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SEC Media Days
Thursday: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee | Friday: Auburn, Kentucky, Arkansas and South Carolina
HOOVER, Ala. — Usually it's the coaches who bring the celebrity flavor to Southeastern Conference Media Days.
Steve Spurrier is always a big hit. Alabama onlookers packed the lobby of the Wynfrey Hotel for Nick Saban's first appearance last summer, and Florida Coach Urban Meyer is definitely a presence.
But Florida quarterback Tim Tebow might be the only guy who can make the media day atmosphere seem like a Jonas Brothers autograph session.
It's the kind of aura that not even a high-profile coach like Meyer can relate to.
“I loved it when I was getting pushed in the back by security at Times Square because they thought I was hanging around Tim trying to get an autograph,” said Meyer, speaking of his trip to New York with Tebow for the Heisman Trophy ceremony last year. “And I hate to say this, but I was. I wanted to get a Christmas present for my son.”
Things are even crazier for Tebow in Gainesville. When asked if it's hard to go to the mall or Wal-Mart, Tebow said: “I don't go to the mall or Wal-Mart too often just because of that.”
Tebow said some of his fan encounters have been borderline bizarre. “There's been a handful of experiences; some of them are inappropriate and I can't really mention,” he said. “Some people are willing to do anything. You just have to prepare yourself for it.”
As the defending Heisman winner, Tebow also has to deal with an overwhelming number of media requests and speaking engagements. But if all the attention is wearing on Tebow, he masks it well. He seemed relaxed and affable as he stood at the podium and took questions Wednesday. Still, Tebow admitted that it would be nice to be a “regular guy” every now and then.
“I have a lot of obligations, and some days you don't feel like doing everything,” Tebow said. “Those are just the pros and cons that come with what you do and how you do it. I've been blessed to have some success at the college level so I have more obligations and more things that I have to do. Sometimes you just want to be a college student and relax.”
Tebow got a welcome retreat from the hype in the off-season. A devout Christian, he used his spring break and two summer breaks to take mission trips with his father to the Philippines, Croatia and Thailand. “In the Philippines and Thailand, the only reason you're recognized is because you're a white man,” Tebow said. “Doing those things, taking my platform as a football player and using it to be an influence and change people's lives, that's more important than football to me.”
On the field, Tebow will have a tough time topping his numbers from last year: He amassed 3,286 passing yards, 895 rushing yards and became the first quarterback in NCAA history to have more than 20 touchdowns passing (32) and rushing (23) in the same season.
Tebow doesn't seem worried about living up to his own lofty standards.
“At Florida, every year, there's going to be pressure,” Tebow said. “I don't really care too much about it. I'm just going out there and playing a sport that I love and am passionate about. What pressure do I have?”
Meyer may have added to the Tebow mystique earlier this year when he reportedly said that Tebow could go down as the best college football player of his era. Meyer backed off of that a bit Wednesday.
“I've got to watch what I say,” Meyer said. “That's maybe how I feel. I'm not going to say that much anymore because I have too much respect for Tim and the job he does. I love watching Tim play. I believe he's one of the best players I've seen play. There's probably enough said from that.”
That isn't to say Tebow doesn't have things to work on. Tebow listed decision-making as a point of off-season emphasis.
“What that entails is when I approach the line of scrimmage, it's recognizing defenses faster, getting us into a better play faster,” Tebow said. “When the play happens, when I'm dropping back, maybe not always have to make the big play or always have to run somebody over. Maybe get down, I didn't say slide, but get down or maybe step out of bounds, just be smart with the decisions that I make on the field. That will help out a lot.
“That's what separates Tom Brady and Peyton Manning from every other quarterback. They're not more blessed as far as athletic ability; they just make better decisions on the field. They're more knowledgeable about the game. That's been my No. 1 focus this off-season. That's what separates you from average to good and good to great.”
Tebow had twice as many carries as any running back on the Florida roster last season, but Meyer is expecting an improved running game to take some of the load off Tebow's broad shoulders. The Gators' stable of backs includes senior Kestahn Moore (580 yards, six touchdowns), Southern California transfer Emmanuel Moody and speedy redshirt freshman Chris Rainey. And do-everything receiver Percy Harvin will also get his share of hand-offs.
“One of the great chores I have that I've done for seven years, I sit in my room two hours before that game, right before we get on the bus, I grab my sheet of paper and I list the ball carriers that need to touch the ball, receivers, quarterbacks, whatever,” Meyer said. “I put slashes next to who deserves to carry the ball. I carry that with me during the game. I'm happy to say this year it will be more running backs than we've ever had with slashes next to their name if everybody stays healthy.”
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