RFW as THE Tebow Defender

Once again, I’d like to go on record as the “Tebow Defender.” Tim Tebow, who has been in the spotlight again recently as the NFL season gets underway, continues to show his class, patience and respect as noted in this recent GatorSports.com article.

Below is a link to a few videos I recently shot, taking my role seriously at the defender of all things Tebow.

On a related note, check out my new Facebook page. I’ll of course post more information about my passion for college sports, “old school” athletics and Tim Tebow. I may even throw in a giveaway every so often, so be sure to like my page so you’re in the know!

D-LINE, RAINEY SPARK SOLID GATOR WIN OVER VOLS

An outstanding, smothering defensive effort that brought back memories of the Great Gator defenses of the Charlie Pell/Galen Hall-era and explosive plays by Chris Rainey, both rushing and receiving sparked a solid 33-23 Gator victory over Tennessee in the Swamp Saturday.

The Gators got ahead in the first quarter and riding that outstanding defensive effort, another efficient, workmanlike day by QB John Brantley and outstanding field position throughout almost the entire first half, dominated the Vols for 3 quarters. In the fatal stanza a persistent Vol passing effort led by QB Tyler Bray and a faltering effort by Florida's young secondary helped Tennessee to close the gap and stay in the game until Matt Elam's INT sealed the win inside the last 3 minutes. 16 penalties, one shy of the school record, for 150 yards also kept Florida putting The Vols away after 3 quarters and partially marred the otherwise joyful 7th
consecutive win over Tennessee.

GEE THANKS, LOMAS

GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS

Well, the ranks of the national sports media Tebow Detractors have a new member; this time from an unexpected precinct---Former Florida Gator and Detroit Lions OT Lomas Brown.

Today on ESPN Brown used his forum as an analyst to proclaim that journeyman Kyle Orton (he of the sterling 2-11 record as a starter since opening day 2010) "gave Denver the best chance to win".

Say what? Best chance to win? How? By standing back in the pocket like a statue and getting sacked every other play?

By routinely setting up the other team with turnovers (Oakland got 14 points directly from Orton turnovers in Monday's season opening WIN over Denver)?

By standing in the pocket with a wide open receiver in the end zone and dropping the ball, as Orton did on Monday?

C'mon Lo, are you even watching the games?

Ok, Mr Follow The Tebow Hating Media Horde,why do you think a an immobile journeyman with a sub-200 win percentage as a starter at Denver "gives Denver the best chance to win"?

Get this straight, Lomas Brown, Tim Tebow gives Denver the best chance to win! Mr. Disloyal Gator.

Some Photos of the Famed '69 Gators

In light of tonight's radio show, I thought I'd share some photos and descriptions from the famed 1969 Gator football team. Enjoy, and tune in tonight at 8:00 p.m. on 540 WFLA-AM.

The famed Super Sophs of the historic '69 Gators football team. From left, #7 QB John Reaves, #40 FB Mike Rich, #33 RB Tommy Durrance and #45 WR Carlos Alvarez.

1969 UF football captains, #62 Offensive Captain OT Mac Steen and #57 Defensive Captain Tom Abdelnour. The leadership of Steen and Abdelnour as well as a large group of outstanding, but unheralded upperclassmen was one of the keys to the magical '69 season.

Coach Ray Graves. The Ray Graves era brought Florida football its greatest successes to date, including the first New Year’s Bowl games and victory ('67 Orange Bowl over Georgia Tech), the first Heisman Trophy winner, Steve Spurrier, and 4 bowl victories. The dramatic, emotional 14-13 victory over Tennessee in the '69 Gator Bowl was the final game of the Graves era.

