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The Tim Tebow Memorial Saturday College Football Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Nov 28, 2009 at 10:33:12 AM EST
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Tim Tebow has been the most polarizing figure in college sports for the past few years. Of course for a Gator fan like me, it's easy. He's been a great, great COLLEGE football player (though not as great as people say he is.) Certainly one of the 20 best of all time. Tebow as a football player is great but annoying for fans of teams other than the Gators. And not just because of the worshipping of Tebow that is done by Gator fans and the Media. He is also incredibly fun to watch. He plays a tough and exciting style of football. He also does all that cheering and yelling that is annoying.

What also grates some people about Tebow is that he wears his religiosity on his sleeve (and on the black under his eyes.) Tebow really does great work. At the same time, we hear too much about it. And for a Democrat like me, knowing that Tebow is certainly a conservative Republican who will likely be a politician in the future (Governor of Florida is the least he can aspire to) is a bit dismaying. But that is for later. As a Gator fan, I am enjoying Tebow the football player, and he is a joy to watch. More . . .

Today Tim Tebow plays his last home game at Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin stadium, known (Steve Spurrier coined it) as The Swamp. For the Gator Nation, it is a huge day. That is is FSU Day is almost an afterthought, which is remarkable.

What I would like to know is what it is like to be Tebow's teammate. Because I think that is the ultimate question for an athlete. It's judged by winning first of course. And by that measure, Tebow is a great teammate. How great will be determined by his next 3 games. But the other part of being a teammate is not something we can ever know if we are not in the locker room.

In any event, if you are a Tebow hater, you are going to have a lot of grist for the mill today as Tebow is going to have a beatification day today in the Swamp, on ESPN Game Day and later on CBS. Oh by the way, there are football games today. Here are my picks:

Clemson travels to South Carolina today. Clemson is the better team. I think with a burst of emotion and a few breaks, the Gamecocks can beat them. I will take South Carolina (+3.5).

In another in state rivalry games, North Carolina travels to NC State. I like the Wolfpack (+6.5).

In a border war, Tennessee visits Kentucky. I like Kentucky (+3).

In a game that is important to Boise State (because of the BCS), Bedlam travels to Norman. I like Oklahoma State (+8) over the Oklahoma.

The Egg Bowl is in Starkville, Mississippi this year. I like the Mississippi State Bulldogs (+8) to keep it close.

Charlie Weis coaches his last game for Notre Dame tonight at Stanfo