Urban Meyer plans to use 2-QB system in 2008
Florida fans better have enjoyed the 51 touchdowns QB Tim Tebow scored this fall. Even UF Coach Urban Meyer figures Tebow will not put up such gaudy single-season numbers the rest of his college career.
Meyer went as far as pledging that UF must play at least two players at the position next season if it hopes to maximize its success.
"Next year, we'll play two quarterbacks for sure," he said Friday. "We'll have to."
The main reason is to protect the Gators' most valuable asset. Tim Tebow avoided major catastrophe this season but broke his right hand against FSU and played against Georgia with an injured right shoulder.
There appear to be three options for who could play in tandem with Tebow. Run-threat Cam Newton will be a sophomore next year, and John Brantley will be a redshirt freshman. Florida might sign a quarterback in February who could challenge as well.
Newton needs work, as Meyer said he has improved but likely will not play against Michigan in Tuesday's Capital One Bowl. But he might be needed next fall to give Tim Tebow an occasional breather.
"I don't think he can stand three years of that punishment," Meyer said. "We'll have to be smart."
Not a Michigan man
Meyer confirmed this week he is no stranger in hoping to see the Wolverines lose in football. As a boy in Ashtabula, Ohio, he grew up a fan of Ohio State, Michigan's rival. Cheering for anyone not scarlet and gray, he said, was dangerous.
"You'd get beat up and have your lunch money taken if you were otherwise," he said. "I kept all my lunch money."
Left behind
Michigan came to Orlando without the two players who simulated Tebow during their practices in Ann Arbor.
RB Kevin Grady and QB Steven Threet were playing Tim Tebow on the scout team. But Grady is academically ineligible and Threet was left home because of NCAA transfer rules. He came to Michigan after transferring from Georgia Tech.
"We don't have the same look we had back in practice," Wolverines Coach Lloyd Carr said.
Michigan has a few other players who were left home for academics but Carr declined to name them.
Heavenly trash talk
Tebow and Michigan S Jamar Adams had a good-natured exchange at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Capital One Bowl breakfast.
Adams told the crowd of 1,400 how God is like a hurricane inside him, and that power will help him tackle the Heisman Trophy winner.
Tim Tebow came up next. He began his remarks by looking over at Adams, grinning and saying, "Hopefully you'll have the opportunity to tackle me many times. That means I'm in the secondary."
Etc.
Florida safeties coach Doc Holliday attended Friday's UF practice and said he knows nothing new about his place in West Virginia's coaching search. . . . Fans can attend a pep rally for both schools today at 5:30 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center. . . . Carr confirmed he has received inquiries about his assistant coaches. All of them, except running backs coach Fred Jackson, were fired by new coach Rich Rodriguez.
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