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT! OLD SCHOOL GATOR SERIES 2011 DEBUT WITH HISTORICAL RETROSPECTIVE ON '69 GATORS

SPECIAL SEGMENT ON DRAMATIC GATOR BOWL WIN OVER TENNESSEE

GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS


The 2011 Old School Gator Series debuts on 540 WFLA tonight at 8pm immediately following "Gator Hotline with Coach Will Muschamp". The program will feature one of the great teams in Gator history, the magical 1969 Gators, who posted the best record in Florida football history to that point despite entering the season picked in the National Bottom-20 and to be last in the SEC by at least one publication.

Fittingly, one of the achievements that defines that special season was the '69 Gators final game, a dramatic, emotional upset over heavily favored SEC Regular Season Champion Tennessee in the Gator Bowl, 14-13. Tonights' Old School Gator broadcast will include a first hand account of that incredible game by the men who were an integral part of it---Defensive Captain LB Tom Abdelnour, All-American DB Steve Tannen, QB John Reaves, All American WR Carlos Alvarez, Offensive Captain OT Mac Steen, Gator Bowl MVP LB Mike Kelley and DE Jack Youngblood.

In fact Saturday's game vs the Vols in the Swamp will have a direct connection to the '69 Gators; NFL Hall of Famer Youngblood will serve as Honory Captain for the Gators!

Tonight's Old School Gator broadcast can be heard on 540 WFLA, of course, and live on-line at http://www.540wfla.com/. Go Gators!

Tebow as an H-Back? I think not.

Upon reading Orlando Sentinel Sports' Columnist George Diaz's recent blog post about Tim Tebow, I felt compelled to respond.

George, I totally disagree; Tebow will emerge as not only a starting QB, but a Hall of Fame caliber QB; either in Denver or somewhere else.

I personally haven't given up on Denver; they just flat out are not going to win with Kyle Orton---it's a bad team--and sooner or later Denver is going to have to give Tebow a shot this year. Based on the way the fans are chanting for Tim, it could be sooner.

Plus, any talk of Tim Tebow as an H-back or TE is absurd. He has already proven he can play QB in the league with the 3 great games he played last year when given the opportunity to start; plus went 6-7 passing against the Cowboys in the pre-season this year.

THURSDAY'S OLD SCHOOL GATOR PROGRAM TO FEATURE REFLECTIONS ON HISTORIC '69 WIN OVER TENNESSEE

GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS

Among numerous highlights of the magical '69 Gator season, this Thursday's "Old School Gator" program will feature first hand accounts of one of the biggest upsets in Florida Gator Football history, the stirring 14-13 1969 Gator Bowl win over SEC regular season Champion Tennessee.

(While more recent generations of Gators have come to take wins over Tennessee as part of their Gator Birthright, not to mention the Natural Order of the Universe, "Old School Gators" will recall that the '69 Gators not only entered that game as underdogs, but at that time Florida had an all-time 1-11 record against Tennessee.)

540 WFLA listeners will hear the first hand accounts of the historic, poignant victory from key players such as Super Soph QB John Reaves, who hit fellow Super Soph Carlos Alvarez with the winning td in the 3rd quarter, Offensive Captain Mac Steen, Defensive Captain LB Tom Abdelnour, the undersized former walk-on who led a stellar defensive performance by the entire defensive unit, DB Steve Tannen, whose first quarter blocked punt put the Gators up 7-0, DE Jack Youngblood whose efforts helped to thwart Tennessee's feared option attack and LB Mike Kelley, Gator Bowl MVP, who turned in one of the most outstanding big game efforts in Florida Football history (Kelley, out of Orlando Edgewater, scored on Tannen's blocked punt to put the Gators ahead early 7-0, intercepted a pass and stopped another Tennessee drive with an fumble recovery while accumulating at least 13 tackles and multiple QB sacks.)

Don't miss this rare first hand account of vintage Florida Gator Football history directly from the mouths of the great players who made it happen; this Thursday September 15 at 8pm on the "Old School Gator Series with Roger Franklin Williams" immediately following "Gator Hotline with Coach Will Muschamp"  on 540 WFLA and also right here at http://www.540wfla.com/