Could this be the reason for Tebow's troubles? Tim Tebow is an over-achiever who borders on OCD.
Could it just be he's trying too hard, trying to lift the whole team on his back? Oliver Barry CRS,GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks Realty 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 Phone: 615-826-4040 Fax: 615-822-2027 Mobile: 615-972-4239 Tebow may be trying too hard By Pat Dooley <mailto:[email protected]> Gainesville SUN Columnist This just in - the world did not end Saturday night. Even in Starkville. This bulletin was brought to you by Tim Tebow. Actually, it was brought to us during his weekly Monday meeting with the media boys and girls. "Sorry I didn't talk to y'all," Tebow said. "I think I've been pretty courteous." There is no question Tebow has been one of the most gracious athletes I've covered during his time at Florida. When he didn't submit to questioning Saturday night, it turned out all of those guys who played doctor after his concussion actually got their degrees in psychiatry because they were all analyzing why he didn't talk to the media after his pick-12 game against Mississippi State. Tebow's explanation - as if we are entitled to one - was less complicated. "There were a lot of other things I wanted to do," he said. He wanted to spend a little time with Dan Mullen, his former coach, and Mullen's wife. He wanted to see his family. The team had been kept an unusually long time in the locker room after the game because Urban Meyer felt there needed to be a team meeting after the 10-point win. "It's not like we got out of there quickly," he said. Whether we buy it or not isn't really relevant. What matters is we were ready to coronate Tebow as the best player in the history of college football two months ago and now we're not even sure he's the best quarterback on campus (I hear there's a dude playing intramurals with a cannon). I'm kidding. Put down that keyboard. This is what you deal with when you are the face of college football. Everybody has questions and many of the wannabe offensive coordinators out there also have the answers. We all are looking at him differently these days, wondering if someone punked Superman by giving him a Kryptonite bracelet. And certainly you can't help but look at the production since the concussion and wonder if it is still an issue. Tebow has been sacked nine times in the last two games, has averaged only 2.95 yards per carry in the last three and has thrown three interceptions. "I don't think so," he said. "You look at the last two games, I've had the highest rating by the coaches in read and recognition. "We're moving the ball. You want to make it easier for the defense and for the fans, but we get to the red zone and it just hasn't been happening for us. It's kind of new and it is frustrating, I'm not going to lie to you. But we're getting the wins." Tebow denied Monday that the pressure of perfection is getting to him. I don't think it's the pressure that's bothered him. I think it's the passion. He wants this so badly, to have that perfect season, that he's trying to be perfect on every play. Instead, he's getting a season with a lot of imperfections. Except in the won-loss column, of course. That still is what matters most and that's where the passion turns into pressure. During his career at Florida, Tebow has been rubber and everyone else is glue. Criticism bounces off him and onto the offensive coordinator, the head coach, the quarterbacks coach, the receivers, the line and the guy selling hot dogs. But there is no question the Tim Tebow we are watching is not playing at the high level that had us wondering about his place in history. Perhaps he's just playing tight because he's trying too hard. "There's a chance that's true," Meyer said. "That's a fault of Tim's. I've thought about it. I need to coach him through it. He's playing harder as he ever has." But when we're sitting around in the meeting room having a discussion about whether Saturday night's game was the worst of his career, well, something's not right. (This is where you insert your scapegoat of choice). Or maybe we should all just come to this understanding - if Florida is going to lose a game this year, it's not going to be because of its quarterback. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
