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Friday, November 29, 2024

Tebow hype started against the Vols with a fourth-and-1 conversion

Just less than eight minutes remaining, down 20-14 at Tennessee facing fourth-and-1 on Tennessee's 28-yard line, and Florida coach Urban Meyer calls a timeout to discuss what to do.

But there was no doubt in his mind what he was going to call. Meyer would send in his then-freshman quarterback to run the ball with the game on the line.

"There was really no hesitation. When I said it over the headset, it wasn't, 'Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa,' and sometimes that happens, but it was just an unbelievable moment for Florida football," Meyer said.

That's how quarterback Tim Tebow's now-legendary career began, with a 2-yard rush to pick up the first down late in the game in front of a packed Neyland Stadium back in 2006.

The Gators finished off the drive with the game-winning touchdown and left Knoxville with a 21-20 victory on their way to the BCS national championship.

Since then, Tebow and the Gators have not had any problems with the Volunteers, handily beating them in the next two meetings 59-20 in 2007 and 30-6 in 2008. Tebow had a very successful 2007 outing, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns and one interception 14 of 19 for 299 yards and rushing for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

He didn't have to do much last year, completing 8 of 15 throws for 96 yards and two touchdowns while adding 26 yards on 12 rushes.

The senior signal caller will look to finish his career unbeaten against the Vols on Saturday in The Swamp. He would join former Gator Danny Wuerffel and former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker as the only Southeastern Conference quarterbacks to go 4-0 against the Volunteers in their career.

"It's been a big game (to me) ever since I was 5, 6 years old, watching (Peyton) Manning and (Danny) Wuerffel and all those guys play in this game," Tebow said. "To finish off undefeated would be special."

There has been no question in anyone's mind whose hands the ball would be in when the Gators were facing any type of short-yardage situation ever since his emergence in his first game against Tennessee.

The 2-yard run was just a glimpse of what was to come from Tebow in the future.

"It was one of the beginnings to see what he was like in clutch situations," Meyer said. "That was the first real one he was in where he had to go make the play to help us win the game, and he did."

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Tebow has not disappointed, playing his way to a Heisman Trophy in 2007 and leading UF to its second national championship in three years last season.

It all started with a fourth-and-1 run in Knoxville.

He hasn't look backed since.

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