Leak made more big plays throughout the course of the 06 season than Tebow did and it wasn't even in the same universe. While Tebow deserves credit for being ON the team...and for making 'some' big plays which helped win the title, so did a bunch of other players--OL, DL, DB's, etc. yet Tim is always mentioned as being on 2 NC teams. True enough he was, but the 06 team was Chris Leak's team...and without debate or argument, it was LEAK who won the NC moreso than Tim.
This is not taking anything away from Tebow whatsoever, but it amazes me when the topic of top QB's or top players or whatever, Chris Leak's name seems to always be overshadowed by the others, when IN FACT--the NC 06 team belonged to Leak and not to Tebow.
I'm a Leak fan & agree he certainly counts as a championship QB. There are four on that top tier. As a player, SOS belongs due to his Heisman.
But please list Tebow with 2 rings. His 89 plays were not mop-up duty or inconsequential by any means. He accounted for all the TD's vs. LSU, didn't he? How many times did he extend drives that season? He was a vital piece of that team.
Among the many reasons I admire Leak is his leadership that year and the way he handled Tebow's role and the eruption of Tebowmania. Mark Sanchez should have given him a call.
Good points by many and all great Gators for sure! Tebow converted a critical 4th and almost two on the winning drive up at Knoxville as probably his biggest play that year.
i loved Danny and Emmit and many others also, but since I've been watching Gator football in 1969, Tebow gets my vote as greatest Gator football player of all time!
Tebow did more than Harvin did in 2006. While Percy showed out in the SECCG he was also hurt for some of the season. How can Percy be the "greatest Gator" when he only played 1 full season, and missed crucial games in 2 others? And then didn't even play his senior year? He's not even in my top 10 but I don't use NFL accomplishments as my criteria for "Greatest Gator."
Tebow had crucial plays vs UT, LSU, South Carolina and Ohio State, among others.
I re-watched the 2006 season and while both Percy and TT contributed, there were 10-15 guys who contributed more. The defense was the key to that team- the offense was barely average.
Fast forward to about 5:30...goose bumps. I can remember people crying where we watched it at...
Watched that game in the Reitz Union. I remember the wench working in the front giving us a hard time for requesting them to put the game on the big screen.
The place erupted on the Doering touchdown.
Tim for many reasons. He was the total package on and off the field. He was the epitome of what leadership, sportsmanship, and teammate stood for; not to mention he was a hell of a player. I believe some here are picking SOS because of their age and that's fine, but IMO its not even close.
Tebow it is!
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Relating back to the OP i like Chris would have loved the Fun n Gun.
I've always wondered how Brantley would have done under SOS tutelage. If the Ol Ball Coach was here I have no doubt JB IV would've been here and would've been a better QB for it
Tim for many reasons. He was the total package on and off the field. He was the epitome of what leadership, sportsmanship, and teammate stood for; not to mention he was a hell of a player. I believe some here are picking SOS because of their age and that's fine, but IMO its not even close.
Relating back to the OP i like Chris would have loved the Fun n Gun.
I've always wondered how Brantley would have done under SOS tutelage. If the Ol Ball Coach was here I have no doubt JB IV would've been here and would've been a better QB for it
I dont think Brantley was bad as some people make him out to be. But I am not sure Brantley was tough enough mentally or physically to play for SOS.
To me a "Gator" is more than a great player. It's a way of life it's passion when we play, it's seeing a UF game on TV no matter the sport and watching because you have an interest. It's walking by someone with a Gator shirt on and saying, "Go Gators". It's a passion for Saturday in the fall. It's anticipation for March and early April. It's hoping we finally break through in gymnastics, baseball, softball, lacrosse or whatever the sport. It's watching tennis or track on the internet to celebrate another NC. And all other things Gator related. It's who is left after the vineclad halls have produced yet another generation. The greatest "Gator" is what makes the players want to perform and to me it's the Gator Nation and I am proud to be part of the greatest Gator.
Tebow had 33 pass attempts and 89 rushes for a total of 122 touches. He passed for 358 yards and 5 TDs. He ran for 469 yards and 8 TDs - a total of 827 yards and 13 TDs.
Percy ran for 428 yards and 3 TDs. He caught 34 passes for 427 yards and 2 TDs - total 855 yards and 5 TDs.
There were a total of 53 offensive TDs in 2006.
1. The facts do not support the theory that Percy was more productive than Tebow that year. They were both vital, but Tebow was more significant due to the TDs.
2. Given the offensive struggles noted above, their contributions are all the more critical.
Tebow had 33 pass attempts and 89 rushes for a total of 122 touches. He passed for 358 yards and 5 TDs. He ran for 469 yards and 8 TDs - a total of 827 yards and 13 TDs.
Percy ran for 428 yards and 3 TDs. He caught 34 passes for 427 yards and 2 TDs - total 855 yards and 5 TDs.
There were a total of 53 offensive TDs in 2006.
1. The facts do not support the theory that Percy was more productive than Tebow that year. They were both vital, but Tebow was more significant due to the TDs.
2. Given the offensive struggles noted above, their contributions are all the more critical.
3. Neither of these facts diminish Chris Leak.
Its a mark of where we are now offensively, that jumping to 2006 levels would represent a titanic leap in production- 18 additional offensive TDs for example.
Percy's problem is and always has been, that he doesn't always make it to the office at all. If he was not injury and migraine prone, we would be talking about an all time great at both levels.
This-- its a bit easier to have no bad days if you just aren't available 25% of the time-- Percy was amazing when he played, but he missed too many games to be up there with Tim.
Will NEVER forget that play. You're right, still get goosebumps from it!
Love the announcers, sounds like they are crying tears of joy too!
It's really interesting watching the whole drive as well. All I really remember was the last play, but really, a lot went on that led to that...
-Houston had a really nice return to set everything up.
-Rhett was as dependable as he always was and got almost all of the yards on that drive minus the TD catch.
-Danny wasn't particularly sharp (by Danny standards) as UK dropped a pretty easy INT and had a chance at another.
-If Doering would have caught the pass before the TD catch, we probably kick a FG to tie it. Was there overtime that year?
-Final play was just perfection. I'm pretty sure it was the same play Spurrier ran this year on the final play against Michigan in the bowl game. He makes it look so easy!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by socraticsilence
This-- its a bit easier to have no bad days if you just aren't available 25% of the time-- Percy was amazing when he played, but he missed too many games to be up there with Tim.
Totally agree. I would love to mention Harvin, but he can only earn the title of "most exciting" or "most electric" due to his injuries and migraines. The greatest Gators in my book all show up to work, and put in 100% at practice--two things Harvin seemed to lack.
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