Tebow, Spears Know All About Gators-LSU rivalry
Saturday, October 7, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter
The SEC Network analysts each played in the game and are in Gainesville this weekend with the SEC Network.
It gets real -- real fast -- when these schools play.
Tebow rewrote Florida's record book from 2006-09, winning a Heisman Trophy and helping the Gators win two national championships. Spears was a standout defensive lineman at LSU from 2001-04 and won a national title during Nick Saban's tenure in Baton Rouge.
The duo is in town for Saturday's Florida-LSU game as part of the SEC Network's coverage of one of the Southeastern Conference's most intense rivalries in recent years.
"They were battles,'' Tebow said of the matchup during his career.
"There's a genuine dislike between Florida and LSU," Spears said Friday during a break in the "SEC Nation" broadcast on the UF campus. "And you guys got the best of it last year."
Yes we did. Hurricane Matthew forced the game to be moved to Baton Rouge and initiated all sorts of drama leading up to the game. And then before the game started, Tigers running back Leonard Fournette shoved ex-Gators defensive backs coach Torrian Gray during a pregame altercation.
Well that was cool...@TimTebow just stopped by practice & fired us all up! @FloridaGators #GOAT #WeChomp! Go ??s!! pic.twitter.com/S3GuA2ulyf
— Cameron Newbauer (@camnew) October 6, 2017
The Gators won 16-10 to clinch a second consecutive SEC East title in the signature win of third-year Gators coach Jim McElwain's UF career. The No. 21-ranked Gators (3-1, 3-0) enter Saturday's game on a three-game win streak, while LSU (3-2, 0-1) is coming off a stunning home loss to Troy that set off alarms in Cajun Country.
"If LSU just doesn't suck — which a lot of people think they do right now — this game is going to come down to the fourth quarter," Spears said. "It's going to come down to a few plays being made at that point in time to determine who wins the game."
When Tebow returns to town, he's certain to face questions about Florida's quarterback play. The Gators have struggled at the position since his departure eight years ago.
Redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks returns to the starting lineup after Luke Del Rio suffered a season-ending injury in his first start of the season last week against Vanderilt. Franks came in and hit 10 of 14 passes for 185 yards in his sharpest performance of the season.
"I think Feleipe has shown that he can handle some moments. I think he's improving,'' Tebow said. "I think he's getting used to everything. You've got to remember, he's kind of still a freshman. So I think he'll continue to improve. I think something that Luke did was bring a lot of confidence and maturity to the offense, but I think that's something that will come with Feleipe.
"It's not necessarily always easy in Gainesville. Patience isn't necessarily always [a factor] in Gainesville. But I think he's shown a lot of talent, obviously with one of those throws. I think he'll continue to improve, and hopefully he can lean on his running game and defense for a little bit while he gains some comfort."
Spears also addressed Franks, who is making his fourth career start. Spears sees the talent that impressed McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier to go after Franks on the recruiting trail when they first arrived.
"A lot of arm talent,'' Spears said. "Big, athletic guy, can extend plays. Not the burner that I thought he would be, but he has enough juice to get what you need when he gets in trouble. He's like any other freshman, his head is spinning. Defenses are looking different than they look in practice in the preseason. I think he has upside to be really, really good. If Mac got Greg McElroy to the league, he can get Feleipe to the league."
Memo to McElroy, a colleague of Spears's on the SEC Network: that was a playful jab if you're wondering.
Meanwhile, back to the rivalry that in Tebow's view really escalated in 2003 when the Gators, behind freshman quarterback Chris Leak, upset the Tigers in Baton Rouge. Everyone has an opinion on this rivalry, which makes it so fun.
SEC Network host Laura Rutledge, a UF grad, isn't running out of topics to discuss leading up to this year's matchup.
"There's sort of this question of, 'Is this game more about what happened last year or about LSU losing to Troy?' I think it's more about what happened last year," Rutledge said. "I think there's some bad blood between these teams."
Once they are off camera today and can enjoy the game as fans, Tebow and Spears will take sides.
Spears knows what he'll be watching as the key to the game.
"The line of scrimmage, for me, that's going to determine the game,'' he said. "I don't think any one of these quarterbacks are ready to light up the scoreboard right now."
Spoken like a true defensive lineman.
