Tebow Caps Unprecedented Season With Heisman Trophy
Sunday, December 9, 2007 | Football
“I want to accept this award on behalf of my coaches, teammates and the entire Gator Nation,” Tebow said. “This award is more about them than it is for me. I am very proud to represent the University of Florida.”
With Tebow's win in the balloting, Florida became the second school to have three quarterbacks win the Heisman Trophy, joining Notre Dame. Tebow joined the company of UF Heisman winners Steve Spurrier (1966) and Danny Wuerffel (1996) as UF signal-callers to bring home the prestigious award. He was also the first player from the Southeastern Conference to receive the award since Wuerffel hoisted it in 1996.
Tebow was one of four finalists in the running for college football's most-prized trophy along with Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel.
Also named the AP SEC Offensive Player of Year, Tebow enjoyed a record-breaking season that included tying the NCAA single-season rushing touchdown record by a quarterback with 22. An All-SEC first-team selection by both the league's coaches and the AP, Tebow also became the first quarterback in college football history to pass for 20 and rush for 20 touchdowns. He also set a new standard in single-season touchdown accountability in the SEC, totaling 51 touchdowns (29 passing, 22 rushing).
Tebow garnered SEC Offensive Player of the Week accolades three times this year and was named the National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Foundation twice. In addition, he is also a finalist for the Manning Award presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Off the field, his performance has been just as sterling, earning a spot on ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-American First-Team squad. He became just the fourth sophomore student-athlete in UF history to receive such a distinction.
Tebow wrapped up the regular season in his first full year as a starter by guiding Florida to a 9-3 record and a berth in the Capital One Bowl Jan. 1 against Michigan in Orlando. He paced the SEC in passing efficiency (177.9), total offense (330.8) and total scoring, averaging 11 points per game.
He trails Emmitt Smith (36) by only six touchdowns to tie the career rushing touchdown record at UF and has posted a NCAA-record 13-game streak with at least one rushing and one passing touchdown. Tebow was at the helm of the top offense in the SEC, leading Florida to 43.7 points per game. The Gators averaged 462 yards of offense, also tops in the league.
Against Ole Miss, he set the school record in rushing attempts by a quarterback (27) and yards (166). In the tilt against South Carolina, he accounted for seven touchdowns, tying a school mark, and rushed for five scores, setting another UF record. He threw for a career-high 338 yards against Florida Atlantic and tossed for a personal-best four scores against Kentucky. In half of Florida's 12 games this year, he has thrown three or more touchdowns and led Florida to 500 yards or more of total offense in seven contests.
Tebow will lead Florida into action against Michigan at the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1.
