 rating), rushing offense (307.5), and passing efficiency (173.9 rating). They also rank No. 1 in the conference in scoring offense (45.5), pass defense (120), scoring defense (7.3), total offense (526.3) and kickoff returns (34.5).

They also have Tebow. Well sort of, at the moment.

Meyer has said he's not certain how late would be too late for Tebow to play in Saturday night's game.

"That's a hard question. I can't answer," Meyer said. "Can Tim play quarterback at Florida against a very good defense without practicing? I don't know that. That's something we'll (determine) as we move on."

Meyer also believes that Brantley is prepared to step in as a starter, citing his improved maturity.

"There is so much to playing quarterback," Meyer said.

"It's more than catching the snap and throwing the ball. That's obviously a big part of it, but you've got to call the plays in a tough environment. We've been practicing with crowd noise all week. It's just the management of the game. You've got 10 other guys looking at you for the play call. You've got to execute the offense, much like the Mike linebacker on defense.

"A year ago, he wasn't a good presence in the huddle or a good presence on the sideline, but that's much different now. Even with Tim playing, our backup quarterback is very involved in the whole mechanics of getting the play call in and the discussion on the sideline. Johnny is very well prepared to take that next step."