GAINESVILLE – The cheers sounded different inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday – louder, lustier and longer than what you usually hear in The Swamp when Florida and Florida State play.
They had nothing to do with the record crowd of 90,907 who shoehorned into the place to say goodbye to the greatest class in Florida football history.
They had everything to do with the giving the greatest player in Florida football history – and certainly one of the greatest in the history of college football – a proper farewell and thanks for all the memories and championships Tim Tebow and his 23 classmates provided.
Yes, cheers do sound different when they are accompanied by tears.
The roars were loudest, of course, for the 6-3, 245-pound Tebow, the greatest offensive player in the history of the SEC and maybe even greater as a student and human being, as he threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns and added 90 yards and two rushing touchdowns in the top-ranked Gators’ 37-10 victory, their sixth straight in the series with the Seminoles of 80-year-old coach Bobby Bowden, who, too, was playing his Swamp Song for the final time.
Ironically, the senior coughed up Florida’s first turnover since the Mississippi State game after a 43-yard, tackle-busting, straight-arming run so typical of Tebow that pushed him ahead of his 2006 teammate/mentor Chris Leak as the SEC’s all-time leader in total offense with 11,389 yards (2,833 rushing and 8,335 passing) with two games to go – next Saturday’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta against No. 2 Alabama and possibly their third BCS National Championship Game in four years at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7, 2010.
The victory by coach Urban Meyer, who couldn’t quite fight back the tears as his 23 seniors (Florida also honored the late Michael Guilford, a walk-on prep-team quarterback on the 2006 national champions who was killed in a motorcycle accident) were introduced for one final hug with their head coach.
The longest hug, as expected, was reserved for Tebow.
Once the tears dried and eyes cleared, the Gators (12-0) dominated the Seminoles (6-6) in winning their 22nd straight game over two seasons. Florida doubled up Florida State in total yards (545-269), outpassed FSU 234-186 and outrushed the ‘Noles 311-83 (the fourth straight opponent and the ninth time this season an opponent has failed to gain 100 yards). The Florida offense, which has been on a last-season roll, converted 10 of 13 third-down plays (FSU managed just 2-of-11 against the nation’s No. 1 defense).
“I don’t want to say goodbye,” Meyer said of seniors. “The good thing is we’re not done. The negative is we’re done in this great stadium.”
And Tebow’s final game was one for the ages. “It was one of his greatest performances,” Meyer said.
Tebow was relieved it was over. “It’s been a long day,” Tebow said. “I was telling Coop (wide receiver Riley Cooper), ‘Man, it seems like everything’s in slow motion, which is good because you want to remember everything.’”
Following his 1-yard touchdown with 10:18 to play, Tebow got one more play—a handoff to freshman Mike Gillislee—and exited the field to a standing ovation and a flurry of flashbulbs with 5:44 remaining. Before the final seconds ticked away, there were cheers of “Thank-you, Te-bow” and when the game was over Tebow rushed over to talk and shake hands with Bowden before taking his ceremonial lap of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the final time following the Gators’ traditional singing of the alma mater and fight song.
“He presents so many problems; Tim Tebow is a great player,” said Bowden, who is scheduled to coach another season before handing the reins of the program to offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. But Bowden indicated following the game that timetable may be moved up. “I want to coach next year, but let me say I need to go home and do some soul searching.”
After Florida punted following its first possession of the game, Tebow directed a six-play, 48-yard scoring drive that ended with him shoveling a short pass to tight end Aaron Hernandez, who finished off the drive with an 18-yard scamper into the end zone. Caleb Sturgis’ PAT made it 7-0, a score that stood at the end of the first quarter.
Sturgis, who had missed his previous four field-goal attempts, kicked a 37-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to give Florida a 10-0 lead and the rout was on. On their next possession, Tebow directed the team’s longest TD drive (by time) of the season—80 yards in 12 plays that consumed 7:41 of the second-quarter clock, nine of the plays being either Tebow runs or passes. The final play was an 18-yard touchdown run by Tebow as the crowd roar grew with each step he took to the end zone.
The Gators got another chance late in the half when the defense forced a three-and-out and senior Brandon James returned a punt to the Florida 49. From there, it took five plays to reach the FSU end zone, the last coming on a 37-yard shovel pass play to Hernandez from Tebow who read the FSU blitz perfectly. Hernandez did the rest, eluding tacklers with some nifty moves in the middle of the field to give Florida a 24-0 halftime lead.
After FSU started with a three-and-out in the second half, Tebow drove the Gators 64 yards in four plays, the final 39 yards coming on a Tebow TD pass to his off-campus roommate, fellow Class of 2006 senior Riley Cooper, that made it 30-0.
Florida State averted the shutout on the last play of the third quarter when freshman Dustin Hopkins kicked a 20-yard field goal, but Tebow and the Gators answered that one with an 8-play, 77-yard touchdown drive that started with sophomore Jeff Demps’ 62-yard scamper on the first play. Demps led the Gators with 106 yards rushing on seven carries.
Tebow kept the drive alive when he barely stuck the football ahead for a first down on a fourth-and-inches attempt at the FSU 5. Following a 4-yard run by Chris Rainey (8 plays, 73 yards, including a 45-yard first-half scamper), Florida called a timeout to set up a Tebow magic moment from the past—a jump pass to the tight end that he twice ran as a freshman (the game-winning touchdown in last year’s 24-14 BCS National Championship victory over Oklahoma also was a jump pass but to senior wide receiver David Nelson).
However, Florida State smelled it and Hernandez slipped (with some help from a Seminole), the pass falling incomplete.
