HE15MAN

Heisman trophy winner Tebow credits God for skill on field

Brunson notes JAX church has two QB’s in college bowls

By JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor

Published December 10, 2007

NEW YORK (FBW)-Football rates a mere fourth on his list of priorities behind God, family and academics. Even so, in New York City Dec. 8 Tim Tebow became the first-ever college sophomore to win the famed Heisman Trophy in the 72 years of the award. The University of Florida quarterback was a finalist along with Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel.

“I’d just like to first start off by thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave me the ability to play football and gave me a great family and a support group and great coaches and everything around me,” a breathless Tebow said at the ceremony, moments after the award was announced. Going on to thank teammates, high school coaches, his parents and siblings, Tebow repeated thanks to Jesus Christ and drew laughter when pledging his love for his chosen school for the third time.

“I love the University of Florida, I love being a Gator. I love Gator Nation,” Tebow said. A graduate of Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Tebow helped Florida win a national title last season as the Gators’ back-up and situational substitute quarterback. He is the first major college player to run for at least 20 touchdowns and throw 20 TD passes in the same season. This year’s 22 rushing TD’s are tied for the FBS record for rushing TD’s in a season by a quarterback.

Read the rest here > >

VIDEO: Tebow wins Heisman!

Tebow wins! Can I get an amen?

Franz Beard, the Managing Editor for www.gatorcountry.com wrote a great article about Tim Tebow's Heisman Trophy win tonight here.

Quote from Frans Beard's article:

Tim Tebow’s night of nights, when he was chosen the best college football in the entire country, was validated when Danny Wuerffel, the Heisman Trophy winner of 1996, stepped away from a group of past Heisman winners from the 1990s to offer congratulations to the sophomore who is likely to erase every record he ever set at the University of Florida. It was the brand new legend getting a hug from the legend whose place is secure in the heart of every Gator.

You can read the rest here >>

Congratulations to Tim Tebow for winning the The Heisman Trophy!

4 In A Row

Just a thought

No Graduating four year senior from Florida State's football team have beaten the Florida Gators!

Go Gators!

http://www.gatorzone.com/football/stats.php

- Ric

A Shut Out!

Tim Tebow throws 3 touch down passes and runs for 2 as Florida Destroys Florida State! Plus Florida's defense holds Florida State to only four field goals only in the first half.

I do give Florida State's Gary Cismesia a big kudo for making a 60 yard field goal at the end of the second quarter of play, this is something you just don't see happen to much in football at any level.

But the big story now is the Heisman Watch! I have already cast my vote for Tim Tebow (do you blame me?), and it's going to be something to watch how the rest of the country will vote by who else has a vote for the Heisman Trophy.

Lust looking at ESPN's Heisman Watch, here is what they have up to November 20, 2007:

Name	Position	School	Year	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Total
Tim Tebow	QB	Florida	So.	9	4	1	0	0	64
Chase Daniel	QB	Missouri	Jr.	1	8	2	0	2	47
Pat White	QB	West Virginia	Jr.	2	0	3	4	2	29
Dennis Dixon	QB	Oregon	Sr.	1	0	3	2	1	19
Darren McFadden	RB	Arkansas	Jr.	0	2	2	1	3	19
Matt Ryan	QB	Boston College	Sr.	1	1	2	0	1	16
Todd Reesing	QB	Kansas	So.	0	0	1	4	1	12
Glenn Dorsey	DT	LSU	Sr.	1	0	0	1	0	7
Colt Brennan	QB	Hawaii	Sr.	0	0	1	0	1	4
Michael Crabtree	WR	Texas Tech	Fr.	0	0	0	1	1	3
Chris Long	DE	Virginia	Sr.	0	0	0	1	0	2
Graham Harrell	QB	Texas Tech	Jr.	0	0	0	0	1	1
Paul Smith	QB	Tulsa	Sr.	0	0	0	0	1	1
Chris "Beanie" Wells	RB	Ohio State	So.	0	0	0	0	1	1

Well anyway, this win marks the fourth straight win for Florida against Florida State in a row, and Geno Hayes was not help any for Florida State's quest to stop Tim Tebow by his comment on November 19, 2007 by stating "Tim Tebow is going down".

Bravo Florida. Great season, and one that is better than expected for such a young team!

The latest I heard was that Florida could be matched up in a bowl game against Ron Zook's Illinois Fighting Illini! This would be an interesting match up.

Well anyway, Go Gators!

- Ric

Comments from the scared and weak!

