What If Tim Tebow Had Never Been a Gator?

It's the night before National Signing Day in February 2006. Tim Tebow is spending time with Alabama coach Mike Shula and his family, and Urban Meyer is outside the state of Florida trying to snatch additional recruits for his upcoming class.

The next day, Urban Meyer answers his cell phone. It's Tim.

Tim tells Meyer that he loves Florida, but he'd prefer to see what he can do at Alabama.

Meyer hangs up the phone and begins planning for his second option: another hot QB named Jevan Snead.

That single decision made by a young Mr. Tebow would have changed Florida Gator history forever.

Thankfully, that wasn't the decision he made. Tim Tebow went with his gut and picked Florida over 'Bama at the last second.

I know a lot of people are tired of hearing this, but Tim Tebow is a true "Superman" for the Gator Nation. Think about it:

Without him, Urban Meyer may not have achieved two national titles.

There wouldn't have been anyone to run in that clutch touchdown in the 2006 match-up with Tennessee which gave Florida a one-point win over the Vols. That kept championship hopes alive two years ago.

No one would have been there to save the Florida offense in the 2007 season. With that dismal defense, the Gators would have been looking at five or six losses on the campaign.

There would have been no "promise" to play hard for the remainder of the year after the Ole Miss loss, and that likely would mean no title in '08, either.

Florida would (hopefully) have had Snead, who may or may not have worked out in Meyer's spread offense.

There is no doubt that the Gators might have struggled along the way. At the very least, they would have been set back a few years. The success might have been as great, but who knows when it would have come?

Now, one could easily argue that Meyer, being the coach he is, would have found a way to win. He had some very talented players and could have easily won a BCS bowl game or two with the talent he brought in and coached.

But there is no doubt that Tebow has been the player who took Florida from "good" to "great" recently.

You know, since Tim did come to Gainesville, this is just small talk.

But consider it a reminder of just how good the Florida Gators really have it.