So on third-and-goal from the FSU 1, with flashbulbs popping, the crowd and his teammates knowing what they wanted him to run, Tebow took a snap from Maurkice Pouncey around right end on an option and into the end zone to score his final touchdown in The Swamp with 10:18 remaining.
Florida State scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Jarmon Fortson, and when the Gators got the ball back at their own 23 with 6:03, Meyer sent Tebow and 10 seniors in for one more play. It would be a simple handoff, a routine play that his quarterback could perform in his sleep.
Of course, there was nothing simple or routine about missionaries Bob and Pam Tebow’s son, an All-American on the football field and in the classroom and All-World off the field in the things he does for those less fortunate than him.
His maker, to whom he always gave thanks, threw away the mold after He made Timothy Richard Tebow.
HOW THEY SCORED
No. 1 FLORIDA 37, FLORIDA STATE 10
At Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field
Gainesville, Fla., Nov. 28, 2009
Scoring 1 2 3 4—Total
Florida State Seminoles 0 0 3 7—10
Florida Gators 7 17 6 7—37
FIRST QUARTER
FLA—Aaron Hernandez 18 pass from Tim Tebow (Caleb Sturgis kick good) at 6:48. Drive: 6 plays, 48 yards, 3 first downs, 2:42 time elapsed following FSU punt that was returned 2 yards by Brandon James. Key plays: Jeff Demps coverted a third-and-1 at the FSU 39 with a 2-yard gain on an option pitch from Tebow; Tebow’s play-action pass on second-and-10 to Riley Cooper over the middle for 19 yards; Touchdown play came on shovel pass that began as option left. Score: Florida 7, Florida State 0.
SECOND QUARTER
FLA—FG Sturgis 37 good at 14:55. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 3 first downs, 3:41 time elapsed following FSU punt. Key plays: Chris Rainey busted a 45-yard gain around right end on the first play, giving Florida a first down at the FSU 44. After two more first downs, however, Tebow was sacked twice, and Sturgis came in on the first play of the second quarter to kick the field goal. Score: Florida 10, Florida State 0.
FLA—Tebow 18 run (Sturgis kick good) at 3:59. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5 first downs, 7:41 time elapsed following FSU punt into the end zone. Key plays: The longest touchdown drive of the season featured three third-down conversions by Tebow – a run of 2 yards, an 8-yard pass to Brandon James and a 16-yard look-in pass to Hernandez for a first down at the FSU 26. Tebow figured in nine of the 12 plays, rushing six times for 33 yards and completing all three passes 33 yards. Score: Florida 17, Florida State 0.
FLA—Hernandez 37 pass from Tebow (Sturgis kick good) at 1:07. Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 2 first downs, 1:12 time elapsed after 19-yard James punt return to the Florida 49. Key plays: Tebow converted a third-and-3 play with a 7-yard shovel pass to Hernandez. After an incomplete pass on first down (after 10 completions) to Cooper, Tebow picked up the FSU blitz with a quick inside shovel pass to Hernandez, who then turned upfield, made several cuts and scored. Score: Florida 24, Florida State 0.
THIRD QUARTER
FLA—Riley Cooper 39 pass from Tebow (Sturgis kick blocked) at 11:27. Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 2 first downs, 2:00 time elapsed following FSU punt. Key plays: Tebow was 3-for-3 on the drive for 63 yards, the second completion of 19 yards to David Nelson converting a third-and-4 play. Score: Florida 30, Florida State 0.
FSU—FG Dustin Hopkins 20 at 0:00. Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 4 first downs, 5:13 time elapsed following Tebow fumble (after 47-yard run) was recovered by FSU. Key plays: E.J. Manuel completed three passes for 50 yards. Score: Florida 30, Florida State 3.
FOURTH QUARTER
FLA—Tebow 1 run (Sturgis kick good) at 10:18. Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 2 first downs, 4:42 time elapsed following FSU kickoff. Key plays: Demps broke a 62-yard run on the first play and Tebow later converted a fourth-and-inches run at the FSU 6. Rainey gained 4 yards and Florida called timeout to attempt a jump pass by Tebow to Hernandez, which fell incomplete. On third-and-goal at the 1, Tebow took the snap on an option right and kept for the TD with flashbulbs popping all over the stadium. Score: Florida 37, Florida State 3.
FSU—Jarmon Fortson 9 pass from E.J. Manuel (Hopkins kick good) at 6:03. Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 3 first downs, 4:15 time elapsed following Florida kickoff. Key plays: Manuel completed all six of his passes on the drive for 67 yards. Score: Florida 37, Florida State 10.
GAME SUMMARY
A—90,907 (new stadium record).
Weather: Sunny skies, calm winds, 33 percent humidity.
Coin toss: Florida State won the toss, elected to defer to the second half, and defended Sou the south end zone.
Officials: Matt Austin, referee; Wilbur Hackett Jr., umpire; Jay Vines, head linesman; Mickey Haddock, line judge; Steven Patrick, back judge; Rob Skelton, field judge; Roy A. Potts, side judge; Gerald Hodges, replay official.
Records: Florida State 6-6 (4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference); Florida 12-0 (8-0 Southeastern Conference).
Next game: Florida State in bowl game to be determined; Florida vs. Alabama in SEC Championship Game Dec. 5 at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., 4 p.m. (CBS).
For other statistics courtesy of ESPN, click below:
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293320057
For a roundup of Saturday’s SEC games and other college football scores, click below:
https://www.gatorcountry.com/football/article/south_carolina_georgia_ruin_accs_title_game/7748