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.
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186 comments Add your comment
Ramblin Rick
July 17th, 2009
12:20 pm
Yellow Fuzz – well done!
My favorite was the Bill King comment
Observor
July 17th, 2009
12:25 pm
The is absolutely no doubt which coach didn’t vote for Tebow. It’s the childish moron up there in Knoxville that didn’t vote for Tebow. He’s the one who has the axe to grind with Meyer and Florida, which he has made well known to this point. The Vols will get beat by 50 when the play UF this year. You can take that to the bank.
gator32301
July 17th, 2009
12:25 pm
“Bring it and get you some”? What a tool.
Observor
July 17th, 2009
12:25 pm
Should say ‘There is’ above…..
Damn typos.
Jake
July 17th, 2009
12:27 pm
Tony, nice words about your support case,, your wife and kids, regarding your award. Your wife and kids have been home while your away traveling holding down the fort. Don’t ever forget that or your mom you mention who reads this. Some of the best performers in life come from small towns all across this great country we live in. Yeah, a place called America! Thanks for all you do helping us staying connected with Southern Football. We need it now more than ever and it provides us a Walter Mitty break away from this economic stress we are in. So, keep up the great work, keep on plowing as they say in South, because we are down to the short rows and College Football is almost here again.
Huh?
July 17th, 2009
12:31 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.”
Yes, instead of netting $80 million this year we might only net $79,900,000. UGA athletics is really screwed for sure moron. To put that kind of money in to context for you Techie, we could probably buy Bobby Dodd stadium, tear it to the ground like it deserves, and use it as a parking lot for when the Dawgs are playing in the Dome if we really wanted to. Not a bad idea really. I think we should consider it.
LESD
July 17th, 2009
12:38 pm
Congratulations, Tony! The honor is well deserved, and I look forward to seeing you on my TV screen up here in Brooklyn this fall.
archangeladidas
July 17th, 2009
12:45 pm
As a GATOR fan i would like to thank who ever it was who didn’t vote for Tebow. Thank you for giving him ammunition to go out and prove that he is the best in the SEC hands down. Why? I don’t get it. I was pretty sure they would have a great year but now i know for a fact this will go down as one of the greatest seasons ever. Thank you again, Go GATORS!!!
SEC
July 17th, 2009
12:50 pm
wow you went from tim tebow to jerry rice. u really are an ohio state fan where everything is overrated. Monster numbers through the air? Really? If that is your case then what are his numbers? I have alot of respect for the kid. He has heart, determination, and one of the best leaders ive seen on the field. As far a best QB, not even close.
Spike
July 17th, 2009
12:51 pm
Congrats Tony, it is well deserved and you are a Damn Good Dawg!!
athensdawg
July 17th, 2009
12:57 pm
How Jim Donnan gets in the CFHOF before Erk Russell is a huge mystery to me….but then again, doesn’t the media vote on this….and he is on tv 7 days a week during football season….so that right there OBVIOUSLY makes him much more qualified.
SEC
July 17th, 2009
12:59 pm
hahah i like that huh? well done. I think its hilarious that Tech fans think they caused that. If they could read, its the simple fact of the hype of last year and the 3 loses to UF, BAMA, and GT. National Championship hype cause it to jump up. What its at now is not a whole lot diff then what its been before last year. If they had season ticket holders they would know how the process works. The start with the highest contributer and work down. The lowest contributer was 4k. i thought Tech fans were suppose to have some brains about them
warhorse
July 17th, 2009
1:00 pm
Tennessee sports talk is saying that Lame Kiffin did not vote for Tebow. One more reason to set aside the entire day to get ready for Sept. 19, one of the great days in SEC football history. It will be a delight to see Daddy’s Little Boy welcomed in to the conference of men.
PTC DAWG
July 17th, 2009
1:01 pm
ANYONE who thinks Tebow doesn’t deserve to be Pre-Season ALL-SEC at this point in time, is an IDIOT.
