HEISMAN WINNER TIM TEBOW!!

I love TIM TEBOW. And I'm not just saying this because he JUST won the Heisman. But damn, that's quite the achievement.

I've been a Tebow fan since last season. I remember him coming in to change the pace and relieve starting quarterback Chris Leak last season. As foine as Chris Leak is, I remember thinking, Why doesn't Florida just start Tebow? He's a dual threat, and sometimes Leak just doesn't look too right. Leak remained behind the wheel, and even though he was a bit inconsistent at times, it would have been embarrassing for him, a senior, to lose his starting job to a freshman. That year Florida went on to win the BCS Championship game. Before this game there was a lot of hype and some confusion; which team really is the best team? Well, the Ohio State Buckeyes imploded and the Gators handed it to OSU, 41-14. Buckeyes QB Troy Smith went on to win the Heisman that year. I'm still salty that I missed the bowl games last season; I was in Nigeria seeing my native country for the first time in more than 20 years, and meeting family I've never seen. I know that experience should trump football, but it still hurts.


Well, Leak entered the 2007 NFL Draft, went undrafted and was picked up as a free agent by the Chicago Bears. Then, he got cut. Undoubtedly he is now floating around somewhere in the free agency black hole, and may never be seen playing professional football again. But! let me add that the Bears have been on a nasty QB roller coaster all season. Rex Grossman, then Brian Griese, back to Grossman, Griese and now to Kyle Orton, a QB who hasn't played since I used to live in Chicago in 2005. The season is alsmost over and it doesn't look like the Bears are making the playoffs, but they're still in need of a franchise QB. If Grossman doesn't work out, the Bears might be wishing they'd held onto Leak.


Anyway, back to TIM TEBOW! Although the Gators didn't have their best season record-wise, finishing 9-3, Tebow set all kinds of records this season. He completed almost 69% of his passes, 217 of 317, and tallied 3132 yards. 29 of those passes were touchdowns, and only 6 of them interceptions. That's not even the best part of his game. He's also the teams leading rusher! Tebow ran the ball 194 times, more than any back on the team, for 838 yards and 22 TDs. He's like a QB and RB all rolled up in one! And at 6-3, 235 pounds, he's a hard one to take down. He is the first player in NCAA history to throw 20 TDS, and rush for 20 TDS. Tebow also became the first sophomore in the 73-year history of the Heisman Award to ever win it. He did all this while, during some stretches, battling a shoulder injury and a broken hand. Yeah, that's why they call him Superman.


Tebow also won several other honors this season. He won the Davey O'Brien Award (right) that is given to the nation's top quarterback who demonstrates "outstanding athletic skills, academic performance, team spirit, character, leadership and sportsmanship." Tebow received this engraved trophy, a Rolex watch, and a $10,000 scholarship grant to the University of Florida. Tebow beat out Oregon's Dennis Dixon and Missouri's Chase Daniel, and OSU QB Troy Smith won the O'Brien Award last year. He also won the Maxwell Award, which is given to the best all-around player in the nation. NCAAF head coaches, members of the Maxwell football club, and sportswriters and sportscasters voted Tebow in as the first sophomore to win in the 71-year history of this award. Tebow was also named the 1st team QB for All-SEC team and AP Player of the Year, . Not only is he strong, agile and durable, but Tebow is fine as hell! Just had to throw that in there. What? I'm still a woman...


While Tebow got the award, he did have some stiff competition. Arkansas RB Darren McFadden was his closest competitor, and finished second in the voting. He finished the season with 2,172 all-puurpose yards, 1,725 of those rushing. McFadden has 16 TDs, and threw 4 of his own. He rushed for at least 100 yards in 9 of the Razorbacks 12 games, including a 321 yard performance that tied the SEC record. This was McFadden's second year being in the running for the Heisman and losing out. But no worries, he's an NFL caliber running back for sure. And it doesn't hurt that he can line up under center, take the direct snap, and launch the ball. No, that doesn't hurt at all. Chase McDaniel was also a finalist, but flew totally under the radar until Mizzou started inching their way up the rankings. Missouri had a great season, finishing 11-2, and 6th in the BCS standings, and Daniel put up massive numbers. He threw for at least 219 yards in all 13 games; 8 were over 300 yards, and 2 of those were over 400 yards. Daniels threw 33 TDs, and 10 only 10 INTs. I know 10 interceptions sounds a bit high, but when you consider the fact that he attempted 534 passes, and completed 372 of them, the INTs are damn near negligible.

In Hawaii QB Colt Brennan also had a monster year. He completed 337 of 472 passes, a whopping 71.4%. He also threw 38 touchdowns, rushed for 8, and threw 14 INTs. And think, those numbers would have been higher had he not missed 1 game with a concussion. If Brennan amassed those numbers at "a football" school," I think it's safe to say it would have been a close one between him and Tebow for the Heisman. Before the season started I remember hearing analysts talk about Brennan, saying that he would be the biggest sleeper of the season, not only because he plays for Hawaii, but also because the time difference is so much that no one would ever get to see him play on national television. Well, that was sort of true. Hawaii was the only unbeaten team left by the end of the season, and they made it to a BCS game. Of course there was also the (lack of) strength of schedule issue which had them ranked 10th instead of higher, but hey. The Warriors will play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day! Many say, and I tend to believe this, that the Bulldogs will be the most talented team Hawaii's faced all season. I'm sooooooooo looking forward to this bowl game!

And oh yeah, CONGRATS TO TIME TEBOW AGAIN!!