Tebow to write final chapter of college career at Sugar Bowl

By Bud L. Ellis

The whirlwind surrounding the coaching future of Urban Meyer has succeeded in doing what should be nearly impossible:

Overshadow Tim Tebow.

When you consider that most people consider Florida’s senior quarterback to be one of the greatest college football players ever – and plenty will argue all day that Tebow is the best to ever grace the collegiate gridiron – the fact that there is so little buzz about his final college game just 72 hours shy of kickoff is amazing.

But when Meyer dropped the bombshell this weekend that he was stepping down due to health reasons, then recanted to a certain extent a day later to say he’s taking a leave of absence after Florida faces Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on Friday at the Louisiana Superdome, the subsequent discussion and analysis has all but blocked out the fact that Tebow will author the final chapter of his remarkable Florida career against the Bearcats.

The numbers may not be as gaudy as they were two seasons ago, when Tebow won the Heisman Trophy, or last season, when he directed the Gators to their second national championship in his three seasons in Gainesville. But still, just take a look at the stat sheet, and even the most ardent Gator-hater has to tip his or her cap in the direction of the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder.

Tebow has passed for 2,413 yards this season, including 18 touchdowns. Far below the

32 TDs he fired in 2007 and the 30 he hit for last season, and the yardage trails his ’07 total by more than 800 yards. For his career, Tebow has passed for a remarkable 8.803 yards and 85 touchdowns. On the ground, Tebow – who very well may make his money in the NFL as a halfback – has rushed for 859 yards this season, just 36 behind his 2007 total.

It won’t end with a national title, and it even won’t be the most compelling storyline coming out of New Orleans Friday night. But even with Meyer grabbing all the headlines, the final game of Tebow’s college career is worth plenty of attention.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 7:53 pm by bud

Tags: Cincinnati, Florida, Louisiana Superdome, Sugar Bowl, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer