So who didn’t vote for Tebow?
Okay, it’s Friday which means you get to talk about anything on your mind, even if it’s not about football. But as I’ve said in the past, keep it clean. My momma reads this blog.
I’ll get the discussion started.
So who didn’t vote for Tebow? The SEC released its coaches All-SEC team yesterday and, not surprisingly, Florida had 16 players on the three-deep offense and defense. Florida had eight players on the first team while Alabama had six and LSU had three. Georgia receiver A.J. Green and linebacker Rennie Curran were the two Bulldogs on the first team.
There were only three unanimous choices on the first team: LSU offensive lineman Ciron Black, Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, and Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players so a unanimous pick got 11 of the 12 votes.
Notice anyone missing? Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who led Florida to the 2008 national championship, was on the first team but was not a unanimous pick. Jevan Snead of Ole Miss is the only other quarterback who could really be considered at the All-SEC level but his coach, Houston Nutt, wasn’t allowed to vote for him. Interesting.
Tommy Bowden will give it one year: I got a chance to spend a good chunk of time with former Clemson coach Tommy Bowden on Tuesday. Bowden told the assembled media in Florence, Ala., where brother Terry is now the head coach at North Alabama, that reports that he offered to resign last October weren’t exactly accurate. Bowden says that athletics director Terry Don Phillips made it clear to him in a Monday morning meeting on Oct. 13, after a loss to Wake Forest put the Tigers at 3-3, that he would not be retained. “I went to work that morning fully anticipating coaching that day and night,” said Bowden, who never had a losing season as a head coach. “I had been a head coach for 12 years and we had always turned it around.” But when it became clear to Bowden that he did not have the support, he agreed to discuss a settlement.
Bowden, who turned 55 on July 10, said public speaking will take up most of his time this fall. For the first time in 33 years he will not be coaching.
“I’ll wait and see what happens,” he said. “If the phone starts ringing in November, I’ll have a decision to make. But I do know this. If I don’t get back in next year (2010) I probably won’t do it.”
Tommy Bowden has sold his house in Clemson and has moved his family to Panama City, Fla.
What does Tennessee do at WR? The No. 1 player Tennessee cannot afford to lose is safety Eric Berry. But after that, wide receiver would be to be the worst position to have injuries for the Vols. That’s why I wonder what happens in Knoxville now that senior Austin Rogers and junior Danarius Moore are hurt. Rogers is probably going to miss the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee. He had played a lot of football (76 career catches) and when a coaching transition is going on, you need veteran players to help stabilize things. Moore, who suffered a broken bone in his left foot, is said to be out 8 to 12 weeks after surgery. But my experience is that foot injuries are tough to bounce back from for receivers, who have to plant a foot and cut. Moore caught only 11 passes last season but he is the closest thing Tennessee has to a deep threat.
Sure, the injuries open the door for incoming freshmen like Nu’Keese Richardson but that is always risky.
What does really this mean? It means that Tennessee, who was going to run the ball a lot anyway to protect the quarterback position, will run it even more.
Ole Miss dodged a bullet—a big bullet. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come for Ole Miss, which is getting a lot of love in the preseason as the possible winner of the SEC West. Its best defensive player, end Greg Hardy, and its most versatile offensive player, running back Dexter McCluster, were involved in a car accident last weekend. The car in which Hardy and McCluster were riding was struck by another car that turned in front of them, according to published reports. The players’ car caught on fire but Hardy and McCluster escaped without serious injury.
“It could have been a lot worse,” coach Houston Nutt said in media reports. No kidding.
Hardy’s status for preseason practice has not been determined. He has had two surgeries to repair a broken bone in his foot which slowed him last season. It will be sometime next week before he is evaluated.
Congrats to Coach Donnan: Jim Donnan certainly had his critics when he was the head coach at Georgia (1996-2000). But the fact remains that Donnan won 40 games in five years and recruited the talent that set the stage for Georgia’s 2002 SEC championship team. For his work at Marshall (1990-95), where he won 64 games in five seasons plus a Division I-AA national championship, Donnan will be one of two coaches at the divisional level to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame Saturday night in South Bend, Ind. Well deserved. Now we have to see about getting Georgia Southern’s icon, the late Erk Russell, into the Hall of Fame as well.
Rathbun, Archer to work FS South games: This week FS South announced an agreement to televise seven SEC football games this fall. What you may have missed was that veteran play-by-play man Bob Rathbun and former Falcons quarterback Dave Archer will be handling the broadcast duties. You probably know Rathbun best for his work with the Hawks, but the guy is a pro who has done everything. It’s good to see Archer get an opportunity to continue working SEC football. He worked with Dave Neal on the old Lincoln-Financial 12:30 p.m. SEC package but ESPN has taken over all those rights. Neal landed with ESPN, where he will work a regional package with former Heisman Trophy winner Ande Ware.
