Some may consider the posting of this type of topic as "chest thumping" but I prefer to think of it as discussing those topics that are prevalently being discussed around the country in all sports circles. Certainly the discussion of Florida as a team or Tebow as a player by me personally could be misconstrued as to be self aggrandizing but you have to be media illiterate not to realize that these are indeed the hot topics in college football this year. To wit.....here is the most detailed article I have seen yet on the subject of Tebow from Stuart Mandel of Sports Illustrated: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/08/27/tim-tebow/index.html One of these days I am sure we will be inundated by some other team or that team's players and then Florida will step back out of the limelight a little but for now they are what's hot in college football like it or not. One note.....I stress you don't have to like it....even if I do immensely. :wink:
Tim Tebow is a great player, those who want to annoint him as the greatest ever forget conveniently the greats of the past and what they accomplished.
I think Mandel pays pretty good homage to all of the past greats in his article. He doesn't seem to leave anybody out, ancient past or recent past.
You just can't quantify this thing with stats. Great players are just that great players. It's even harder to quantify them over generations. That's like saying because of Grahman Harrells stats that he's the greatest passing QB ever in college football. But no doubt Tim Tebow is a great college football player, one of the best of his generation.
If Tim Tebow played at Idaho, would they go to a bowl? I very much doubt it. You can't have it both ways. Your program can't be a dynasty while you also have this super man greatest player or all time... If he is that, then your program is not a dynasty. In fact, if he is that, you are one knee high hit away from the Independence Bowl.
I think this is the more pressing question... "What is the rush?" Why do so many Gators feel it is so important that their team be labeled the great dynasty of their generation?? Or that Tebow is the greatest player of all-time? You're reaching. It's desperate and it comes off a bit cheap, like a lonely ole cougar at last call chasing down the 20something bartender. You know this song will only last for so long and you're just about out of quarters...
Hell....I didn't realize Mandel was a Gator.....same thing with so many other members of the national media who feel the need to talk about Tebow and Florida. :wink:
You're posting it. Other Gators are fappin to it right now. Really, not many people are that 'crazy for Tebow'. He seems like a good kid and all. He certainly has received as pass from the media on a few items, but as I said, he's a good kid. The reasons whores like Mandel write articles like this is because it works people up into a lather. There is no denying that blood lust of Gator fans to declare themselves the greatest ever at everything. Nor is their any denying that there are a whole lot of people telling you to hold on. Just wait it out and let the chips fall where they may. This crap is written because there is a market for it. You are that market.
Corey....it will be interesting to see what happens around here when ND makes a comeback...no matter how big or small. I think it will happen.....just a matter of time. That goes for a few other teams as well when they do enough to become big national stories once again. My memory will be long. Great stats.....no championships. Tebow certainly doesn't have that problem.....but I agree that there are probably many players out there who would have been All-Americans if they had any sort of supporting cast like the great players places like ND, Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Nebraska, Tenn. and Florida have provided.
For the great players at places like Idaho fortunately for them there is the riches of the NFL. Not a bad consolation. One thing on players at smaller schools at the college level though is they are not having to perform against the best and the fastest and the meanest on the biggest stage with all of the tremendous pressure and hype. Not always easily done.
Tebow is an enigma to me. There is no doubt that he is a great young man and a charismatic leader on a team LOADED with talent and under a great coach. On the other hand, I don't consider him a top QB. Bradford, McCoy, and Clausen all throw a better ball and have much better mechanics. I'm sure there are many more. He is a great college football player. All time greatest? Not to me.
LOL>...what would Idaho be like with Tim Tebow. What would Eastern Washington been like with O.J.Simpson, would Hofstra been like if Joe Montana had gone there.... :roll: :roll: I think Tebow will have another great year, maybe even win another Heisman and/or a Nat'l Championship. But even if the doesn't do either of them he's still <b>ONE</b> of the greatest players of his generation. To me it's the way he plays QB, that sets him apart. He's not really the same type of Athletic QB that VY was or that Pryor is developing into...he's plays it like a linebacker...a modern day Joe Kapp without the drinking!
