GAINESVILLE, Fla. --
Tim Tebow knew it was going to be emotional. He was right.
Tebow and 24 other
Florida seniors were recognized prior to their final home game at The Swamp Saturday against rival
Florida State. Tebow, the Gators' iconic quarterback, was the final player introduced and emerged from the tunnel in the south end zone to a thunderous greeting from a sellout crowd in excess of 90,000.
Many fans saluted their hero by also wearing eye black with either Bible verses or simple greetings of thanks.
Of course, the game is expected to be a big deal, too.
"This is a huge game," UF coach Urban Meyer said.
"I don't want to say it, but it's as big a game as this school has ever had, the University of Florida. We're honored to play in it. We know who we're playing against. We're going to take this real seriously. We started it immediately once the (final) whistle blew with
FIU last week. We know exactly what this game means. There is no reason for pregame speeches and things like that."
Vehicle and pedestrian traffic along University Avenue, which runs along the stadium, was heavy and thick nearly four hours before kickoff. UF graduate and Bull Gator Eddie Bass, who often travels to road and bowl games, expected the heavily favored Gators to play well.
"The seniors will be jacked-up; there's so much at stake," said Bass, who was joined by father Ed Bass and friends Thad Beshears, Travis Stivender, Chad Pursell and Stuart Savoy. "But you also hope they don't come out with so much adrenaline that it impacts their performance."
The game has many other subplots.
This will be the last time FSU's Bobby Bowden coaches at Florida Field. Bowden, 80, who may or may not return to coach next season, is 7-9 in games at UF. The Gators have won the last five overall in the 54-year-old series.
UF also needs a win to become only the second team in school history to go 12-0. It would also set up a 1-vs.-2 showdown next Saturday against
Alabama in the SEC Championship in Atlanta.
Tebow and his fellow seniors have left quite an imprint. They also made a memorable entrance, emerging from the locker room tunnel carrying flowers for their families and receiving a hug or handshake from Meyer on the field.
This is a senior class that is 46-6, the winningest senior class in SEC history. This group also is 27-5 in SEC play, 25-2 in The Swamp and 14-3 against ranked opponents.
It has helped win two SEC Championships, three SEC Eastern Division titles and two national titles.
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Latest College Football Photos
TCU wide receiver Bart Johnson (6) dives into the end zone to score against New Mexico linebacker Clint McPeek (11) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)
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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Running back Ed Wesley #34 of the TCU Horned Frogs runs the ball against the New Mexico Lobos at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ed Wesley
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TCU wide receiver Bart Johnson (6) dives into the end zone to score against New Mexico linebacker Clint McPeek (11) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)
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Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, right, walks with coach Urban Meyer, left, on the Florida field as they head to the dressing room prior to Tebow's last home game before graduating. Florida plays Florida State during an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
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New Mexico quarterback Donovan Porterie (15) tries to recover a high snap fumble against TCU in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU scored a safety on the play. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)
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TCU wide receiver Bart Johnson (6) dives into the end zone to score against New Mexico linebacker Clint McPeek (11) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tom Pennington)
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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Donovan Porterie #15 of the New Mexico Lobos drops back to pass against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donovan Porterie
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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs drops back to pass against the New Mexico Lobos at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andy Dalton
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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs drops back to pass against the New Mexico Lobos at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andy Dalton
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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs runs for a touchdown against the New Mexico Lobos at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andy Dalton
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North Carolina's Bruce Carter (54) tackles North Carolina State's Zach Powell during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Farewell Colt McCoy, even though you had a better career than T-bone, you will be missed.
Florida State is so annoying to watch with their tomahawk song, chant and hand motion. I enjoy them doing poorly so that crap is minimized.
mcsame: If you hate the tomahawk chop and the song, then you should hate the gator's arm clap and the stupid "jaws" theme song that goes along with it...
Good, get gone.
still #1, all of you haters makes it that much sweeter, thanks!!!
Lol, Colt better??? He isn't even better THIS year...joke of a conference...
Colt McCoy has had a better career than Tebow??? What crack rock are you currently smoking? Tebow has two national championships, won a Heisman in his sophomore year(the only player to do so) has been a Heisman finalist twice in a row and will probably be one again and he's broken a gazillion records. Not to mention, Tebow made a speech and since then the Gators have been undefeated! Um, what has Colt McCoy done lately?
Bastion, first season (2006) McCoy 10-3 won bowl game. ( Chris Leaks quarterbacked the Gators to title in 2006?? ) Second season ( 2007) McCoy 10-3 won bowl game, Tebow's first full season 9-4 lost bowl game after winning Heisman?
