Tim Tebow detractors appear to be multiplying by the day, but his former head coach with the Florida Gators is most certainly not one of them.

In an interview with WOCA 1730 AM on Wednesday, Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer said that he still maintains a strong relationship with the New York Jets quarterback and believes in his abilities on the football field just as much as he did when he was coaching him in Gainesville, FL.

“I think I’m like every Gator fan and anybody that just appreciates great people and great warriors. There’s got to be a team – it all comes down to one team believing in a human being or believing in an athlete or a player. I think I got the same feeling as most everybody that watched him and grew up with him,” he said.

“All they need is to let him get his foot in the door and he’s going to win games, and I think he’s going to win a Super Bowl. I still believe that, probably because I spent as much or more time with him as any other coach. I have that much confidence in him.”

Meyer went on to describe their relationship, saying he and Tebow still converse “very frequently, once a week probably” though they have not spoken in the last few weeks.

The coach and former pupil went to lunch a few months ago when Meyer was in New Jersey recruiting the Tri-State Area. He felt Tebow was still in good spirits despite being traded from the Denver Broncos following the 2011 season and barely stepping foot on the field with the Jets in 2012.

“He’s a positive guy. He wants to win. He’s a winner. He’s always won. This losing thing doesn’t really sit well with him,” Meyer said. “He wants to be on a team that’s…he believes New York is committed to win. He has a lot of respect from Coach [Rex] Ryan. He’s a guy that’s pretty positive all the time, but I could see there was a little bit of worry in his face, concern.”

Recent word nationally (and out of New York) is that the Jets tried to find a trading partner for Tebow at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine. If New York is unable to trade Tebow – a likely scenario because team sources have already let it be known that the player will be cut if a trade partner is not found – he is expected to be released when free agency begins in early March.

As far as Meyer is concerned, NFL teams should definitely be interested in Tebow as long as they are willing to give him a legitimate opportunity to succeed.

“You put Tim Tebow on a team with great players, he’s going to be a great quarterback,” Meyer said.

Photo Credit: John Raoux/Associated Press

Tags: combine, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, NFL, Ohio State Buckeyes, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

1 » What exactly does now-Ohio State Buckeyes head coach think of what has happened to quarterback Tim Tebow’s NFL career? “It’s a great question,” he told USA TODAY’s Robert Klemko on Thursday. “I think that his coaching transition is a big part of it, with the guy that drafted him in the first round [Josh McDaniels] getting fired immediately. Then he goes to New York and that doesn’t work out the way he envisioned.” Meyer, who claims that he speaks to Tebow each week, said he is “like anyone else” and “just waiting to see what happens” with Tebow, though he is surprised that his career has not taken an upward trajectory. “He has a unique skill set. But I have faith in Tim, and I think it will work out,” he added.

2 » The 2013 East-West Shrine Game, featuring former Florida Gators kicker Caleb Sturgis (No. 17, East) and safety Josh Evans (No. 24, East) , is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. on NFL Network. The game will air live from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL and wraps up a week’s worth of practices that saw Evans and Sturgis working in front of a bevy of NFL scouts. Sturgis met with a number of teams throughout the week and showed off his strong leg, while Evans also got some onlookers and even impressed East team safeties coach Marlon McCree. According to Rotoworld.com, “McCree mentioned Evans’s name more than any other during the four days of practice.” Note: Linebacker Lerentee McCray was also invited to the game but chose not to attend at the last minute in order to rest and heal up before the 2013 NFL Combine.

CLICK TO EXPAND and read two more BITS in this post.

Tags: Adam Allen, Caleb Sturgis, combine, Corey Brewer, Denver Nuggets, East-West Shrine Game, Josh Evans, Kyle McClanahan, Lerentee McCray, NBA, NFL, Ohio State Buckeyes, Rollins Tars, Tim Tebow, Tropicana Field, Urban Meyer

1 » Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer and former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow went out for dinner in Morristown, NJ recently in a sit down that was reportedly not completely focused on trading stories and favorite bible verses. According to the New York Post, Meyer “pitched Tebow on the idea of helping him recruit for the Buckeyes” while the player “focused on the food, even picking at Meyer’s meal of [pappardelle] after having plowed through his own.” It should be noted that the Post’s story is primarily focused on how Tebow consumed “four heaping plates of food during a single meal” and not the topic of conversation between the two diners.

