Tim Tebow and His Second Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow proved again, how he can perform under pressure. Tim lead his Florida Gators to a 31-20 win over previous unbeaten Alabama and number one ranked Alabama. This was the first time in his college career he was able to overcome a second half deficit to win (he was previously 0-5).
Tebow and the Gators made a statement today! It proved that the Gators are not just a finesse team, a reputation earned because of the formations and motions in its spread offense, but one that can play physical football with the best college football teams in the land. With a spot in the national championship game hanging in the balance, the Gators proved during a decisive fourth quarter that they have both sizzle and steak. The No. 2 Gators came back to beat No. 1 Alabama, 31-20, in the Southeastern Conference title game with a pair of powerful fourth-quarter touchdown drives.
The Florida quarterback gave one final compelling argument for winning his second consecutive Heisman Trophy by throwing three clutch touchdown passes on third-and-goal situations. The final one, a 5-yard bullet to Riley Cooper, sealed the victory with 2 minutes 50 seconds remaining.
The Gators will have a chance to win their second national title in three years. Depending on the outcome of the Big 12 championship game Saturday night between Oklahoma and Missouri, the Gators will face either the Sooners in Miami on Jan. 8 , or if the Sooners lost, probably Texas.
The Gators’ presence in the title game gives the SEC a chance to claim the national title for the third consecutive year. This Florida team, which hammered away at the country’s third-ranked defense for 358 yards, may be the best of those SEC teams.
Along with its two critical fourth-quarter touchdown drives, Florida won thanks to three huge defensive plays by end Jermaine Cunningham.
Cunningham chased Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson out of the pocket on a third-and-8 from Florida’s 10-yard line that forced the Tide to settle for a field goal, which gave Alabama a 20-17 lead at the end of the third quarter.
After Florida took the lead in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard option pitch from Tebow to Jeff Demps, Cunningham sacked Wilson for an 11-yard loss. That forced a punt and set up the touchdown pass to Cooper that sealed the victory.
Cunningham and Brandon Spikes provided the final salvo when they pressured Wilson into an interception, the game’s only turnover, as he floated the ball to Florida’s Joe Haden.
If he needs to defend his team’s toughness, Meyer can point to the two fourth-quarter touchdown drives. Florida controlled the trenches on each drive, giving Tebow ample time and clearing holes for Demps.
With receiver-tailback Percy Harvin out with an injury, Demps carried the ball 14 times for 53 yards and Tebow carried 17 times for 56 yards. Tebow finished the day 14-of-22 passing for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Gators took the lead on a fourth drive that showed they could play with flash and muscle. Florida converted a key third-and-5 with a shovel pass to tight end Aaron Hernandez through the heart of the Tide defense.
Alabama tied the score, 17-17, with a 2-yard run by Mark Ingram that capped a 15-yard drive highlighted by three completions to Jones.
Tebow led Florida to a 17-10 halftime lead, throwing two clutch third-and-goal touchdown passes. The first came on the first drive of the game, as the Gators effortlessly marched down the field on a Crimson Tide defense that is ranked in the country’s top five in virtually every major statistical category.
But after that, nothing came easily for the Gators. Coffee rushed for 112 yards on 21 carries and Jones looked unstoppable at times. He caught five balls for 124 yards.
But Tebow wrested control of the game from Alabama when it counted in the fourth quarter. And his defiant screams after the Gators’ final touchdown could have served as an answer to any critics who questioned whether Florida could go nose-to-nose with Alabama.