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Florida's Tebow sidelined after big hit
Florida's Tebow sidelined after big hit
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was knocked from the Gators' 41-7 win over Kentucky late in the third quarter after taking a big hit from defensive end Taylor Wyndham.
Tebow was sacked on 3rd-and-8 from the Kentucky 11-yard-line when Wyndham came quickly around the right end and lowered his head into the chest of Tebow, who never saw him coming. Tebow's head then struck the leg of teammate Marcus Gilbert.
Tebow remained on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field. He appeared woozy but uninjured on the sideline.
By JOSEPH GOODMAN
jgoodman@MiamiHerald.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Taylor Wyndham.
That's the name of the Kentucky backup defender who knocked out Florida quarterback Tim Tebow on a night when the former Heisman Trophy winner seemed invincible.
Florida defeated Kentucky 41-7 on Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium. The game won't be remembered for the final score but for the devastating tackle the Gators' Superman absorbed with 3:57 left in the third quarter of a blowout.
An announced crowd of 71,011 watched in silence as Tebow lay motionless for several minutes after being sacked by Wyndham. While falling, Tebow's head appeared to hit the knee of Florida right tackle Marcus Gilbert.
Tebow collapsed after the collision and lay motionless for several tense minutes. His left arm was his last body part to fall on the damp grass of C.M. Newton Field.
Trainers rushed to the injured star and knelt by Tebow's head. For at least two minutes, UF's medical staff could do nothing but monitor the quarterback's breathing. He appeared to be knocked out cold. A stadium of college football fans, now united behind one cause, began chanting, ``Let's go, Tebow! Let's go, Tebow!''
Florida's team walked onto the field to be closer to its fallen leader. But the Gators kept their distance, as if to somehow remove themselves from the nightmare that was only a few yards away.
``I was shocked, a little nervous and scared,'' said tight end Aaron Hernandez, one of Tebow's closest friends. ``He's the leader of this team, and we feed off his energy.''
Tebow sat up and then was helped off the field by trainers a minute later. While meaningless minutes ticked away on the field, trainers administered Tebow first aid, including a rudimentary test to determine the severity of his concussion.
Tebow began vomiting into a trash bag during the fourth quarter, and at that point was wheeled into the locker room.
According to Florida associate athletic director Steve McClain, Tebow sustained a concussion and was taken to nearby University of Kentucky Medical Center for further evaluation. Tebow was taken to the hospital by ambulance before the end of regulation. Tebow was to remain hospitalized overnight.
``It was a clean hit and I feel bad for a guy like him to have a concussion, but when you look at how many times he carries and throws the ball he hasn't had too many injuries, so he has been a pretty fortunate guy,'' Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said.
Tebow's injury overshadowed a brilliant performance by the Florida senior on Saturday during the No. 1-ranked Gators' first road game of the season. Despite suffering from flulike symptoms, he accounted for three touchdowns and 226 yards of total offense, including 123 yards rushing on 16 carries. Tebow received fluids intravenously before the game.
The Gators' offensive game plan on Saturday wasn't designed to rely so heavily on Tebow, according to Meyer, but UF's coach said that Kentucky's defense was ``giving us the zone read.''
``Tim, you'd have to shoot him to hold him down,'' Meyer said.
Florida scored four touchdowns in the first quarter, including two rushing scores by Tebow, who had 79 rushing yards on nine carries in the game's first 15 minutes. His previous season high for rushing yards was 76 yards. Tebow's 44-yard touchdown pass to Hernandez at the end of the first quarter gave UF a 31-0 lead.
``I thought our guys came out really charged up after a difficult week,'' Meyer said. ``I really love this team.''
Several starters suffered from flulike symptoms this week and missed practice time. Tebow, safety Major Wright, cornerback Joe Haden, receiver Riley Cooper and eight others flew to Lexington, Ky., on Friday on a different flight than their teammates due to flulike symptoms.
Despite the sickness running through the team, UF's offense played its best football of the season in the first quarter Saturday. The Gators' defense sustained its excellence throughout the game and allowed just 179 yards.
Tebow gave the Gators a 10-0 lead with 7:11 left in the first quarter when he bulldozed his way across the goal line for a 3-yard score. Florida went up 17-0 about a minute later when Chris Rainey blocked a punt by Kentucky's Ryan Tydlacka around the UK 10. Rainey recovered the ball in the end zone.
Florida backup quarterback John Brantley took over for Tebow after the injury. A redshirt sophomore, Brantley completed 4 of 6 passing attempts and tossed an 8-yard touchdown to Cooper with 6:39 left in the game.