Personal note: I will be in South Bend this weekend with Jim Donnan, Lou Holtz, and all of the other players and coaches who will be enshrined Saturday night into the College Football Hall of Fame. Part of that banquet is the presentation of the Bert McGrane Award, which represents the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Hall of Fame. I was honored and humbled to be chosen, which means my name will be on the same display at the College Football Hall of Fame with Furman Bisher. Not bad for a little country boy from Union Point, Ga. I’m only there because I have a wife and a family who have supported me and wonderful people like you who have been willing to read what I write over the years. I thank you for that.
Please follow me on Twitter at:
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
186 comments Add your comment
EverGator
July 17th, 2009
10:08 am
Tim “ain’t no Matt Stafford”…etc? In correct English that means he is.No, truth be told, Tim is better than all those mentioned, in EVERY way!
One-Liners For 7/17/09 | MrSEC.com
July 17th, 2009
10:08 am
[...] weekend.Tony Barnhart of The AJC talks about Donnan, UT’s receiver worries and he wonders which coach didn’t vote for Tim Tebow on the All-SEC team.According to The Gainesville Sun, Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead is the fourth [...]
Joey
July 17th, 2009
10:11 am
Had to be that fruitcake in Knoxville…
SEC
July 17th, 2009
10:11 am
I wouldnt be suprised if several coaches voted against Tebow. although he might be the best player in college football and he is one heck of a leader. It does not mean he is the best QB. Actually far from it. that does not mean i wouldnt want him on my team. I would love to have him on my team. Jevon Snead is more of your prototypical QB. Im sure he stole a few votes, especially after last year.
CharlotteGator
July 17th, 2009
10:12 am
Ohio State Fan,
Totally agree. Bragging about who will or won’t be successful in the NFL doesn’t really have anything to do with college football discussions.
Chicken Foot,
Let us know when you’re going to make a point and then come with a fact or two and then I’m sure we’ll all be more than willing to bring it.
EverGator
July 17th, 2009
10:12 am
Well,”DR”, that must be pure jealousy talking from some fan of a team that lost to Tebow…, but your lack of class shows by wishing Tebow will “get his clock cleaned” in the NFL….Poor sportsmanship and lacking in class-just the opposite of Tebow….
SEC
July 17th, 2009
10:14 am
My guess is def the ole ball coach, i doubt richt because we didnt even see him last year. and prob saban
Clint
July 17th, 2009
10:15 am
Oh Georgia Tech fans. Their team wins one game against us in 8 years, and next thing you know they’re gonna sue for the right to play for the Super Bowl. Nice impressive 3 point win last year Techies. Too bad you couldn’t carry that momentium into the Peach Bowl. I guess that’s what happens when you put all your effort into the UGA game. We have bigger fish to fry at Georgia. You’re like our 4th or 5th biggest game every year. Now we’ll get up for you this year when we fill up that band box you call a stadium, and after yall lose try to be nice about it and don’t set off any of your Al Qaeda bombs. Last year was big for yall, but it’s over. This year UGA will win again and all will be right with the world. But hey, you will have some cool rings to remember that epic 3 point win.
Tex
July 17th, 2009
10:16 am
Simple Dawg sums it up for all those “revelent” UGA fans.
As for Tony, he does a very good job of reporting on college football. Furman does a very good job of writing about sports.
keith
July 17th, 2009
10:22 am
I believe it was Mark Richt who did not vote for Tebow
Cograts on your award, always like to see small town Ga boy make good
Gatorzone
July 17th, 2009
10:25 am
I have a hard time believing that Spurrier would not vote for Tebow. I can’t see him going agianst his alma mater, heisman winner (like himself).
SimpleDawg
July 17th, 2009
10:26 am
I wondered how long it would take for one of those little yeller fellers to mention 408 and 45-42. It’s nice that y’all have something in life to hang on to….besides your……weinker.
I enjoy David Archer’s commentary….much better than Andre “Where” Ware’s numbing ramblings.
Got 12?
July 17th, 2009
10:29 am
Clint,
Obviously, the SEC coaches (who know football better than any of us bloggers) feel Julio is better than AJ. Stafford and Georgia’s offense had a lot of do with AJ’s Freshman of the Year award last year. BTW, Julio was the AP SEC Freshman of the Year.
Keep in mind, it’s a pre-season poll and means absolutely nothing.
Got 12?