TerryDawg'95
July 17th, 2009
1:01 pm
Tony, Kyle King over at the Dawgsports blog has a campaign going to get Erk into the HOF. I think the hangup is that he was a head coach for 1 year less than the rules stipulate, so he’d need a special exception from some committee, which I believe Claude Felton is actually on. Might want to check that out. It seems like a travesty to me.
Doug Johnson
July 17th, 2009
1:04 pm
I resemble that remark!
SEC
July 17th, 2009
1:11 pm
i will say as much as i dislike UF, I can’t wait until they play UT. That will be best beatdown UT will of ever had. We(UGA) learned pretty well its a bad idea to piss off UF right now (endzone celebration).
G8R GRAD
July 17th, 2009
1:12 pm
Many congrats, Tony.
Well deserved.
BTW:
Where’s Union Point?
Anonymous
July 17th, 2009
1:13 pm
SIX sides are the sides of the die used to play Dungeons & Dragons.
Atlanta Gator
July 17th, 2009
1:17 pm
Good grief. I could not give two rats’ backsides whether some SEC coach voted for another quarterback to be pre-season, first-team All-SEC. It does not mean a thing.
On the other hand, someone just handed angry Timmy some bulletin board material. You wouldn’t like Timmy when he’s angry . . . especially when he’s playing your team.
Sam
July 17th, 2009
1:19 pm
Keep in mind Donnan’s record at Marshall. He is being inducted because of his work at the old 1AA level. He deserves it IMHO.
dgroy
July 17th, 2009
1:27 pm
Congratulations, Tony, it’s good to see Georgia people doing good. we’re proud of you as I’m sure your family is. Tim Tebow may not be the best athlete around or even the best quarterback but he’s a “Winner” and you like to have as many of them on your team as you can. I’d take him for my team (assuming I had a team) anyday.
Al
July 17th, 2009
1:30 pm
Congrats on HoF induction Tony! There is no one more deserving. Enjoy SB.
Denver Dog
July 17th, 2009
1:31 pm
Nice article Tony, congrats to you an all of those entering. I really don’t know anyone who would have voted for another qb, except for maybe Nutt or Petrino. I would have to guess it was Petrino.
I am surprised that there are so many Tide players on the pre-season list after the drubbing that they took from UTAH. I’m not surprised at the amount of UGA players. I think since they had 9 drafted, the cubbard is bare and they will be rebuilding for sure. There is no way we can stay on the field with any of those other teams, I don’t even know why we are playing. VD
Now it makes no sense for Tech fans to come on here and write about whatever they think is important and not about the subject. Don’t they have a blog of thier own?
I think that we will be surprised at how well the ACC does against Tech this year. Yes, they have one more year to perfect the offense, but everyone else has one more year to prepare also. After all they just need to study the Gardner Webb and LSU films to figure it out.
Tebow gets my vote for QB (preseason) and we will see how he does during the year. I wish there were more examples like him and less like Pac Man Jones.
Bill
July 17th, 2009
1:33 pm
Best Wishes To Coach Donnan on his election. And kudos to you, Tony.
Amos Alonzo Stagg
July 17th, 2009
1:34 pm
Tommy Bowden was exposed as a fraud when Rodriguez left for West Virginia. He spent the rest of his time at Clemson making excuses (”Oklahoma and Penn State lost today, too”) for his underachieving, poorly coached teams that played down to the level of their competition. If he thinks that he’s going to make a living as a public speaker and/or a TV commentator, he’s got another thing coming– he’s as dry as dust. Best thing for him to do is either live on the beach with the money he stole from Clemson, or else go run his lousy bubble screen offense at a Sun Belt Conference school.
Got 12?
July 17th, 2009
1:34 pm
Sports Illustrated’s SEC Preview edition will have four regional covers. The four coverboys are Saban, Meyer, Nutt, and Kiffin.