Third season, McCoy 13-1 won BCS bowl Heisman runner up...Tebow 13-1 National title 3rd runner up. Fourth season both currently 12-0. SO WHY ALL the DISRESPECT for what Colt McCoy has accomplished? The SEC is the sports Darling right now but it was not always that way and it will not always be that way. Your Conference is LOADED with good old boys from the STATE of TEXAS!
Why is Tebow being credited for winning 2 National titles when Leaks was the 2006 QB??
@bastion78 - Tebow is NOT the only player to have won the Heisman as a sophomore. Sam Bradford won the Heisman his sophomore year as well. Check your facts before making such posts. When you don't, you get called out and corrected - by a girl.
Renee, check your facts. Tebow is the only true freshmen to ever win the Heisman. He also so accomplished it in his first year as a starter. Sam Bradford won it as a Redshirt Sophmore, which is basically a junior. Which gave him a whole year to practice and learn the offense. Also, he did it in his second year as a starter. So, it is not the same situation. But, keep hating Tebow and the Gators, because we Gator fans love it.
I agree with you Renee. Tebow's first season was 2006 when Chris Leaks was the Gator's starting quarterback. Tebow started in 2007 and won the Heisman with a 9-3 record then lost to Michigan in the bowl game to finish 9-4. Is this correct Gator fans?? The Gators won the National title in 2006 against Ohio St., lost to Michigan in 2007, won the title in 2008 against Oklahoma...true. If all this is correct then Tebow's first year was 2006 as a freshman and he was NOT the Heisman winner as a true freshman as someone said.
WTG Renee. Most of these machos don't check anything but their cr**ch before posting. Keep 'em honest...you go, Girl
Sorry Renee, you're wrong. Tim Tebow was the first and only true sophomore to win the Heisman. Bradford was a redshirt sophomore when he won it...that's not the same thing.
Fact checker - out.
"Fact checker":
One, nowhere in bastion78's post does he say "TRUE" sophomore. Instead he simply referenced that Tebow was the only player ever to have won it as a sophomore.
More specifically, the Heisman Trust ITSELF does not distinguish a "true" sophomore from a "redshirt" sophomore and on its official site lists both Tebow AND Bradford as the only SOPHOMORES to have won the Heisman. http://vps3107.inmotionhosting.com/~heisma5/index.php/heismanWinners#winners-year
Notice there is no distinction as to "red shirt" or "true" sophomore??? MOST LIKELY because regardless of how long either player was been in SCHOOL, they BOTH have equal years of PLAYING TIME.
So no, Fact checker... I'm not wrong. You are. But hey... at least you TRIED, right?! LOL
Renee,
Although you are right that the Heisman Trust does not distinguish between True and Redshirt, your quote about equal playing time is incorrect.
Your quote 'Notice there is no distinction as to "red shirt" or "true" sophomore??? MOST LIKELY because regardless of how long either player was been in SCHOOL, they BOTH have equal years of PLAYING TIME.'
A true freshman plays from day one with four years of eligibility. A redshirt player may attend classes at the college or university, PRACTICE with an athletic team, and dress for play but he or she may not compete during the game. Which gives them an extra or fifth year of eligibility. So No, they do not BOTH have equal years of playing time. The redshirt player has a whole extra year of learning the offense or defense. Pretty significant playing time. Probably why Bradford was able to take over for OU's other Heisman winner QB Jason White as a REDSHIRT freshman and not a TRUE freshman.
TEBOW IS THE MAN, NOT EXACTLY A GATOR FAN BUT GIVE CREDIT WHEN ITS DUE. GO HURRICANES
Right now I would give the Heisman Award to either TeBow or Toby! That dude Toby from Stanford is a machine.
All these "one season wonders" and you people are ready to give them the Heisman if not hand it too Tebow. McCoy has produced for 4 seasons and fallen victim to Tebow and Bradford. All Colt McCoy has done is win more games (44 and counting) best passer rating in a career ( not season) and win the 3 bowl games thus far that he has led his teams too.
watched stanford beat humpy dumpty and the haha "fighting irish" last night. tody gerhart is a "machine". cant wait to see him play on sundays
Some thoughts from an FSU fan -
-FSU will be happy to see Tebow graduate, but damn! Look what he's helped do with the Gator program and college football in the state of FL.
-(And you can't say that was all Meyers' doing, Zook's crew actually recruited Tebow!)
-It was hard to watch FSU play yesterday - A lost was expected, but it was only a matter of by how much.
-UF only benefited from the win. I wish FSU gave UF a tighter/more competitive match up to prepare them for their big game against 'Bama.
-If FSU won they would have begged Bowden to stick around for another 100 years...God forbid!
-It's a relief to know that yesterday's rivalry game will be Bowden's last at The Swamp. Please retire already, Bobby?