2 » With the Gators now at 3-0 and 2-0 in SEC play, NFL analysts are beginning pay extra attention to some of Florida’s most talented players. In the latest editions of their Big Board and Top 32, respectively, Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay each listed one UF player as talented enough to be selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Kiper placed junior defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd at No. 20 on his Big Board ($), noting that “his quickness is more menacing on the interior and he has a great burst, drawing double-teams and penetrating.” McShay entered junior safety Matt Elam at No. 27 on his list of the Top 32 ($), saying that “he’s simply playing too well to be kept out of the rankings.” He continued: “He’s solid in run support and coverage, and always seems to be around the ball, like when he was making 10 tackles last week against Tennessee.”

Two five-star recruits for the Gators in 2010, Floyd and Elam receiving recognition and interest at this point is not surprising. It has long been believed that both players could leave the team early though a source close to Elam’s family told OGGOA last week that Abe Elam, Matt’s brother and a seven-year NFL veteran currently playing for Kansas City, would only allow Matt to depart if he is a sure-fire first-round selection.

Tags: Draft, Matt Elam, NFL, Ohio State Buckeyes, Sharrif Floyd, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

It has taken years of jokes and a round of 16 men’s tennis match in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, but the Ohio State Buckeyes have finally defeated the Florida Gators. No. 5 Ohio State (34-3) eliminated No. 12 Florida (16-10) from the event with a 4-1 win on Friday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, GA.

Friday’s loss marks the second-straight year that the Gators have been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the round of 16. Florida has never won a team national title.

The Buckeyes easily took the doubles point with a pair of 8-1 and 8-3 victories, but the Gators were much more competitive in singles action. No. 42 junior Bob van Overbeek (3-6, 3-6) and No. 48 junior Tripper Carleton (4-6, 1-6) were defeated in straight sets, but sophomore Florent Diep (6-4, 6-2) picked up a victory and sophomore Mike Alford (7-6, 1-6, 0-6) took his opponent to three sets. Florida was in the middle of two other highly contested singles matches when Alford was defeated to end the competition.

The Gators will regroup for the 2012 NCAA Individual Championships scheduled for May 23-28. Florida’s singles competitors and doubles teams will look to win the squad’s first national titles since 1999 and 1993, respectively.

Tags: Bob Van Overbeek, Florent Diep, Magill Tennis Complex, Mike Alford, NCAA, NCAA Tournament, Ohio State Buckeyes, tennis, Tripper Carleton

From time to time, OGGOA will come across a plethora of news and notes that we wish to share – too much to fit into one of our truncated BITS segments. In these instances, or when stories fall through the cracks, we catch and wrap them all up with Gator Bites.

» Florida Gators baseball (33-12, 12-9 SEC) continued to falter over the weekend, dropping two of three games to the Arkansas Razorbacks (31-13, 11-10 SEC). Florida has now lost 10 of their last 20 games (including one each to North Florida and South Florida) while also struggling to put forth consistent performances at the plate and on the mound. For instance, the Gators scored just five runs in 27 innings over the weekend. Florida picked up a 3-2 victory on Friday before falling 5-1 on Saturday and 3-1 in 10 innings on Sunday. The Gators were supposed to get a reprieve with a nine-game homestand but instead went just 5-4 over that span of games. Florida will have three full days off before travelling to Kentucky for a three-game series on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. UF fell to No. 5 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Top 25 and No. 7 in the Baseball America rankings on Monday.

