A mistaken mystique?

Gator Nation's hopes of a third national championship in four years were dashed tonight with a decisive loss to the run-happy Alabama Crimson Tide. Florida's defense had no answer for Alabama running back Mark Ingram who tore them up like practice squad scrubs with 189 total yards and 3 TDs. The Gators were held scoreless in the second half and failed to generate any late-game heroics despite being led by the most famous college player of this generation. When it mattered most Tim Tebow couldn't live up to his own legend and will not finish his career off with another title.

Many college football talking heads consider Tebow to be the greatest scholastic player ever, the blueprint of a champion, a polarizing gridiron warrior whose mere mention should drive defensive coordinators into a panic. Now that Tebow's college career is likely one Sugar Bowl away from being old news can we please reexamine the crown that has been placed over this man's brow? 

Give Tebow his due for winning two national titles and a phenomenal 2007 season where he accounted for 55 total touchdowns and became the first underclassman to ever win

 the Heisman trophy. Certainly deserved but ever since it seems the mystique of Tim Tebow has grown larger and more intimidating than the man himself.

The success of Florida over the last four years has had as much to do with Tebow's mobile, duel-threat quarterbacking as coach Urban Meyer's hyper-intelligent recruiting and an impressive offensive cast which included current Minnesota Vikings standout Percy Harvin prior to this season. When Tebow elected to stay for his senior year in 2009 he lost many of his teammates to both graduation and early entry into the NFL. This years version of the Florida Gators featured a noticeably depleted roster as a result.

Although they walked into this SEC Championship game undefeated it was hardly a dominating season. Week by week the Gators and Tebow failed to meet expectations on all sides of the ball but continued to win, albeit in unimpressive fashion. Everyone could see they were only a shell of the 2007 team (hell, even the 2008 team) and yet the press continued to salivate over Tebow and his very average numbers. Perhaps they thought that simply by having Tim Tebow on the field Florida was entitled to a win, slim margin or not.

Tebow's legacy in college football should represent what he actually is and was; a clutch performer and fiery leader. Let it not be forgotten that his success and reputation were also products of the talent around him, both players and coaches, and not solely on his own merits. The kid's got a lot of heart but fans and commentators alike would be wise not to assign him the designation of Superman quite yet.