A linebacker from Florida State, Geno Hayes, is one of the best examples of the weak and scared in the human race. Geno, get a backbone!

Read all about it here >>

Florida 51, South Carolina 31

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Tim Tebow accounted for all seven of Florida's touchdowns, a school record five rushing and two passing, as the Gators kept alive their hopes of making the SEC title game with a 51-31 victory over South Carolina on Saturday night.

Tebow was 22-for-32 for a career-best 304 yards and ran for 120 yards on 26 carries, accounting for more than three-quarters of the offense for the No. 17 Gators (7-3, 5-3).

Read the rest here >>

Ohio St. can't beat Florida or Florida's former coaches!

Illinois	14	7	7	0	28
Ohio State	14	0	7	0	21

Gators show off versatility

Harvin, Tebow too much to stop

By MAURICE PATTON
Staff Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Everyone's familiar with the terrible twos, but there was nothing childish about what Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin did Saturday to Vanderbilt.

The Gator sophomore duo put together a record-setting performance in a 49-22 victory. Harvin became the first Florida player to record 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same contest, and Tebow set a Southeastern Conference mark for most single-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

Read the rest here.

VETTEL: Tebow Resurrects Heisman Hopes

VETTEL: Tebow Resurrects Heisman Hopes
Tim Tebow		By Larry Vettel Senior Writer Date: Nov 4, 2007 Florida quarterback Tim Tebow slid several spots on a number of Heisman lists recently after the Gators dropped three of four games and went from top five in the nation to top five in the SEC East.

Click here to read the rest of this story...

No. 14 Florida Football Knocks Off No. 8 Kentucky 45-37

Today in Lexington, Kentucky the Florida Gators (5-2, 3-2 SEC) knocked off the Kentucky Wildcats (6-2, 2-2 SEC) again making it an awesome Twenty-One straight wins in a row!

There was a lot of talk this week about Andre Woodson if he and the Wildcats could beat Florida that he might be in the running for the Heisman Trophy. Awwww... to bad Andre!

Well now it looks like Tim Tebow will stay in the hunt for the Heisman Trophy this year after all!

When (not "if") the Florida Gators win their next three conference games against Georgia,
Vanderbilt and South Carolina, then we will go for our second SEC Championship in a row! Who will it be against? Alabama, Auburn or LSU?

In today's game sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow accounted for five touchdowns, including a career-high four through the air and rushed for his 10th score of the season in his eight consecutive games. Tim Tebow threw for 254 passing yards with 16 completions and ran for 78 yards on the ground.

Next week on October 27, the Florida Gators heads to Jacksonville to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Alltel Stadium at 3:30 PM. The game will be aired on CBS.

Go Gators!

- Ric

UF walk-on Guilford dies in motorcycle accident

A walk-on defensive back for the Florida Gators was killed early Friday when the motorcycle he was driving hit a median at a high rate of speed, police said.

Click here to see the full story.

Tennessee Just Gave Up???

Good conditioning does pay off!

Read all about it here: Gators believe Tennessee gave up

Florida 30, Mississippi 24

I remember the last two times we played Ole Miss, they beat us two years in a row. And what stuck in my head was after the second game on October 4, 2003, in Gainesville no less, was an Ole Miss fan yelling to the Gators as they ran back into the locker room, "We own you, we own you!"

Well Ole Miss, your ownership is revoked!

Go Gators!

- Ric

Notre Dame 0-4 for 1st time in 119 years

Notre Dame 0-4 for 1st time in 119 years!

I Love It!
I Love It!
I Love It!
I Love It!

Gator Football Statistics

The Gator Football Statistics have been updated.
Please use the link below to view them via your web browser.
http://www.gatorzone.com/football/stats.php

Three in a Row!!!

With the 59 to 20 win over the Tennessee Volunteers, the Florida Gators has closed the series between the two teams to a 19 to 18 margin, and next year I expect the Gators to tie up the series 19 to 19!!!

And a new note, only three coaches have beaten Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer in three straight games, Steve Spurrier, Mark Richt and now Urban Meyer!!!

What a game!

Go Gators!

- Ric

Three in a Row???

Three in a Row??? I sure hope so, and I believe it will happen!!!

Urban Meyer became the first Florida coach to beat Tennessee in his first two tries last season since Galen Hall. And Urban Meyer joins Steve Spurrier, Mark Richt and Tommy Tuberville as the only coaches to beat Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer in back-to-back seasons.

I believe a "three-peat" is going to happen today.