July 17th, 2009
10:32 am
Congrats, Tony!
Are there plans to include a Blogger’s Hall of Fame in South Bend?
Mike lump
July 17th, 2009
10:36 am
ZERO = the amount of girls other than his mom that Yellow ball fuzz has seen live naked.
Hey, Long dawg...
July 17th, 2009
10:37 am
…I didn’t say Bisher was relevant, only that Tony should not be mentioned in the same sentence when trying to be compared to him. In an analogy that you may understand, Furman Bisher is the SEC, Tony is Conference USA (and he would be Division II if not for somehow getting TV to involve him – so he gets extra credit for being on the national stage).
BL
July 17th, 2009
10:40 am
Tony, riveting insight. Some would think that most of coaches in the SEC are tired of him dominating them and all the hype that follows TT. Of course they are not big fans!!! And before you think it, I am a fan of neither UGA or Fla
Lonesome Dove
July 17th, 2009
10:44 am
Houston Nutt didn’t vote for Teebow. Enough said about that.
DirtyDawg
July 17th, 2009
10:46 am
Wait a minute…wait a minute…you caution us to watch our language here because yo’ momma reads the blog and you set us up with a name like Nu’Keese Richardson? Can you imagine what UT opponents will be calling him?. I won’t offer you mine in deference to mom, but I do wonder who ‘hung’ this label on him and why. Was it because they were always having to change the locks…or if they wanted to make sure he wasn’t gonna be accused of being ‘on the down low’?
And speaking of Tennessee, my bet is that the UT coach that recruited the Ol’ Miss QB in the first place told his head coach how to vote – of course Lane would have voted against Florida just out of spite anyway…but then, so would I but since I’m not a head football coach in the SEC I’m not really expected to show some class from time to time.
Gary
July 17th, 2009
10:48 am
Tebow was probably not the pick of a certain immature coach working up in Knoxville. Spurrier would vote for a Florida QB anyday and Richt has too much respect for Tebow as a person and has in the past called him a great player so I doubt those two would have voted that way.
Tired of talking about the Bowden’s. Terry had one great year with Auburn, Tommy totally underachieved, Jeff is the reason for FSU having to rebuild that offense. Bobby is the only Bowden worth talking about at a top level. Unfortunately his time has come and he needs to let Jimbo Fisher take over.
Never was a fan of Donnan at UGA, but he is a good coach and very deserving for his work at Marshall. Congrats to him on that honor.
Ole Miss lucky, Tennessee not so lucky. All I can say on that one.
Good to see Bob and Arch get a football gig. Didn’t know until I watched the Braves game last night that FS South was going to get some of the SEC games this year so that is good.
Congrats Tony on the honor as you are very deserving. Hope to see some more commentary on CBS this fall as well as your spots on 790 and of course this blog.
BBrown
July 17th, 2009
10:50 am
Tony, Congrats! You are truly the authority on college football. Keep up the good work.
Long Dawg
July 17th, 2009
10:54 am
Tech by the numbers:
0-# of ACC Championships
0-# of Costal Division Championships
0-# of BCS bowl appearences
0-# of 10 win seasons in last 10 years
0-# of top 10 finishes
0- Amount of interst in a Tech Blog
1- # of times Tech has beaten Georgia in last 8 years
2- # of Terriorist enrolled at Tech before capture
3- # number of points Tech scored agains a 7 and 5 LSU team.
4- # number of Games Tech lost in 2008
5- # number of games Tech will lose in 2009.
6- IQ of yellow fuzz
7- # of points tech scored in 2002 51 to 7 beat down
8- # of years before Tech beats Georgia again
9- # of Games Tech needs to win to reward themselves with a ring
10- # of 2009 season tickets sold to Tech games
8- IQ of m
9- IQ of St. Simons
BruffDawg
July 17th, 2009
10:56 am
ONE win in eight tries
TWO losses uga will have this year (not at tech though)
THREE point victories are nothing to brag about
FOUR is a number tech can’t understand (see reggie ball)
FIVE points will be the difference this year UGA 28 GT 23
Father of 8
July 17th, 2009
11:00 am
The discussion on Thursday, 7/16, (re Meyer’s future) was the sanest, most reasonable, and venom free I have ever seen on any blog in the AJC. Opinions were expressed but almost all were respectful of other opinions. Today, it appears that many of the usual juveniles are back on here spewing their inanities and trying to prove their own idiocy.
TS
July 17th, 2009
11:05 am
Congrats TB- You are the I Ching on all things SEC football.
Please, please, please let it leak out to the media who voted against Tebow. Best college football player ever. Who in the country would you rather have behind center on a Saturday night?? Classic example of pure Florida hate demonstrated by a coach that didn’t vote on merit.
