Well, it just doesn’t get much better than this for the Florida Gators. Looks like quarterback Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy, despite the darts from Hawaii and Coach June Jones, who says Tebow is not a legitimate candidate, while trying to defend his quarterback on the pineapples out there, Colt Brennan.

Suddenly, a quarterback who runs and passes his way to the top, as did Tebow, is seen by some as a freak because he is so versatile. He’s about the biggest and best around in a long time. Some have said he is too big and strong, so very good and versatile in talent, not to mention he is a very fine young player of good character.

Craig James, television personality, has said Tebow is not a candidate. James won the trophy as a running back, which is a prowess of Tebow, 240 pounds of muscle who passes the football like a quarterback, but from the left side, and has run and passed for more touchdowns than anybody else. He runs around few, mostly over them.

Florida and Tebow crushed Florida State. FSU coach Bobby Bowden said he would surely have loved to have had Tebow on his Seminole team. Sure he would have. Said so, too publicly. Not only that, but this young man is the son of missionaries, born on a mission to the Philippines. Bet a nickel Coach Jones of Hawaii would like to have had Tebow on his team. Bowden of FSU said he would have, of course.

Might have made a difference in the outcome of that Florida-FSU game. But, Tebow said he was always going to Florida, a matter of considerable thankfulness to Florida coaches and players. Moreover so far as the news has so far gone, Tebow is a solid citizen. Hasn’t yet responded to the verbal body slams aimed at him.

By the way, might want to repeat Tebow is a sophomore. Bet here is he won’t stay at Florida beyond his junior year, if that. Risks for the manner in which he plays this game are considerable.

Have no way of knowing the Heisman Trophy futures betting. I had a vote, have since the 1960s. Yes, I voted for the overgrown kid of such talent, now in the sights of more than I would have ever thought. Not sure why these nays have emerged.

Bet a nickel the Tampa Bay Bucs, on the way to the NFL playoffs, again, would like to have him, rostered.

Meanwhile, back in the Buc world, on the matter of quarterbacks, betting among reporters regularly on such other deeds seem to think the mighty Buccaneers have a different choice at a parallel position, starting quarterbacks. Word seems to be the Bucs will return to Jeff Garcia, if his aching back will allow it, to start Sunday at Houston, in the NFL countdown to the playoffs.

The Bucs of Jon Gruden will likely start Garcia, if he can go, instead of Luke McCown who moved into the front Buc quarterbacking row last weekend and played brilliantly for a time. This young fellow moved into the starting lineup at New Orleans. It did not appear as if McCown was but a new kid on the quarterback block. He started sensationally, held on during a wakeup call, to preserve a precious win for Tampa. The great win puts Tampa within one victory of the next four to advance to the playoffs. This is the one to win, at Houston. Sunday. Win it and the mighty Buccos assure their playoff role and their NFC South championship. The Bucs don’t win that many, win fewer decisively, but they have won as Coach Gruden appears to be about to complete another fine year of a championship run.

A win now assures the Bucs of the title and at least one home championship game. Remaining regular-season games after Houston , are Atlanta here Dec. 16, at San Francisco Dec. 23 and the regular-season closer at Raymond James stadium against Carolina on Dec. 30.

Then with the playoffs issues resolved, let the playoffs begin.