GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Tim Tebow did less, and Florida accomplished more.
Tebow didn’t come close to matching the gaudy numbers he had last year when he became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, but he’s been maybe more valuable to the top-ranked Gators this season. In the huddle, on the practice field, in the locker room, in meeting rooms, in the weight room, before and after games, Tebow led the way.
He picked up his teammates after the early-season loss to Mississippi, motivated everyone to play at a higher level and was at his best when Florida needed him most.
“There’s just no way for anyone to know how important he is to us,” receiver Louis Murphy said. “He does it all.”
The two-time Southeastern Conference player of the year could join a most exclusive club when the Heisman is handed out Saturday night — Ohio State’s Archie Griffin is the only two-time winner of college football’s most prestigious individual award.
“I’m just enjoying it, the opportunity,” Tebow said. “I’m more focused on trying to win the national championship. It’s a great honor to go up there again. Winning it changed people’s perspective of me. All your life you’re known as the Heisman winner.”
Tebow, who won the Maxwell Award as the best all-around player Thursday night for the second year in a row, became the first college football player with at least 20 touchdown passes and 20 rushing touchdowns in 2007, carrying a team that finished 9-4 and out of the SEC race. This season, he ranks fifth in the nation in passer rating (176.7) with 28 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. He hasn’t been asked to run nearly as much, but still has 564 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.
