by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
So, what was on Urban Meyer’s mind on Monday, two days after the University of Florida coach suffered the worst defeat of his head coaching career? Tim Tebow of course.
College coaches across the country are hoping the Nease High quarterback is the cure for their program’s ills. Tebow has been offered scholarships by 80 colleges and his short list reads like the top of the Associated Press poll: Southern California, Louisiana State, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Miami, Alabama.
Tebow said he hears almost daily from the respective head coaches of those programs. Even as he sat Monday, waiting to address the Rotary Club during its weekly meeting at the Omni, Tebow wasn’t out of the coaches’ range. Tebow’s cell phone beeped indicating an incoming text message. It was just Meyer checking in, trying to put a positive spin on the Gators’ lopsided loss at Alabama Saturday.
Tebow flipped open the phone and read the message that began “TT,” Meyer’s nickname for his recruit.
“If we were scoring 50 points a game, we wouldn’t need you,” the message read. “Obviously we need an athlete that’s the right fit. National Championship, Heisman (trophy), it’s all waiting for you.”
The text message is the recruiting tool preferred by today’s technology-savvy college coaches. Tebow estimates that he gets 15 a day. Tebow was flattered by the attention until his mom saw his cell phone bill.
“My mom was like ‘Look at this bill, it’s through the roof,’ ” said Tebow. “We had to call Cingular and get unlimited text messages.”
Bulging phone bills are just one aspect of the whirlwind recruiting process that swirls around Tebow. When Nease High’s baseball games — Tebow plays pitcher, first base and all the outfield positions — kept him out of spring football practice, a who’s who of college football started showing up to watch him play baseball. Along with Meyer, USC coach Pete Carroll and LSU’s Les Miles watched Tebow on the diamond.
“It’s kind of crazy to be up at bat and you’ve got Urban Meyer behind you yelling ‘Get a hit Tebow,’ ” he said.
The craziness began two years ago during Tebow’s sophomore year. The first letter arrived from Ohio State University.
“I was very excited, it was my first letter,” said Tebow. “I was like, ‘Man, I want to play for the Ohio State University.’ ”
Tebow has since broadened his horizons. Ohio State no longer makes his list of favorites. Although Tebow has “narrowed down” his short list to the schools mentioned above, he said there are other schools in the running.
He hopes to make his decision by December. Until that day comes, Tebow will have to listen to the recruiting pitches.
They don’t come just from coaches, Tebow hears it from all sides. His appearance at Rotary included several appeals from members on behalf of their alma maters.
Some of the pitches were subtle, like chapter president Bob Colyer’s mention that “the North Carolina Tarheels always need a good quarterback.” Some were blatant like one member’s shout of “Roll Tide!” to begin the meeting. And some were wishful thinking. Attorney Pat Coleman, a family friend, talked to Tebow about playing at Duke, a perennial also-ran on the football field. “He just kind of looked at me and nodded his head,” said Coleman.
Don’t expect any pressure though from parents Bob and Pam, both University of Florida graduates.
“We just try to stay neutral,” said Pam.
Ultimately, Tebow said his decision will come down to his relationship with the head coach. He wants a coach who emphasizes God, academics and family before football. It’s an approach cemented by his parents during years of home schooling.