I'm Actually Going to Say It

College football can't get here fast enough. I have found myself just talking to myself in the car about college football. This is ridiculous. It needs to show up in a hurry.

But this is going to be a very interesting year in college football. The schedules align in an odd manner and there are some certain rock stars in the league who are captivating audiences.

The most prolific is obviously Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. This happens when you're a junior returning with a Heisman. Of course, No Owens isn't a big endorser of Tebow. But let's get this out there: Tebow is the perfect fit for his system and flourishes in it. He's a solid, solid football player. Deserving of the Heisman last year? You know I don't think he was the best player on his team. That team goes as Tebow goes. So what does that mean?

I posed this question to a buddy of mine at the bar last night: Since 1991, how many teams have won national titles with their quarterback being "the man?" Now, by "the man" I'm referring to...the guy that has to win games for his team. In that time frame, I counted three: Charlie Ward, Vince Young, and Tommie Frazier. That's not a very high percentage...

The point is this. Teams that have success have role playing quarterbacks, not quarterbacks that are supposed to put their team on their back. Look at the great Miami and USC teams from earlier this millennium. Ken Dorsey and Matt Leinart were great players because they knew their role; get the ball to Andre Johnson, Roscoe Parrish, Willis McGahee, D'Wayne Jarrett, Steve Smith and Reggie Bush...not do it themselves. By the way, Danny Wuerffel, that wasn't his team that was, let me throw the ball up to Reidel Anthony, Ike Hilliard and Jacquez Green's team.

So where do you put the burden of your team? Look at last year. Who was Matt Flynn. A fifth year guy who knew the system, didn't make many mistakes and didn't try to do too much. Wins a national title. Look at Chris Leak. Once he harnessed his system, he facilitated for his playmakers. In the national picture this year, I don't like Florida as much as others. I don't like teams who's play is so dependant on their quarterback. Sure Tebow was even hurt last year, but what was his record against ranked teams? Remember they had four losses last year. When was the last time a four loss team had a Heisman winner? You'd probably have to look in the pre-ESPN decides who win the award, era.

Again, when measuring quarterbacks, success is the most important. Wins, big wins and championships. Tebow is a phenomenal talent and a great player. But while his teammates are in Gainesville busting it all summer, Tebow is on mission trips. Now, I'm not going to there's anything wrong with bringing assistance to the needy, but what I will say is that Tebow, who's measured as such a leader by the press because he does jumping jacks after two hard gains, isn't a guy who relates to his players. He's a rock star...who has absolutely nothing in common with anyone on his team. Maybe I'm wrong about his "leadership" abilities, but I know that the other SEC quarterbacks spent their entire summer busting it with their teammates on the field, in the weight room, and at the bars. The latter two are the ones that really count.

Tebow is a great talent. He puts up great stats. But that doesn't necessarily mean wins. And Tebow has so much talent on the field, but his style doesn't traditionally lead to titles. Now, Florida has a great team and a lot of talent, but I see them finishing as the #3 team in the SEC East.