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sgunter@wmbb.com

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Leak Content As Mentor

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Tim Tebow comes in with hype.

Incumbent quarterback, Chris Leak came in with hype.  But looking back three years, still no championship ring.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” Leak said.  “‘That’s your ultimate goal as a team.”

Leak threw 20 touchdown passes and only six interceptions last year along with completing 63% of his passes.  But he never seemed comfortable in Urban Meyer’s offense.

“His only thing is to win,” Meyer said.  “If his goal is to move the offense, he’ll have a great year.  He won nine games for us last year.”

However, if Leak slips at all during the season, Tebow, a kid that’s not your typical freshman is waiting and ready.

Coaches said, the only knock on Tebow is that he’s in the weight room all day, and doesn’t know when to let his body relax.

“Then when he’s not in the weight room, he’s in your office bugging you,” quarterback coach Dan Mullen said.  “It’s hard to return a phone call.  Tim’s right there saying ‘let’s talk football’!”

Leak is a good sports about Tebow, to say the least.  The senior has embraced being Tebow’s mentor.

“It’s been great,” Leak said.  “He’s a try hard guy.  That’s why you come to a school like this, to play with guys like Percy (Harvin) and Tim.”

“One thing that’s different is personality,” Tebow said of Leak.  “I’m more intense, he’s more calm.  That’s one thing he’s taught me.”

The players say a quarterback controversy is just silly.  Leak is the starter, Tebow the future and Jared Fayson is third string. But according to Coach Meyer, whenever he feels like it, third string easily become first string. 

The Gators open up Urban Meyer’s second season at Florida at home with Southern Mississippi on Sept. 2nd.

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