Gators waiting for flight, tests to clear Tebow

No. 1 Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer noted Thursday that team doctors are still deciding whether or not to clear quarterback Tim Tebow to play Saturday night against No. 4 LSU Tigers. According to Meyer, the specialists want to see how Tebow reacts to the team’s flight from Gainesville, FL to Baton Rouge, LA, on Friday.

In addition to surveying his reaction to the flight, doctors will have Tebow undergo numerous other tests after touch down in Louisiana. They will compare those test results to Tebow’s pre-concussion benchmarks for balance, equilibrium and memory. Should he pass every test (and most experts believe he will), Tebow will be medically cleared to play Saturday with the decision of whether or not he plays being left up up to Meyer.

Should Tebow play, it is suggested he “not forsake his wrecking-ball running style for fear of concussions,” according to Pat Forde of ESPN who spoke with both ESPN analyst Merill Hoge and Bob Tebow, Tim’s father. “Being aggressive is safer than being passive,” Hoge said. “You’re more likely to get injured when you’re passive.”

“As the doctor explained to me, if he’s running and he braces for a hit, there’s less chance of being injured because he knows it’s coming and he’s braced for it,” Bob Tebow said. “It’s when you don’t see it and you’re not braced for it, that’s when you can get a concussion.”

OGGOA will have further updates on the status of Tim Tebow as information is released.