Florida Gators fans enjoy Teez Tabor while you can. You should too, Tennessee fans or just fans of college football in general.
College football has become big business and with it, the coaches have become CEO type, politically correct vending machines. Insert question receive bland answers that toe the line. You can’t create shockwaves, nothing that could rock the boat or hurt the brand.
The 24/7-news cycle turns an innocuous comment into controversy before lunch, springing the PR machine into action for damage control and forced, canned apologies. In that world Tabor is a breath of fresh air.
The All-American junior cornerback has made waves this year for comments and his opinions. He’s taken to just about every form of social media, boldly questioning and contradicting the popular pick of Tennessee to beat the Gators and win the SEC East this season. He’s taken stances on the black lives matter movement and given commentary on current events. Most head coaches would have shut him down, made him unavailable to the media or even told him to get off social media all together. Instead, Jim McElwain has embraces his outspoken star. Tabor held his own “media day” on Periscope and Twitter while Mac and the Gators were in Hoover in July. Tabor did a media tour in New York City the same day McElwain went through ESPN’s car wash and recently was on the Paul Finebaum show, where he was asked, again, and answered, again, about the Tennessee hype this offseason.
“There’s just certain things that happen every year, every day,” Tabor said on Finebaum. “Just like you have your show on SEC Network at a certain time every day, just like the fourth weekend in the fall when the Gators play the University of Tennessee. It’s been the same thing happening for 11 years. I mean, the greatest indication of the future is the past.”
McElwain was asked on Friday about his cornerback’s comments, and after Mac chuckled about being asked about the fourth game of the season before the Gators’ first scrimmage of fall camp, he responded.
“I’m not into censorship, OK? At the same time I’m not into giving guys bulletin board material, but you can take that statement however you choose to take it,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll put it up and blast it all over the world. Way to go. There’s a pretty good chance we’ll show up in Knoxville.”
McElwain’s right. Tennessee, losers of their last 11 matchups against the Gators, will likely plaster Tabor’s comments throughout their football facility the week before Florida comes to town. That’s fine with him. Tabor, after all, is the same guy who had a Superman logo tattooed on his chest in high school. He’s the player that got his school to officially change his name on the roster (from his given name Jalen, to a lifelong nickname, Teez). Confidence has never been in short supply with Tabor, but he backs it up on the field.
More importantly, he’s genuine. Tabor has gone off on rants before that he’s had to apologize for, but he’s never pretended to be someone he’s not. While some of his teammates choose to toe the company line, which is fine, Tabor answers questions thoughtfully and honestly and it’s refreshing.
“That will never be me,” he said when asked if he ever though about toning down his comments. “I’m gonna keep it honest. You know what I’m saying?”
Tabor is playing his final season in Gainesville. Including this season he has two years of eligibility left but the most shocking thing Tabor could ever say is “I’m coming back to Florida for my senior season.” That won’t happen barring injury, so enjoy Tabor. Enjoy him for his play on the field; he’s one of the best players regardless of position in the country. Enjoy him for stirring the pot. The Florida-Tennessee game feels different this year. It feels like the rivalry is back, like when Steve Spurrier and Phil Fulmer were dueling on opposing sidelines in the nineties. Tabor is a major reason why.
Sports are supposed to be fun. Trash talking is part of the game and Jalen, excuse me, Teez Tabor is having fun in what will be his last season as a student-athlete.
“I love the guy,” McElwain said. “He’s a guy who cares. He’s a guy who has really invested in himself.”
Tabor’s invested in himself, his team and the university that he represents. So what if he’s coloring outside the company lines. He’s doing it his way and that’s not going to change. Teez Tabor is must-see TV on the field, and must listen when he’s behind a microphone. Enjoy it, he won’t be in Orange and Blue for long.