ThaMan
July 17th, 2009
11:06 am
Clint,
Congratulations to your mutts D for keeping the Jackets to under 500 yards rushing.
jumbeauxtiger
July 17th, 2009
11:08 am
Congrats Tony you deserve this.
It’s not that big of a deal but I don’t see how Tebow is not a unanimous choice. He is arguably the best college football player of this generation.
The Vols may not win more than 4 games this season. Welcome to the SEC Lane.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
april glaspie
July 17th, 2009
11:11 am
Tebow’s an insufferable prig.
DirtyDawg
July 17th, 2009
11:16 am
…and as for Teebeaugh, some announcer referred to him as ‘the best football player he’d ever seen at QB’. If you think about what he must have meant by that, how can you dispute it? I mean he’s big, tough, hard-nosed, determined, strong and can take a lick and keep on ticking (of course all those are pretty redundant, but you get my point). The best comparison I can think of for Timmy is that he’s the Bronko Nagurski of quarterbacks. Of course, until T-Bow can run the balI 80 or 90 yards for TDs, like Preston Ridelhuber, or, as I reminded myself while doing a little search on Preston, play defense well enough in the pros to recover, and run in for a final TD, a fumble in the famous Heidi Game where the Raiders beat the Jets, then he, TT will still have some work to do to measure up.
TCM
July 17th, 2009
11:17 am
Great job Mr. Barnhardt, I have enjoyed your coverage of college football over the years and I really like your objective views on ALL of the teams.
As for Gatorman 770, stop whining about that TD celbration from two years ago. You mean to tell me the “Gaturz” won with class during all those Spurrier years by taking cheap shots at the press conferences? Give me a break!! Let it go gatorman 770!!
And as for Tebow being the best player in college football since Bo Jackson as per Akhmed Pickesimar, that’s a little steep too. I’m not taking anything from TT, but to say he’s the best going all the way back to the mid 80’s when Bo was in college is kind of crazy when you think of ALL the talented college football players of the last 25 years!! Tebow is up there but I wouldn’t call him the best…………
DirtyDawg
July 17th, 2009
11:21 am
Hey Techies, you’d better milk this thing for all it’s worth cause you’ve only got about four more months before those ‘rings’ go into the jewelry drawer along with your highschool and fraternity stuff.
Marta Evangelist
July 17th, 2009
11:23 am
Long Dawg – great list, I laughed as a Tech fan. It is funny enough without making stuff up, so let me help you clear up a few things:
1. We have a coastal division championship
2. We have 2 ACC championships
3. We have finished in the top 10 plenty of times…maybe you mean in the last few years?
4. Only one “terrorist”. I put that term in quotes because he was living in a fantasy-land and was never going to hurt anyone. He’s a lot less dangerous than a certain 3x murdering professor.
ThaMan
July 17th, 2009
11:31 am
Long Dawg – also your IQ and the number of years you attended UGAg or any other cawlij.
Gatorzone
July 17th, 2009
11:35 am
Longdawg, that was funny! I think you left out a Dungeons and Dragons reference somewhere in there.
TCM, If you do not think Tebow is the best since Bo, tell me who has accomplised more or who do you think is better?
CharlotteGator
July 17th, 2009
11:35 am
So past Tim Tebow, were there any other snubs or peculiar choices?
http://secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=2&url_article_id=12867&change_well_id=2
Here are mine:
- This is admittedly probably a little biased, but I don’t know about A. Hernandez as the 3rd TE. I’m not sure I’d take the other two listed over him. Both great players, but I’d keep Aaron. Maybe it’s simply because he fits our system better.
- I’d probably switch Demps and Ingram at RB. Demps is a threat no doubt, but wasn’t terribly consistent. I’d like to see Richard Samuel over Ben Tate on the 3rd team. Tate’s a good player, but honestly everytime I’ve seen him, RS looks like one of the better backs on UGA’s squad. I’ll put it this way, in JAX, I’d much rather see C. King back there than #22.
- Not sure I’d have Prince Miller that high either to be quite honest. In my opinion, not above J. Jenkins.
- Probably have Jeff Owens higher. I know he was hurt, but he’s frightening. Changes the UGA defense when he’s in and effective.
- Slight shuffling with the LB’s, but honestly they’re pretty much fine. 1st team is great. 2nd and 3rd team guys are all about equal.
What would be interesting (which has been mentioned on another blog) is an East vs. West All-Star game.
Redo man
July 17th, 2009
11:37 am
I guarantee you the Tennessee coach didn’t vote for Tebow. He thinks Tebow is a liar and a cheater.