Even though our biggest concern is the defensive line of Florida with it's youth and lack of experience, they are starting to gel. And I do believe even though Wide Receiver Andre Caldwell will be sitting out for this game, Florida's offense has to many weapons that can score (not to mention Tim Tebow) to keep Tennessee's defense on their heels all game. The only chance I think Tennessee has to win in this game is to out score Florida's offense, and I don't think that is likely.

Go Gators!

- Ric

Gators' QB: 'God, family, academics & ...'

Baptist Press has written a great article on Tim Tebow called: Gators' QB: 'God, family, academics & ...'

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (BP)--Holding the most high-profile position on the defending national championship team -- making him the biggest Big Man on Campus at a football-crazed school -- could easily go to the head of any college sophomore, but Tim Tebow says that football is not even the third most important thing in his life.

Read the rest here.

2007 Season Schedule

09/01 W Kentucky..................W 49-3
09/08 Troy...........................W 59-31
09/15 Tennessee...................W 59-20
09/22 at Ole Miss...................W 30-24
09/29 Auburn........................L 17-20
10/06 at LSU.........................L 24-28
10/13 bye
10/20 at Kentucky..................W 45-37
10/27 at Georgia....................L 30-42
11/03 Vanderbilt....................W 49-22
11/10 at South Carolina............W 51-31
11/17 Florida Atlantic..............W 69-20
11/24 Florida State.................W 45-12

All times EST
Away Games
In Jacksonville, Florida

Gator Football Statistics

The Gator Football Statistics have been updated.
Please use the link below to view them via your web browser.
http://www.gatorzone.com/football/stats.php

Florida 49 vs. W Kentucky 3 Final

With about nine minuets left in the game we had a lightning delay that lasted for about an hour, then the officials decided to make the game a final at Florida 49 - Western Kentucky 3.

All I can say about our offense is just plain AWESOME! Our young defense needed this game to work out some bugs, and they started to gel real good after the first drive Western Kentucky ran against us.

Tim Tebow far exceeded my expectations as our new starting QB, and passing in the way I remember Danny Wuerffel did a decade ago - long and accurate! Tim ran the ball a few times like he mainly did last season, but running was not assigned to him like last season. But seeing the threat he has by being able to just take off with the ball just stopped Western Kentucky's secondary in their tracks.

The receivers Andre Caldwell, Riley Cooper, Percy Harvin, Louis Murphy, Cornelius Ingram and David Nelson all did great, plus seeing Cameron Newton come in to relieve for Tim Tebow and seeing that he can run the same offense that Tim runs is very refreshing.

I was hoping to see a field goal kick or two, but the Gators' high powered offense kept making touch downs! All of Joey Ijjas' extra point kicks were good!

Charley Strong will keep working on a well talented but young defense that did grow a little today, but with the experience they lack was sure made up for today with their determination, self control and sticking to the basics.

Even though the weather did not cooperate in the end, I'd still would have liked to have seen a full sixty minuets of Gator Football. Oh well, there's always next week when Troy comes into town!

Go Gators!

-Ric

As I sit here for the rain delay...

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Appalachian State Mountaineers at Michigan Wolverines 1st 2nd 3rd 4th APP (1-0) 7 21 3 3 34 FINAL #5 MICH (0-1) 14 3 9 6 32 September 1, 2007 - Michigan Stadium

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College Colors Day is Friday, August 31!

College Colors Day is Friday, August 31!

Encourage your coworkers to wear orange & blue
on Friday, August 31 for College Colors Day.

Submit a photo of your office team to be posted on the Central Florida Gator Club Web site. The most spirited Gator team will win Gators prize packs from the Central Florida Gator Club.

Please e-mail your photos (jpg only, please) no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4 to kelly@centralfloridagatorclub.com . Make sure to include:

• JPG photo of your office team in Gators gear
• Name and phone number of contact at the office
• Full name of the business

Florida Governor Charlie Crist proclaimed Friday, Aug. 31 as College Colors Day, and he encourages everyone in the state of Florida to wear apparel representing their favorite college or university!

Read more about College Colors Day online, and download the attached poster to print and hang in your office!

Stay tuned to www.centralfloridagatorclub.com for the latest information and events from the Central Florida Gator Club. Winning photo entry will be selected by the Central Florida Gator Club Board of Directors.

So easy, a caveman could do it!

This is Florida football

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NBA Gators

Don't miss these upcoming events!

Central Florida Gator Club®
an affiliated organization of the UF Alumni Association

Don't miss these upcoming events!