Since Richt (the obvious choice for the state of Georgia) isn’t on one, which one do you think will be on stands here in Atlanta?
Anonymous
July 17th, 2009
1:40 pm
Weren’t we just discussing the moral fortitude of Bobby Bowden?
Judging from the way his boys have behaved the expression, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” works both ways!
G8R GRAD
July 17th, 2009
1:42 pm
Got 12?:
Ouch!
If ever there was a Hobson’s Choice for Bulldog fans!
G8R GRAD
July 17th, 2009
1:44 pm
Sorry, I meant a Morton’s Fork.
Tjsorrow
July 17th, 2009
1:56 pm
i guess houston nutt didn’t vote for tebow
Tired of the Tim Tebow hype machine
July 17th, 2009
1:57 pm
Ohio state fan,
Tim Tebow does not own all kinds of records for passing or for running. He holds that one record for being the only qb to ever rush for and pass for 20 td in a season. I’m sure he owns some school records but I doubt he owns many, if any sec or national passing or rushing records. And he owns that 20/20 record because 90% of the time when UF got down to the 5 yard line he called his own number and ran it in himself rather than handing off.
Pat White of West Virgina probably could have had the same type of record as Tebow as far as the 20/20 goes but he didn’t call his own number every single time he got down to within sniffing distance of the goal line. And as far as being a great running qb he is good but not in the same league as Pat White was at WVU. If he gets accepted as a qb in the pros he’s gonna be looking pretty slow when he tries to run. It won’t be Charleston Southern or Kentucky, Vandy, or South Carolina for that matter.
In passing statistics there are boatloads of qbs both past and present who have superior passing #s. McCoy, Bradford passing stats were vastly superior to Tebow and McCoy was right around 80% completion rate with Bradford right behind which is phenomenal. Tebow was noticeably miffed when he didn’t get the Heisman last year. He said as much and it was obvious if you watched the presentation how P.O. ed he was. He just couldn’t sit there and be happy for Bradford. So much for sportsmanship for the guy who is always posing for the camera, flexing, and jumping up and down when he knows the camera is likely on him. This guy is the biggest media hound of all time. I can’t possibly be the only person who sees this.
Tim Tebow is still a great football player. But the reality is that he’s great because he plays on easily the most talented team in the country. Put Tebow at Arkansas or North Carolina State or any other mid level program and lets see how many Heismans he wins. He would still be successful but my point is that the team he plays for UF has a lot more to do with him being successful than his talent alone. I’ve nothing against Tebow but I’m just sick of the hype around this guy. He’s a great player but the main reason is because his team makes him a lot greater than what he really is.
Disagree with that statement? Go ahead. But apparently all the pro scouts vehemently disagree with you about this guy’s worth as a qb. The fact that they think he is a 3rd down draft choice at best as a qb ought to freaking tell you how overrated and overblown this guy really is.
If Kiffin voted for Snead then great for him. At least someone thinks for himself and didn’t buy into the hype machine the rest of you bought into. Snead beat Tebow head to head last year and I would be willing to bet money on 2 things. 1) Snead will end up with better passing stats than Tebow this season and 2) Snead will absolutely be a higher draft pick as a qb than Tebow will. This bet is an absolute freaking certainty.
Let Timmy get angry. Didn’t help a whole lot for him when Ole Miss slammed him on 4th and 1 last year.
Will
July 17th, 2009
2:08 pm
Sept 19 will be an ugly one for the Vols. I feel sorry for Kiffin in that one. Vol nation will turn on him in a hurry after a 40 or 50 point beat-down.
Will
July 17th, 2009
2:15 pm
Denver Dog,
We do NOT rebuild anymore…..we RELOAD! UGA has talent, size and depth at every position and hell no, the cubbard in not bare. Insiders tell me UGA has as much talent on D as anyone in the SEC. We just have to jell brother. Don’t be fooled by a bunch of kids going to the NFL! UGA will be much better, and I think tougher in the 09′ campaign.
reservoirDAWG
July 17th, 2009
2:19 pm
They damn well better be tougher and more intense.
