Those of us who have a vote in the Heisman Trophy selection received our ballots by registered mail Saturday. 

  Tim Tebow must have gotten a tip from one of his special sources, which surely he has, fine young man that he is. And though only a junior he is the reigning Heisman winner who has a decent shot at winning it a second time this season. Heck, he’d be eligible to win the Heisman again, in 2009, if he chose to remain a Gator for his senior year.

  Tebow, a missionary to the Philippines when he is not, a Florida student, has said he is thinking only about this season, not the next, nor the next.

  He has a better chance today at his second Heisman than he did Saturday morning for Saturday afternoon at The Florida football home, the full Swamp (90,000-plus), where he would lead his complete team, for much of the dominating first two quarters of a 70-19 runaway, over the Citadel team that may have rushed off the field, jumped on a bus and gone dirty rather than hang around that awful Florida place any longer than they had to do. The Citadelians may not have looked back. They do not want to come back anytime soon.

  Quarterback Tebow played nearly all of the first two quarters, when the margin grew to a stunning 49-6. He took the Gators on three straight touchdown drives. He passed for three of them. He ran for big yards. He passed long and short, soft and drilled. His statistics included 9 pass completions for 201 yards. Young John Brantley (of the Ocala Gator Brantleys) took over in the second period. He was 8/11 for 111 yards. He became effective after a series or two. And, the rout provided long and busy work for all young, as well as seasoned. Brantley completed his last seven passes in a row.

  This gifted Florida team that stumbled in its opener against Mississippi has improved, gotten deeper, gotten more confident. Many believe this may well be the best Florida team ever. The single, obvious gray area is special teams, mostly, the coverage teams. Specialists seem fine, punter and place-kickers. The kickoff coverage at Florida is, well, lousy.  Yet, the slamdunk of The Citadel gave opportunity to four running backs, all of whom are better today than they were—Brandon James, Chris Rainey, Emanuel Moody and Percy Harvin. The lopsider also was a confidence-builder for this team of so few flaws, none The Citadel will say, but not everyone will agree.

  Out there to challenge the big bragging rights are Florida State and Alabama. The improving Gators now go to Bobby Bowden Stadium in Tallahassee for next Saturday’s truly big one against the Seminoles. FSU could be 0-10 and plenty dangerous for the Gators. But, then, Florida could be 0-10 against FSU and challenge.

  Tim Tebow next Saturday will still be only one of the strongest candidates for a second Heisman. The ballots aren’t due until
Dec. 9. He could win it at Bowden Field, or be denied it there.

  But, both teams know that. I thought I’d let you in on that extra factor that may be involved in this classic college football drama just ahead.

  Like, former Gator receiver Lee McGriff said yesterday, the Gators brought it all to The Swamp Saturday for the Citadel, now they’ll have bring all of that, and more to Tallahassee, added this tough little Gator who always brought extra.