Normally I wouldn't comment or write about this but the whispers over the weekend are now growing louder as many college football fans and media members are questioning if Florida Gator football coach Urban Meyer should have had Tim Tebow in the game with the outcome already decided against Kentucky. Was it though?
I have watched many college football games and have made up in my own mind that the game isn't over until the final second clicks off the clock. Many Gator and Florida State fans remember, for different reasons, the Choke at Doak when the Seminoles came back in the second half to settle for a tie after being dominated in the first half by the Gators. Tim Tebow should have been in the game. He signed up to play football for the University of Florida. It is not like Coach Meyer was asking him to kick field goals and he blew out his knee. He was lining up under center playing quarterback for the #1 team in the country. As a football player that is his job.
If this play had happened on the second play of the game would anyone be questioning why Tebow even suited up for a game against lowly UNDEFEATED Kentucky. No they would not. Maybe Coach Meyer should sit him out against what he considers inferior teams and just let him play against ranked opponents. Isn't that what most college coaches do? Isn't that what NFL coaches do? NO they don't. Star players play, that is what they are supposed to do.
Questions are being asked was he left in the game to pad his stats for a run at the Heisman Trophy or for the Gators to run up the score to impress those that vote in the polls? The answer is yes to both questions. It is the head football coaches job to provide the best opportunity for his players and school. By winning a national championship and producing a Heisman winner he has done both jobs. Don't complain about the coach for playing by the rules that have been laid before him. If a play-off was in place there would be no need for teams to run up scores. If memory serves me right Coach Meyer had pulled Tebow in the first few games of the season, using him very little in the second half against some cupcakes that UF has scheduled and he played the full game against a scrappy Tennessee team that wouldn't go away.
If the game had been going along as it had and the Gators continued to roll up the score against the Wildcats I doubt anybody would have seen Tebow for much longer. But you know what fans and media members get off your second guesses and come to the realization that it was just a football injury that could have happened at any time against any team.
Update: Meyer is thinking that Tebow will be able to play against LSU. Test results look good. Meyer will let the medical staff make the final determination though.
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Fred - I agree with almost all of what you said.
ReplyDeleteThe play that Tebow got hurt on, was probably going to be his last of the game anyway. An incompletion and they kick the field goal. A completion and it's a TD or short of the 1st down. At that point in the game Meyer could have taken Tebow's pads and helmet and still might not have kept Tebow off the field.........Players Play. it's easy for the Media to second guess why he is still in the Game.
I don't think it was padding stats or running up the score. Personally I think Meyer was thinking he could work on a little more timing against a live opponent, before the LSU game.
As far as John Brantley is concerned, the Gators are set at the QB position for the next 2 years. Brantley has alot would be starting right now for 3/4's of the Division 1 teams in the nation. That being said, Baton Rouge would not be the place to make your first start. If that happens, as long as he doesn't make any early mistakes, I think the Gators will still ba allright.
Even if you are not a Gator fan, soak in what is Tim Tebow. he is genuine, talented and good for the game. Players like him only come along every 20-30 years.
Be careful what you ask for in a playoff. Mark my words a 3-4 loss team will win a national championship in a playoff. That would not be good for the game. Just like an 8-8 NFL team playing in the Super Bowl. all it would take is a 4 loss team winning their conference championship game and get hot during the playoffs.
Fred, hopefully these comments are not just one sided. i'd like to hear your rebutal to all the comments back to you.
Keep up the good work!"
The previous comment was e-mailed to be so I just copied to the blod from e-mail.
ReplyDeleteYes, there was some fine tuning for the LSU game being done. Yes I believe their was some stat padding going on and in my mind there is nothing wrong with that. Any college football coach contending for a national championship owes it to his players and school to put himslef in the mix. Meyer was and is doing just that. I know he heard the smack talk after the Tennessee game, even though the outcome was never in doubt.
ReplyDeleteI do think there is a need for a college play-off system and the polls can still be used to a certain degree. I explain it all in the blog: Time is right for a college playoff. Under the format I laid out I doubt you would see a .500 football team make it but you may see a two or three loss team win it all. I think it would add excitement to the game. Currently there are 125 FCS schools and 34 bowls games. That means 55% of teams go to Bowl games. Do they all deserve it? Yankee Stadium is adding another bowl to the mix so it will be 35 bowls and almost 60% of teams will be playing after the season ends. How many of the bowl games are paid attention too maybe 10.
Tebow was sick and should have sat out the whole game. Would not have made a difference if back-up would have played. It's all about winning a Heisman for Tebow.
ReplyDeleteObviously Tim was not to sick to play. Did you see his stats for the game? An injury can come in the first play of the game as well as the 3rd quarter. Actually, it's all about winning the SEC championship first, then a National Title. If the Heisman winner comes from UF again, that's great. If not, that's fine. Urban Meyer's job is to win. He's already proven he's good at his job!!
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