December 05, 2009

Alabama Beats Florida to Reach National Championship Game: The Alabama Crimson Tide, led by three touchdowns by running back Mark Ingram and a defense that made Tim Tebow cry, defeated the Florida Gators 32-13 and will play in the BCS National Championship game. "It's not how you want to go out," said Tebow, who was 20 of 35 for 247 yards and one comeback-dooming fourth quarter interception in the end zone.

posted by rcade to football at 09:28 PM - 14 comments

I hate to admit it, but it was nice to see the Golden Boy, crying on the sidelines. All the other teams and all the other times, when they won and he was so happy and demonstrative. Now, here he sits with tears streaming down his face and that is how I will remember him. I don't recall many people from Alabama crying (there's no crying in Football), nor did I see guys from OU crying in the fourth quarter when they put the game away. This game was over long before the last 7 minutes and to think that the whopping they took as the uh-hum.... number one defense. Right. They will be playing some meaningless bowl now, Tebow will NOT win another Heisman, and no more silly talk about he is the Best player in the history of college football. Guys like Hershel Walker and Steve Owens, Tommy Frazier al come to mind... Have a nice summer and maybe God won't be wearing Tebow pj's anymore...lol

posted by Mickster at 10:32 PM on December 05, 2009

Ah, well enjoy it then, mickster. Crazy dude, that Tebow, happy when he wins and upset when he loses. Sorry though, he will be compared to the players you listed and it won't be silly talk.

posted by tselson at 11:11 PM on December 05, 2009

I hate Saban for how he bailed on the Dolphins, but I was pulling for him and the Tide. Just got tired of hearing about Florida/Tebow all the time. I guess now I'll pull for Tebow/Florida and hope Saban loses the championship game.

posted by forrestv at 11:37 PM on December 05, 2009

Tebow has had a fantastic college career, and this loss won't (or shouldn't) take anything away from that. The fact he was upset to the point of tears shows me just how emotional a person he is, and that he probably takes this loss as a personal one, that he let his team down. This loss for the Gators has less to do with any shortfall of Tim Tebow, or with him being "overrated" (as was mentioned in another recent thread on this site, and is ridiculous), and more to do with the perils of playing in the SEC, where even after you successfully navigate through the regular season you still have to win the (meaningless) conference title game. I think if the SEC wants to do itself a favor they'd eliminate the divisions within their conference and do away with this title game. Even as I type this, though, I realize how ridiculous a suggestion this is when consideration is given to all the money and exposure this one, extra game give the SEC. All this loss does for Florida (and the SEC) is bring up the possibility Alabama and Florida don't finish the season as the 1 and 2 teams in the country.

posted by dyams at 08:50 AM on December 06, 2009

dyams -- having the title game has also had some upside for SEC teams, most recently LSU squeezing into the BCS title game two years ago as a two-loss team (albeit both OT losses) in part on the strength of winning the SEC title game while a few teams ahead of them stumbled in the final week of action.

posted by holden at 09:20 AM on December 06, 2009

I am as unapologetic a 'Bama fan as there is and am extremely proud of what they have done this year. I cant see Texas (assuming they will be #2) being able to beat my Tide. I would much rather see TCU in the title game, having lived in Fort Worth several years I am a big fan of the Horny Toads.

That said I will admit I teared up when Alabama lost last year to the Gators so I see nothing but pure human emotion from Tim T. after putting so much time and effort into trying to give the Gators their first perfect season in team history.

While I may not agree with the Tebows religious beliefs (Catholics are going to hell?? What the fuck?) I do believe the boy was great for college football and his leadership skills are second to none. Any NFL team would be better with him no matter what roll he plays. I know there are questions about his QB abilities at that level but damn if he doesn't have an uncanny ability to find ways to win games.

posted by Folkways at 09:58 AM on December 06, 2009

WhoooooooooooooHooooooooooooo. No more Tim Tebow is god talk in the title game this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully we don't have to hear his name being mentioned with archi griffin either. It was a good saturday

posted by sgtcookzane at 11:15 AM on December 06, 2009

I know there are questions about his QB abilities at that level but damn if he doesn't have an uncanny ability to find ways to win games.

I think he'd be a good TE, but QB, no. If anything, that game showed that Tebow cannot be an NFL QB, which leads me to what helped lead to Florida's demise: They failed to rush the ball. It's not even that they tried and failed, it's that UF decided to turn away from the option and turn this into a passing game. I watch a ton of SEC games, and Florida wins because of their successful running attack, which then opens up the passing game for Tebow. With the decision to pass the ball so much, UF's entire offense was thrown into whack and Tebow's throwing weakness was only highlighted.

I hate to admit it, but it was nice to see the Golden Boy, crying on the sidelines.

Same here, but my reason's much more primal: UGA grad and it's in my blood to hate Florida.

While I may not agree with the Tebows religious beliefs (Catholics are going to hell?? What the fuck?

Really? All I could find is that his dad, who leads a ministry in the Philippines, said that 75% of all Philippines haven't heard the Gospels even though 80% are Catholic. Otherwise, I can't find anything about Tebow saying Catholics are going to Hell. It's also worth noting that Urban Meyer's known as a devout Catholic.

posted by jmd82 at 11:51 AM on December 06, 2009

I was sick to death about hearing about the golden boy as well, but Tebow's post-game interview on the sideline showed nothing but class. He gathered up his emotions after a crushing loss and did nothing but give the other team credit for their accomplishments. I know it's easy to hate the image the networks have shoved down our throats, but when it boils down to it, the guy's a class act and a hell of a football player.

posted by tahoemoj at 01:08 PM on December 06, 2009

Crap, I just read the Tiger Woods thread about having things "shoved down our throat." Please change my phrasing to "the bill of goods the networks have sold us."

posted by tahoemoj at 01:14 PM on December 06, 2009

American Christian zealots frequently make reference to who is and who isn't going to hell. Often on a group basis rather than an individual basis. Why single out individual sinners when you can make sweeping statements? The latter is so much more fun.

Michael Oher's adoptive father is quoted as saying, in effect, that although they are really very nice people, the Mormons are all going straight to hell, without a shadow of a doubt.

Trying to keep track of who is in and who is out of God's favor according to those supposedly in the know is an ongoing job, sort of like having to read the "Who's Hot and Who's Not" segment in each issue of Sports Illustrated.

posted by beaverboard at 01:33 PM on December 06, 2009

I don't care whether or not Tebow is a Christian, the whole crying thing just doesn't go over well with me. I always seem to find it more petulant than anything laudable. Buck up, man.

However I am spared a lot of the Tebow coverage up here that you guys get.

But go ahead and ask me anything you want about Jonas Gustaffson.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:19 PM on December 06, 2009

I live in the same county where Tebow played high school and have been hearing about him for six years. The amazement I feel about his collegiate success is that it has been predicted for him the entire time. It's very rare that any athlete exceeds massive expectations of greatness.

posted by rcade at 09:53 PM on December 06, 2009

Are you guys telling me that you weren't enjoying the Tebow-athon video tribute before the game with the angelic music playing in the background?

Btw, Tebow's tears stained the field that they played on so now no one can ever play on that field again.

posted by BornIcon at 11:06 AM on December 07, 2009

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