Saturday, Aug. 18 : Football Kickoff Pub Crawl

Downtown Orlando, 7:30 p.m. to Midnight
Tickets: $15 (first come, first served)
Register today or visit www.centralfloridagatorclub.com for more info!

Wednesday, Aug. 29 : Kickoff Dinner with Larry Vettel

Taproom at Dubsdread Country Club
Tickets: $30 members, $35 nonmembers
Register today or visit www.centralfloridagatorclub.com for more info!
*You may also download the attached form and mail your payment (for the Larry Vettel Kickoff Dinner only). Please register no later than Friday, Aug. 24.

Keep an eye on your e-mail inbox and visit www.centralfloridagatorclub.com for the latest news, information and event updates!

Kickers?

Last year is was no secret that the Gators had a problem with the kicking game. Chris Hetland in the 2005 season did a great job as Florida's PAT and Field Goal Kicker, but in 2006 Chris Hetland got into some kind of slump that worried many a Gator throughout most of the season. He still had the leg to kick the ball, but for the 3 point attempts he was missing the uprights by just a bit. It was great to see Chris Hetland redeem himself in the win over Ohio State that helped us win our second National Championship in ten years.

Now here in the 2007 season we have Jonathan Phillips and Joey Ijjas competing for the starting job. Of the two I have no idea on who will get the nod. I know very little about Jonathan Phillips and Joey Ijjas did most of the kick offs last season. I do know both have a good leg and can kick the ball a good distance, but I understand both are having problems with the short kick. This hopefully will be worked out with some coaching on both kickers behalf, but what I also find interesting it that this year the NCAA has move back the kick off line from the 35 yard line to the 30 yard line.

As anyone knows a little bit about Football field position is paramount for any chance of success in consistent scoring, and the kickers on any team now are notched up in importance a step or two in making a team effort in winning or loosing any given game.

Jonathan Phillips and Joey Ijjas I wish the both of you the best in this 2007 season, and I hope with the great coaching and team organization that Florida has that 2007 will bring us another SEC Championship (which seems to be a stepping stone to the National Championship game in many cases), and a back to back National Championship in Football too.

Go Get 'em Gators!

- Ric

2006 Season Schedule

2006 Schedule Current Standings: Overall(13-1) SEC(7-1)
DATE	OPPONENT	SEC	SITE	TIME	RESULT
Sat Apr 22	Spring Orange and Blue Game Boxscore		Gainesville, FL	1:30PM(ET)	--
Sat Sep 2	Southern Miss Boxscore		Gainesville, FL	6:00PM(ET)	W(34-7)
Sat Sep 9	Central Florida Boxscore		Gainesville, FL	6:00PM(ET)	W(42-0)
Sat Sep 16	at Tennessee Boxscore		Knoxville, TN	8:00PM(ET)	W(21-20)
Sat Sep 23	Kentucky Boxscore		Gainesville, FL	7:45PM(ET)	W(26-7)
Sat Sep 30	Alabama Boxscore		Gainesville, FL	3:30PM(ET)	W(28-13)
Sat Oct 7	LSU (HC) Boxscore		Gainesville, FL	3:30PM(ET)	W(23-10)
Sat Oct 14	at Auburn Boxscore		Auburn, AL	7:45PM(ET)	L(17-27)
Sat Oct 28	Georgia Boxscore		Jacksonville, FL	3:30PM(ET)	W(21-14)
Sat Nov 4	at Vanderbilt Boxscore		Nashville, TN	12:30PM(ET)	W(25-19)
Sat Nov 11	South Carolina Boxscore		Gainesville, FL	3:30PM(ET)	W(17-16)
Sat Nov 18	Western Carolina Boxscore		Gainesville, FL	Noon(ET)	W(62-0)
Sat Nov 25	at Florida State Boxscore		Tallahassee, FL	Noon(ET)	W(21-14)
Sat Dec 2	SEC Championship Game vs. Arkansas Boxscore		Atlanta, GA	6:00PM(ET)	W(38-28)
Mon Jan 8	BCS National Championship vs. Ohio State Boxscore		Glendale, AZ	8:00PM(ET)	(41-14)
All home games in bold.

National Championship Congratulations Rally

University of Florida Gators Football National Championship Congratulations Rally 01/13/2007 @ Florida Field. I wish I had a good digital video recorder, but I was able to take some video shots with my Kodak EasyShare CX6445, and did my finger get tired of holding down the shutter button! But we had FUN!

GO GATORS