Best of 2007: Tim Tebow's Heisman Campaign

Joe Ohman by Contributor Written on December 20, 2007
Open-uri

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/954d78f2-00a4-4c5c-b211-934888a8b5c8.jpgTim Tebow was the player AND the person that encapsulated this year in sports. 

This year was a wild year in College Football—maybe the wildest ever!  Tim Tebow capped off an unbelievable year becoming the first player in College Football history to win the Heisman as an underclassman. 

Sure, there are a few people in the past who "should have" won it, but no one ever had until Tebow. 

I've been a Gator fan since I was a young kid—since Wayne Peace (early 80's), who started at QB for the Gators as a True Freshman.  (In fact, Peace was playing in the FL -GA game a week before his 18th Birthday... he too was just a kid).  Growing up, the Gators were my second favorite team... that is, until, 1993 when another Freshman ran onto the field.  I saw # 7 come off the bench to lead the Gators on a comeback win against KY.  And each time he threw a TD, I saw his clasped hands in prayer thanking God for the ability to play College Football.  

You see, Danny Wuerffel was one of my new role models as well, (even though I was a couple years older).  The GATORS were now my favorite team and I followed Danny's career very closely - even throughout the NFL. I am a Christian as well, and I like following players who use the platform they have been given to do something great with it. 

Four SEC championships, a Heisman, and a National Championship later... I knew the Gators wouldn't be the same without Danny.  Still, I tried... the Gators remained my favorite team because of the years 1993 through 1996.  I really couldn't get into the QB's since then...  Doug Johnson, Jesse Palmer, and Rex Grossman etc were good, but not until Chris Leak did I really enjoy following a career.  However, it still didn't—couldn't—compare to Wuerffel. 

But, coming into this year, the anticipation of someone who could actually replace Danny Wuerffel on the field and in the Gator hearts across the nation, we knew we had someone special in Tim Tebow.  I knew we had a Heisman Trophy QB—I wasn't sure it would be this year, but I was sure it was inevitable! 

Although known throughout the nation as one of the greatest QB's to ever come out of High School, Tim Tebow's arm and ability was questioned all summer long. Does he have an accurate arm?  Can he throw the deep ball?  Can he lead the Gators through a very tough SEC?  Of course, Tebow and the Gators knew the answer, and soon the media did too.  Game after game, Tebow led the Gators to high scoring, high powered, offensive landslides with the Gators on the right side of the victories, including the Tennessee game in which all eyes were on Tim. 

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written on December 20, 2007 Sports

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