GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -If Florida quarterback Tim Tebow wins another Heisman Trophy, it probably won’t be because of gaudy numbers.
The 2007 Heisman winner is having a down year, at least compared to his last two seasons.
Midway through the regular season, Tebow has completed 65.5 percent for his passes for 1,032 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has 378 yards rushing and five scores.
In 2007, he completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,286 yards, ran for 895 more and accounted for a whopping 55 touchdowns (32 passing, 23 rushing). In 2008, he completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,746 yards, ran for 673 more and totaled 42 scores (30 passing, 12 rushing).
His most telling stats are negative ones.
Tebow has four fumbles and two interceptions this season, and has been sacked 12 times in six games. In 2007, he had no fumbles, six interceptions and was sacked 13 times. In 2008, he had two fumbles, four picks and was sacked 15 times.
Tebow downplayed his downturn.
ou can ask for.”
The second-ranked Gators play at Mississippi State on Saturday, hoping to find a cure for their offensive woes. Florida is averaging 25 points in league play, has been plagued by turnovers and dropped passes, and has struggled inside the 20-yard line.
The blame has been spread around, with the problems getting pinned on the receiving corps, the offensive line and the play-calling. Even coach Urban Meyer said Tebow held the ball too long at times last week against Arkansas, resulting in a career-high six sacks in a 23-20 win.
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DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: Alabama’s defense wasn’t bending, even with the game all but won.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide had a two-touchdown lead on South Carolina when the Gamecocks set up first-and-goal from the 4-yard line in the final seconds.
Stephen Garcia threw four straight incompletions and was under pressure from Eryk Anders on the final three. The result: Alabama got the ball back with 4 seconds to play and the nation’s No. 1 defense had its second straight game without allowing a touchdown.
“That’s big. We pride ourselves on playing good defense,” linebacker Rolando McClain said. “That’s what we do. We play defense. We’ve given up nine points in the last two games, we don’t like that. We want to give up no points. That’s what were trying to do. We don’t want to give up a yard.”
ky scored on Oct. 3.
Alabama is allowing a nation-best 226.57 yards per game.
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STAYING COOL: There was one stat South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was especially happy with after the Gamecocks lost to Alabama last weekend – zero visor throws.
The visor spike has been Spurrier’s staple since his days with Florida. At South Carolina, the Ol’ Ball Coach has had a lot more to sling his headgear over, but he is trying to break the habit.
A reporter last week reminded him he threw his headset and visor against Kentucky.
“I try not to do that. I don’t like to act upset on the sideline. I tried to remain calm the last game,” Spurrier said. “The way some of our players play, it’s gonna happen.”
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HELPING HAND: Of all the injuries Vanderbilt has suffered this season, none hurt worse than when defensive end Steven Stone broke his right foot Aug. 17. The senior had started 27 games and recorded nine sacks coming into this season.
Possibly the team’s most technically sound lineman, Stone practiced full speed Tuesday and expects to play Saturday against No. 23 South Carolina.
“We’ve been missing Stoney as far as a leadership role,” defensive tackle T.J. Greenstone said. “He got hurt, he kind of quieted down. It’s tough when you get hurt like that. We’re excited. We need him back. we want him back.”
er. But coach Bobby Johnson said it was tougher for him to return because of his size (6-foot-5, 267 pounds).
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BROWN BESIEGED: Tennessee defensive tackle Wes Brown has been getting calls and text messages about Saturday’s game against Alabama game from phone numbers he doesn’t even recognize. Most of them seem to belong to Crimson Tide fans.
The senior from Athens, Ala., doesn’t take the ribbing he’s received too seriously, though. He knows Tide fans have a lot to brag about because of their No. 1 ranking and recent success in the annual rivalry.
He’s also just glad to be playing in his favorite game one more time.
“I’m blessed to be in this position,” Brown said. “If I wasn’t in this position I wouldn’t be getting all these phone calls and text messages. I’m just excited to be able to play in this game again.”
Brown grew up a Volunteers fan thanks to his parents, who grew up 35 miles away from Athens across the state line in Loretto, Tenn. When the time came to go to college, he couldn’t deny his roots.
“I did have a choice, but I don’t know if I wanted to take that other choice,” he said with a laugh.
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Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., Beth Rucker in Knoxville, Tenn., Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tenn., and John Zenor in Tuscaloosa, Ala., contributed to this report.
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