Being jobless and yet able to watch the last 3 days of the SEC media days on ESPNU...I not only thought it was irrelevant that Tebow wasn't unanimous when the list first came out, I found the witch hunt to find out who was responsible particularly gross and even scary that such an innocuous thing would need a monster even if it was Kiffin.  I was hoping like hell one of the Wednesday coaches would own up to it (no matter how much I find it wrong to go hunting and demanding the death of non-robots like that) so we could move on to the actual questions that should matter. 

I'm very conscious of the overkill Tebow factor for the non-Florida fans.  I get that concept well as a guy who once hated Peyton Manning based on what the media did with him.  You just get so sick of it you wanna puke.   The last thing Tebow needed at SEC Media days was it to be dominated by Paris Hilton-type bullcrap he didn't earn attention for.  Had this not been an issue, Tebow would have still dominated the convention based on actual REAL stuff that he said and represents.

Here is why:

At the beginning of last year I was just as sold as any Gator that Tebow was possibly working on becoming one of the greatest college players of all time and more sold that he had a unique great character based on his beliefs like we had with DW.  But I wasn't much sold on his intelligence to tell you the truth.  No matter what "right things" he said in interviews, I never felt overwhelmed by what he had to say.  He seemed scared, shy, shaky and every word made me nervous (my thought was, "don't say something stupid, Tebow").  Even thought he never did, it always put me on edge. 

But for those of you who had the opportunity to watch his whole interview at SEC Media Days (and some off-stage interviews) like I did, this kid has grown into a man emotionally and has become incredibly skilled at public speaking.  With those new skills you get to see how well his brain actually works with any question thrown at him (celibacy, etc.).  He made it clear why UF will be, not good, but great this year.  He sold the idea why UF hasn't been complacent and won't be in a way that makes me so sure we will win the next MNC that I'm not sure I need to watch.  He took on many questions with a new authority I really haven't seen before.  Having overcome most all shakiness in speaking to the media, for the first time I was able to really glimpse what this guy does to motivate and bring a new level to the teammates he is more comfortable with.  That passion, energy and belief just blows you away.  I was so fired up after watching him in the Q&A at Media Days that I was ready to go hit someone.  In my car.  For protection.  Like a helmet. 

Yet all you will ever see on the various ESPN networks and other media (Bianchi-types) is the glaze.  The witch hunt.  The celibacy question.  Stuff like that.  The Tebow being famous for being Tebow stuff.  The stuff that just makes people even outside football start to puke from overexposure.  It is a shame.  These Media days actually sold me on a bigger part of Tebow's personality than I ever got before.  I'm sure he always was able to inspire his teammates and people that came into contact with him this way.  But if he was able to reach me as Joe Gator Public in a way I've never been reached before (a guy who always wanted to think the best anyway)....it begs a really scary question for UF opponents this year:  "Has Tebow become an even better communicator/motivator amongst his fellow players too"?  I have a feeling he has. 

14-0