It's A Friday Photobombing

As we end the week and prepare to delve into a weekend that will culminate with the setting of the brackets, it is tmie to embrace a lofty tradition: photobombing popular sports icons with the throwing of the "U". We have our first example here on an unsuspecting Bobby Bowden:

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Perhaps it is not a grand accomplishment to get anything past ole Bobby nowadays but a fun moment nonetheless.

For the pièce de résistance, here is a young lass giving the U business to Tebow at the Super Bowl this year:

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Well done my lady. No word on whether Tebow charged $75 for the photo or not.

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Tebow = $

Tim Tebow has yet to be categorized as an NFL football player. His status in our culture, however, has been solidified; Tebow is a cash cow. I do not say this in an entirely negative manner, Tebow is no longer a college athlete he is a professional. He has the right of life, liberty, and property. Sorry to go John Locke it is looking more and more that Tebow will acquire a lot of that last right. This past Saturday Tim made an appearance at a mall in Palm Beach where he signed autographs and posed for pictures. Those wishing to seek an audience with him paid the tidy sum of $160. To say the turnout was large and the autograph seekers were huge fans would be an understatement.

"Charles Hoyle brought his Bible for Tebow to sign."

Really sir? That seems a bit extreme. If you are one that holds the good book in such high esteem should it not be autographed by anyone unless they are, you know, Jesus? Yet I understand the draw of Tebow. He is a man of values, he carries himself well, and he has proved (so far) to be a person of unshakable faith. People will often gravitate towards these figures as examples who they feel can justify their faith.

The signing was not a complete cashgrab though:

"Most of the money raised at Saturday's signing will go towards the Tim Tebow Foundation. The organization's website said it wants to bring faith and hope to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need."

That means money was put directly in pockets for this. Great description of the foundation too, vague enough to allow them to do whatever they want with the cash. Tebow learned a thing or two about tax shelters from his Dad I am sure. Tell me again why a team would not take this guy early in the draft? He's the most lucrative tight-end/halfback/quarterback with an awkward throwing motion maybe ever. Jersey sales from the first week alone would bring in insane amounts of money from the same people that lined up for hours Saturday. Tebow may not pay dividends on the football field but in the community, with this teammates and especially in the bank account it would be wise for an owner to take him.

100s Line Up For Tim Tebow's Autograph [News4Jax via TBL]

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When Should Tebow Be In The Game?

There are two questions surrounding Tim Tebow's concussion. Neither involve Conan O'Brien's concussion but here's hoping he gets well also. The most important one is when he should return. Fortunately the Gators have a bye week before heading down the Baton Rouge to face the Tigers, at night. But is that enough time for Tebow's halo-encompassed cranium to proerly heal? Orson over at EDSBS does not think so (the comments section has some good info and perspectives as well). The main argument is that when someone suffers an injury like this they are more likely to suffer it again. Considering that Tebow has been rushing the ball quite often the last few games, one has to think Florida is going to curtail his rumbling.

Now Tebow being the great competitor that he is (that is said without sarcasm, the dude is a gamer) is going to most likely lobby for the status quo when it comes to playcalling. Add to the fact that the UF receivers have shown a sliver of the ability that Harvin and Murphy provided last year and it seems that Tebow will again be charging into opposing defenses. We have seen NFL quarterbacks take these shots again and again which led to their retirement. Troy Aikman, Steve Young, and most recently Trent Edwards. There is no replacing or repairing the noggin and when it gets rattled, it is serious trouble. Maybe even a more appropriate example is former Carolina linebacker Dan Morgan. Morgan suffered repeated concussion and was forced to retire before his Pro Bowl career reached its fulfillment. The way Tebow runs makes him more alike to Morgan that the others mentioned.

I am positive that Florida's medical staff is working around the clock to ensure Tebow is ready and cleared to play against LSU but the decision will ultimately be up to Tebow and I think we all know what he will choose. Although I rip Tebow for the media hype that surrounds him, it is unfortunate that he is injured and if this affects how the college season plays out. On the flip side, a worse scenario is him returning and the Gators winning it all in which he will be instantly canonized as a living deity and his concussion MRI is installed on a plaque outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The second question to answer is more hindsight in nature and has already been bantered on at length but: WTF was Tebow doing in the game at that point? If you take away the fact that Florida was dominating the game and it was late in the 3rd quarter, Tebow was ill before the game even started. All day long TWWL's bottom line informed me that Tim was suffering from a "respiratory illness" and flew on a separate plane to Kentucky. When he was carted off it suddenly became a possible case of the flu. Bottom line, he was not fully healthy so why extend him in a game that was already secure. Put Brantley in,have him hand it off and get out of Dodge. Not everyone agrees on this point but I think the Tebow illness beforehand should have made the decision. If it is pertinent enough to be a headline, then I am sure it was a concern for Florida before the game took place.

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You Are Not Prepared For The SEC Onslaught

Brace yourselves. This is only the beginning. As SEC Media day kicked off yesterday, we saw a terrifying glimpse of the media coverage to come this season. Every coach who got up the podium was asked whether they were the culprit, the charlatan who did not vote Tim Tebow preseason all-conference at the quarterback position. I warned of this at the end of last season when Tebow announced he would be coming back. If the coverage is not coming from people who fawn all over the Florida deity, then it is coming from people who are covering him to talk about how ridiculous it is to fawn all over him. I fall into the latter group. It's a trap! I cannot help mentioning this though.

One by one as coaches faced the media, each one was asked if they dared to not vote Tim Tebow as lord and commander of the universe. [Update: It was Spurrier!] Now I have no problem giving Tebow the honor, I mean those dump-offs to Percy Harvin and shovel passes to tight-end Aaron Hernandez were tough, but the world of SEC football continues to grow, as evidence by their massive new television deal and by the 1,000 credentialed media in attendance. This is why the conference has gained the reputation it has, because the southern population of the United States is absolutely batshit crazy over college football.

But back to Tebow. Even he has to think this is getting out of control. He was asked if he was a virgin, which many people think went too far. The problem facing Tebow and the Gators will not be the talent they have the field or even their schedule, its going to be the insane number of attention paid to their team. If people thought last year was over the top and insufferable (/raises hand) then you have no idea what is coming. That is one reason why it is so hard to repeat in sports because once you win, you get magnified under the microscope. You thought the Farve coverage by ESPN was bad, let me just mention that they have a television deal with the SEC and already slobber over Tebow. Tim Tebow is in our lives 24/7 now if we want to follow college football this season and whether we have spent five minutes with him or not, are we better for it?

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