As usual Terry hits the nail on the head or the ball out of the park or both. I curious about a couple of things though. Corey, just what passes is it that you are referring to that Tebow got from the press? George, as far as mechanics, just how do you know Bradford, McCoy and Clausen have better mechanics and throw a better ball? Your observations from watching them or what you've read? Just curious. I'm not sure just how you pick an all time greatest. It seems to me that people's concept of greatest almost always are someone in their life time and old timers get left out. A lot of people on the internet these days think anything over 10 years ago doesn't qualify as great. In ending let me ask you this question......If Tim Tebow, OJ Simpson, Vince Young, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning played for Idaho at the same time that Idaho could score touchdowns? Inquiring minds want to know.
Bill, From watching them. Smoother release. Higher release point. Better footwork. Tebow is perfect for Meyer's system. He doesn't care if TT gives a cursory glance to a receiver then tucks and runs. He's a hell of a runner, why not? Don't get me wrong; I'm fan. How can you not admire the guy? But MCG asked what I thought and I told him.
Bill, Using just the most recent example... Leinart takes a single ball room dancing class (that he attended) and the guy still takes heat for it. He was already graduated and needed to be enrolled in school to play. Tebow takes some senior seminar type course in which he has already admitted that he won't attend (but will make special arraignments with the teacher) and will basically be a football player only this semester. One guy was a laughing stock and his university made fun of (not that I mind that btw), the other guy continues on as a saint. Terry/Bill, You can laugh all you want but the comparisons are valid. Guys like Brett Favre play at nowhere programs and still managed to make their mark. Players like Phillip Rivers goes to an NC State where 6-6 was the norm prior to him getting there and they win 3 bowls in 4 years under the guy. How about Dan Fouts at Oregon in the early 70s? How about Terry Bradshaw being the 1st round #1 pick coming out of Louisiana Tech? If Tebow were to go to some mid or low-level program... would we still be talking about St Tebow the greatest player or all-time?
Phillip Rivers, Dan Fouts, and Terry Bradshaw, were not unknowns they were high #1 NFL picks. I don't remember Brett Farve as a college football player. I don't think people are saying that Tebow is the greatest QB ever (well at least not any non-gator fans), but he is a great football player. I'm not really sure what your point is, other than if Tebow played at Idaho he wouldn't be generating all this hype. Of course we'll never know, but Gordy Locksbaum (or something like that) generated a lot of hype playing for Holy Cross and finished 3rd in the Heisman Trophy race his Sr. year. Tebow is a great football player, he was a great HS football player and really I have no doubt that if he had decided to play at Idaho he'd be one of the greatest FB players they have had, but playing at Idaho for the most part takes you out of the "greatest" ever type of discussion. Tebow has played his position differently than just about any other QB in my lifetime. Sure there have been running QB's that's not new, and no doubt players like VY, Dennis Dixon, the new kid Pryor and others are more athletic and have a different style but if UF wins the NC he'll have 3 rings...as Bum Phillips once said about Earl Campbell ..."he may not be in a class by himself but it won't take long to call the roll". :wink:
The only school that recruited Dan Fouts was Oregon http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=243049 Phillip Rivers dreamed of playing for Notre Dame and didn't get noticed, even Alabama passed him over. (I lived here for his recruitment and know it well as the Rivers family is close with my ex-wife's family). Bradshaw was a great player who played at little La Tech.. The meta title of the friggin article that Dave posted to start this thread reads "Tim Tebow poised to pass Vince Young as all-time greatest player" You're right, that they aren't saying he isn't the greatest QB.. They are saying he's up to be the greatest player ever! I do think Tebow is an amazing athlete and an absolute treat to watch. One of, if not the, best player of his generation perhaps... We'll see.