SEC Clue: Lane Kiffin, In Knoxville, With A Ballot

It is highly unlikely Tim Tebow has spent much time reflecting on his recent snubbing by one of the SEC’s Head Coaches.  After all, he has been a part of two National Championships, won a Heisman trophy, was runner up for another, and has two SEC Championship rings to top it off.

 So not being a unanimous selection as first team All-SEC Quarterback probably did not even faze him.  He likely never even gave it a second thought.

 That does not make it any less of a travesty though.  Tebow has earned the right in his senior season to be granted that much respect.  Yes, I am sure there are many people out there that get sick of hearing ESPN sing his platitudes over, and over without end.  I would freely admit to being one of them.

 Having said that, there is no one else in the league that has come close to accomplishing what Tebow has.   Matt Stafford was the No.1 pick in this years NFL draft and even he would not have deserved a vote had he remained for his senior season.  Snead for Ole Miss is the best drop back passer in the league with Stafford leaving early, and likely received the one vote that prevented Tebow from being a unanimous selection, but has no business on the same level as Tebow right now.

 That brings us to the likely suspects.  Right away you can eliminate two names for sure, and probably three.  Head Coaches cannot vote for their own quarterback.  That would eliminate Urban Meyer and Houston Nutt.  It hardly seems likely that new Miss. St. Head Coach and former Florida Offensive Coordinator Dan Mullen would have stuck a knife in the back of his former quarterback.

 Mark Richt seems an obvious suspect with the animosity between the Georgia and Florida programs.  It is not his style though.  Despite the two losses, Tebow led teams have cost him Richt has far too much respect for the young Gator quarterback as a competitor to shortchange him like that.

 You can also eliminate Steve Spurrier’s name from contention.  I just cannot see the former Gator quarterback and Head Coach sticking his fellow alumni like that.

 It was not Gene Chizik.  He only does what Pat Dye tells him to and Dye does not care about quarterbacks, just tailbacks.

 Rich Brooks and Bobby Petrino lack the motive, as does Bobby Johnson. 

 That leaves us with Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Lane Kiffin.  All three have motive if you think about it.  Saban’s team would have won the SEC and played for a National Championship last season if not for Tebow, so the motive could be revenge.  Petty does not seem his style though and this was a petty act.  Saban would have more than likely had him kneecapped if he was out for revenge.

Same thing for Miles, he does not seem the type to think so small.  He has shown himself to be a risk taker in the past, even when it did not make sense to take one. I doubt he would have contented himself with just denying Tebow a unanimous vote.

 That leaves Mr. Kiffin who has shown himself more than capable of petty behavior in his short tenure as Head Coach of the Volunteers.  He has proven in the past that he will go to any length to stick it to the Gators, or to be more exact, Urban Meyer. 

 It would be very easy to imagine Kiffin not voting for Tebow in an attempt to mess with Meyer.  He could likely justify it in his own mind after coming out looking like a fool following this past signing day when he accused Meyer of recruiting violations that did not exist.  He did so after pointing out to another coaching staff that he knew recruiting rules because he had passed the test required of coaches before they are allowed on the road to recruit.

 Maybe somebody should take another look at that test.

 Most of all he would do it just to entertain Vol fans whose insecurity regarding the Gators goes back to the days of the previous coaching staff. 

 I guess we will just have to wait until the next Volunteers breakfast to find out for sure.  Good Lord knows if he did it and there is a television camera anywhere in the vicinity, he won't be able to keep his mouth shut about it.