GatorBait
July 17th, 2009
2:48 pm
If you have any objectivity in your skull, you would have voted for Tebow. He may go down as the most decorated (I didn’t say “best”) college football player ever…but oh yeah, he didn’t even get unanimously selected first team preseason All-SEC his senior year. I am willing to bet it was that nut up in Tennessee, I think the thin mountain air has cut off oxygen to his brain. And about the records, Tebow trails only Herschel Walker for the SEC rushing TD record, and he also owns a higher career completion percentage than Peyton Manning. This isn’t about Pro potential…face the facts, at the collegiate level Tebow is the total package. He could be an All-American QB in any type offense,
MiltonDawg
July 17th, 2009
2:50 pm
agree Will. We are very underrated this year and i like it that way. I see GT bloggers stating their team is the next dynasty of CFB after 1 year. How very, very sad.
Great article Tony and Congrats to you.
ThaMan
July 17th, 2009
2:59 pm
Will – that post of yours keeps getting repeated every year. It’s only one year away from it’s 30th anniversary. Don’t forget to start saying “wait til next year” around the middle of September. It’s a UGAy tradition!
how2fish
July 17th, 2009
3:13 pm
Best Wishes To Coach Donnan on his election. And kudos to you, Tony. Tebow is the best college PLAYER IMHO I’ve ever seen and I’ve been watching SEC football since the early 60’s. He is a force to be reckoned with and could play a varitey of positions…and CMR would not be the one not voting for him..Heck he even beat a Tebow lead team once so all that “gettin back at Tebow ” crap is unfounded. And yellow fuzzies you man handled 4 Georgia fans???..what High School are they attending tough guy?
Gator Rob
July 17th, 2009
3:22 pm
If I had to bet on which coach left Tebow off his 1st team ballot it would have to be Kiffiykins. He’s immature enough to do it out of spite. I don’t think Spurrier would do it, the ole ball coach is a little off, but one thing you can’t take away from him is that he’s honest. I certainly woudn’t put it past Richt, especially after he and his staff are telling recruits that Meyer is going to Notre Dame. Maybe he’s still pissed about the timeouts, but that’s not as bad as nearly starting a riot. Spurrier would have done more than call a couple timeouts (see Athens 1995) and it would have been justified..
And how come every time a Tebow debate comes up, some UGA or FSU fan claims that he will be a bust in the NFL? #1 – You don’t know that. #2 – Who the hell cares until next year? Even then, it will have nothing to do with what he did in Gville
Ohio St Fan – good to hear from a rational Big 10 fan. You see what we have to deal with down here? Clowns like Chicken Foot… But you gotta love it.
Tony B – Congratulations to the best SEC sportswriter out there. Keep up the good work.
Peachtree Gator
July 17th, 2009
3:24 pm
Tebow wasn’t unanimous because in the SEC, there’s no way you’ll find any single random set of 11 competitors and, regardless of the overwhelming mountain of evidence to vote the truthful way, not have at least one insecure redneck that will surely give in to his blind hatred.
Gen Neyland
July 17th, 2009
3:25 pm
3rd time today I’ve tried to post here. Again, congrats TB…
Sports psychologists say get in their head early and often. Dang, if the thinking out there is Tebow crushes UT because of Kiffin doing this or Kiffin doing that is being foolish. Tebow may crush UT because Florida as a team is better…Exceptions to the rule : Dancing in the endzone and embarrassing UF on national TV. That required payback on national TV…Debt paid in full. The rest is pure conjecture.
