Florida Gator Football 2010: Is a Tim Tebow Hangover Looming in Gainesville?

Gator fans have never been easy to please. As one of them, I know this firsthand. As our haters say: Even when you guys were bad, you were good in your own mind.

Okay, so we're a little full of ourselves. So what?

After enormous success and adoration over the last four years, we have grown accustomed to expecting the best from the mighty Gators.

After all, we just had the fortune of watching arguably the best player in college football history turn the college game upside down, with the heart of King Kong and the reverence of Mother Teresa combined into one.

So, dare I even think it?

Could the Orange and Blue suffer from PTTD, or Post-Traumatic Tebow Disorder? Will we be more interested in the orange and blue on the Bronco uniform than that of the Gator jersey?

With the departure of the Chosen One, we now turn our attention and focus to new leaders. Never more apparent than now is the realization that this team will need to be just that—a complete team. 

John Brantley is not going to make the kinds of plays that Tim Tebow made. Forget it; no way. But he will be a solid, perhaps very good leader at the QB position. He will utilize his skills as a pure passer to make plays that Tebow would shy away from.

But he is not Tim Tebow, nor does he want to be him. 

Which begs the question: Have we drunk too much of the magic potion over the last four years to be realistic in our expectations of this 2010 Gator football team? As they say, success is never final, and failure is never fatal, but could this be the year that gently returns our heads to the pillow of realism?

"Child, please."

This Gator team has talent coming out the *&^%$.

Brantley is a winner and has had the fortune of learning under Tebow, which will make him better in tough situations. He's going to make plays that Tebow wouldn't make.

Our running game has to be considered one of the best in all the land with pure speedster Jeff Demps. He can simply outrun defenders. If Demps gets in space, look out. Be very afraid.

With Chris Rainey, you have a back that could mimic what Percy Harvin did at Florida as a slot receiver who can make people miss and break big runs. He can also catch the ball on screens and then use his speed to make a game-breaking scene come to reality.

The offense will look a little different, and at times we may be looking over our shoulders to see if No. 15 is in fact going to run out of the tunnel. But not to worry; this Gator team has the talent on offense. 

What about the defense? 

The Florida secondary should be okay, even with the losses of Major Wright and Joe Haden. Will "The Thrill" Hill and Ahmad Black are two studs. The question of the defensive line is, "Can the Gators get to the opposing QB and disrupt the flow of that team's offense?"

With the loss of Carlos Dunlap, a guy like Justin Trattou will be leaned on heavily. By all indications, Trattou relishes that role.

As far as on the field, I believe this team can compete with any team in the nation. Will they? I think it depends on the development of the young recruits, leadership by key players, and of course the motivation and charge of Urban Meyer.

In my opinion, I believe it's going to be a great season for Florida Gator football once again.

So don't fret, Gator fans. Knock back that hangover with a Bloody Mary, fire up the grill, buy the nice flat screen, and get ready for what promises to be another riveting college football stanza in 2010.