RxDawg
July 17th, 2009
11:38 am
Good article.
If the non vote was done out of spite, i’d speculate it was Kiffin.
Chicken Foot
July 17th, 2009
11:47 am
Teabow needs to throw the jump pass more to get everyone’s vote. This is what I am guessing.
Pago Flyer
July 17th, 2009
11:52 am
Tebow is the greatest college qb ever. Who cares about the nfl?
Got 12 but none in quite a long long time ....
July 17th, 2009
11:52 am
I would take Green and Lafell over Jones….
Thor
July 17th, 2009
11:53 am
Obviously it’s “Lame Kiffin” who didn’t vote for Timmy. I feel sorry for this “A-hole” come Sept. 13. Good ole Rocky Top will get a good ole spanking by Mr. Tebow and Co. Georgia will beat em as well!
GO GATORS!!!
SEC
July 17th, 2009
12:00 pm
TEBOW IS NOT THE GREATEST COLLEGE QB EVER!! he has a great arguement to be in the top 5 best college football players overall, and that could just be from leadership alone. Nobody ever talks about tebows stats throwing. or really his stats period. They talk about what he has won, but half the reason he got those was his team. Anywhere else he would not of got those awards. Mcfadden should of got at least one
TampaGator
July 17th, 2009
12:01 pm
Jevon Snead is an outstanding QB at Ole Miss and I predict he will have an outstadning, All-SEC type season this year. But, who in their right mind (i.e. the Tennessee coach because he is never in his right mind) would not vote for Tebow at the beginning of this season based on his previous accomplishments and how Florida is voted #1 by almost every pub out there. He is a previous Heisman winner and has 2 national championship trophies while he has played QB at Florida? Who else can even come close to those accomplishments in the SEC and plays QB in the SEC? So, Kiffin, please either become part of the SEC family or get the heck out of the conference. I hope Tebow puts up 80 points on your sorry butt in the Swamp this year. You are a disgrace as a SEC head coach right now and also to the Vol nation in my opinion, and I can easily see why Al Davis kicked you out of Oakland. You have no class or common sense at all. Also, what the heck does the NFL have to do with how great a college player you are? If NFL ability had anything to do with college performance or the Heisman Trophy, over half of the All-Americans and Heisman Trophy winners in college football history would have to give their honor and trophies back becasue they did not perform well in the NFL. Who cares if Tebow will not be a good NFL QB. Doesn’t matter, folks. Tebow is not a pro-type QB and probably will not be a starter in the NFL. Who cares! He is most likely going to go down as one of the greatest, if not greatest, college football player in history. And who cares if he ever plays a down in the NFL. If he doesn’t, I will also bet you he will go down as one of the finest human beings to ever do whatever he does outstide of the NFL. And that does matter! Good day.
SEC
July 17th, 2009
12:06 pm
Here is why you should slightly care about the nfl. Recruiting. Plain and simple. Thats the only reason. Yes national championships do really well in that category too but remember these kids want a future outside of college as well
Ohio State fan
July 17th, 2009
12:10 pm
I guess that I don’t follow the logic that suggests Tim Tebow could be in the argument for all time great college players but not for best quarterback. That’s kind of like saying that Jerry Rice is the best NFL player ever but surely he’s not the best NFL receiver. Huh?
Jump passes or no, the man has put up monster statistics both through the air and through the shoulder pads of defensive players trying to tackle him.
Huh?
July 17th, 2009
12:11 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Mark Richt. Its no big secret that Richt likes drop back “pro style” quarterbacks and Tebow doesn’t really fit that bill. I’m sure Richt has nothing but respect for Florida (how could he not?), but he probably thinks Snead is a better overall “pure” quarterback. Yep, it was definitely Richt.
I personally think Snead is a little overrated. Good but not great. I didn’t watch Ole Miss much last year but I did see a good chunk of the Florida game. What I saw was not 1st team All-SEC material. Not even close.
Duluth Gator
July 17th, 2009
12:16 pm
Amen, TampaGator
SoCalDawg
July 17th, 2009
12:19 pm
Congrats Tony! You deserve every accolade thrown your way, and honestly more. As a displaced Southerner in sunny Southern California, I wake up to read you work daily. I can’t wait for your next book to be finished. Cheers.
3>8
July 17th, 2009
12:20 pm
Tech wins by three and get to brag instead of dogs barking about 8 in a row (something that Tech accomplished already). Just think how much that loss cost UG. 10k dropped to 4k already.
hsf
July 17th, 2009
12:20 pm
Tony: Your blog is a “must read” everyday. Well deserved. Go Vols!