Gator Growl
July 17th, 2009
3:25 pm
Two things are for sure about the Tebow vote…1) It will come out as to whom voted for whom as many a journalist can’t wait for SEC media days to ask every coach that one question…did you vote for Tebow?? They can either say yes, no, or no comment. Either way it will be quite revealing. 2) This will only add fuel to Tebows fire. Oh, he won’t say too much about it or will just “brush it aside”, but we’ve all seen what happens when he is “extra motivated”. Just ask that Oklahoma player who made comments regarding Tebow being the 5th best QB in the Big 12 and then got trucked and chomped (literally and figuratively) in the second half of the NC game. As a Gator, I would like to encourage any extra motivation you can throw Tebows way!!!
Sting 'em Buzz
July 17th, 2009
3:36 pm
Congratulations on the honor, Tony!
JaxDawg
July 17th, 2009
3:41 pm
When rating a QB, stats are just part of the equation. Tebow has two intangables that seperate him from the pack 1. he’s a charasmatic natural leader who players rally behind, 2. he’s a winner/intense competitor. Anyone who says otherwise is not looking at him objectively.
Look at Graham Harrell, he put up monster stats at Tex Tech, yet not only did he not get drafted, he wasn’t even invited to any NFL camps. 1 obvious reason is that he was considered a “system” QB, but he obviously didn’t come across as having the leadership/intense competitor intangables either.
The pro scouts main concern with Tebow has been that over 80% of his snaps haven’t come under center. If he takes more snaps under center this year and still puts the numbers up, his draft stock will rise. I personally think he will do well at the next level, given the chance. Also, just because a QB isn’t drafted in the first or second round doesn’t mean he won’t be successful at the next level. Right now in the NFL, the Mannings, McNabb, Ryan, Palmer, Rivers, Rodgers & Rothleisberger are the only 1st round starters. That’s 8 of 32 (Stafford should be number 9), still less than 30%.
I’m as big a dawg fan as anyone, but c’mon people regardless of who you pull for, try be objective, it makes you much more credible when you do have a valid argument!
GO DAWGS!
Gator Growl
July 17th, 2009
3:43 pm
BTW, I think this talk about how Tebow is going to flop in the NFL is just as pathetic as these Meyer to ND rumors. This is done by weak minded fans who are trying to somehow dimish their accomplishments thus far at Florida and obviously can’t argue all their collegiate success. They sadly resort to making claims that can’t yet be proven or disproven and therefor definitively disputed. Personally, I want to see Tebow be successful in EVERYTHING he does in life and want to see Meyer stay here forever, but guess what? WHATEVER happens, it will never take away from what they have done so far. And besides, would I have rather had Matthew Staffords career and results at UF, after all he IS a #1 NFL draft choice?. Or would I rather have had Tebow and 2, maybe 3 NCs and a Heisman trophy winner? Lets just say I love the Gators a whole lot more than I ever will the Detroit Lions or any other “play for pay” team!!!
Maxwell Snark
July 17th, 2009
3:57 pm
Your forgot Flacco, Jaxdawg.
Nachos
July 17th, 2009
4:02 pm
I blame Gene Chizik myself. He was up all night partying in the cow pasture and was confused.
36-0 Barners.. AND more tears to come.
CharlotteGator
July 17th, 2009
4:10 pm
Gator Growl,
I think the better example is Geno Hayes at FSU. He literally did run past and through him on multiple occasions. The OU example isn’t the best because D. Franks who made the comments I believe got a pick and never met Mr. Tebow in tackling situation (big shock). The safety #5 (who later kneed Tebow’s neck and retwisted Percy’s ankle) was the one our favorite FB/QB put a hurting on and then chomped.
Anyway, JaxDawg, very well stated my friend.
Anonymous
July 17th, 2009
4:15 pm
JaxDawg:
The moron that won the Heisman last year couldn’t complete a sentence intelligibly, so how much of a “leader” could he have been?
Did you listen to his interviews?
Wow!
And I’m not sure the Big 12 HAS a system offense.
It seems to be more a case of little or no effective defense.