» Gators softball (43-8, 20-5 SEC), also ranked No. 2 heading into the weekend, dropped their final home series of the regular season to the Kentucky Wildcats (26-27, 12-13 SEC) over the weekend. Florida fell 2-0 in the series opener (their second-straight shutout and fourth of the season) before picking up a 5-0 win on Senior Day Saturday and dropping the rubber match 5-1 on Sunday. Freshman right-handed pitcher Lauren Haeger picked up a win on Saturday and a loss on Sunday to bring her to 13-4 on the season while sophomore RHP Hannah Rogers (25-4) added a loss Friday despite pitching quite well over the weekend. Senior center fielder Michelle Moultrie (2/4, HR, 2 RBI, R) began her Senior Day with a big-time solo homer in her first at bat on Saturday, giving her another nice memory for her career. UF will conclude the regular season with a three-game road series at Alabama over the weekend.

» Florida five-star 2013 point guard commit Kasey Hill (Clermont, FL) threw down a strong dunk over the weekend and followed it up with a Gator Chomp while staring straight into the camera. Think he’s ready for the big time?

Continue Reading » Gator Bites for Monday, April 30

Tags: Angelina Ballatore, Arkansas Razorbacks, baseball, Bradley Beal, Chicago Bulls, Chris Rainey, Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Gator Chomp, Hannah Rogers, Janoris Jenkins, Joakim Noah, Kasey Hill, Kentucky Wildcats, Lauren Haeger, Michelle Moultrie, NBA, NFL, Ohio State Buckeyes, Olympics, Pittsburgh Steelers, Ron Ballatore, SEC, softball, St. Louis Rams, swimming, Tim Tebow, Top 25, Urban Meyer

1 » NFL.com’s Gil Brandt took a look back at the Florida Gators’ Pro Day on March 13 and came away with some very interesting information. He clocked Rainey in at 4.41 and 4.35 seconds in his 40-yard dashes and said that he also impressed while working out at wide receiver. Brandt (among others) believes Rainey is a sure-fire third-round pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. He also noted that WR Denote Thompson “ran blistering 4.31 and 4.32 40s” and also worked out as a defensive back and “looked good, even though he has no experience playing there.”

2 » Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was ejected from Saturday’s game after throwing a ball near a referee but was contrite and apologetic on Sunday when asked about the situation. “I don’t know what’s going to happen about that,” Noah said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “I just want to apologize to the ref. I just feel bad for what happened. I just want to apologize to the ref for coming at him like that. It was wrong of me. I was just frustrated. I just hope he reads this and accepts my apology.” The NBA decided not to suspend Noah for his actions, which were not overly aggressive.

Click to expand and read four more BITS in this post.

Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks, Bradley Beal, Chicago Bulls, Chris Rainey, Deonte Thompson, Draft, Hannah Rogers, Joakim Noah, Kenny Boynton, lacrosse, Michelle Moultrie, NBA, NFL, Nora Barry, Ohio State Buckeyes, Ole Miss Rebels, Patric Young, Player of the Week, SEC, Shannon Gilroy, softball, tennis

1 » Having returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, nine-seed Florida Gators women’s basketball (20-12) picked up a hard-fought 70-65 victory over the eight-seed Ohio State Buckeyes (25-7) in first-round action on Sunday. Florida led early and maintained their advantage throughout the contest, eventually pulling away in the final few minutes for the win. Junior forward Jennifer George led the way for the Gators with 16 points (she also added six rebounds), but senior guard Lanita Bartley was the player of the game with 15 points, four boards, three assists and two steals. Florida will now face top-ranked Baylor (35-0) and player of the year Brittney Griner on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. live on ESPN2.

2 » No. 1 Gators baseball (19-1, 3-0 SEC) extended their winning streak to a school-record 17 games, sweeping their series against the Vanderbilt Commodores (7-13, 0-3 SEC) with another pair of wins on Saturday and Sunday. Florida outscored Vanderbilt 23-5 over the weekend, beginning with a 10-2 victory in their Southeastern Conference opener on Friday at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, FL. The Gators pulled out a 5-1 win on Saturday on the heels of one of junior left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson’s best outings. Johnson improved to 3-0 while recording a career-high nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings and giving up just two singles. UF was up 1-0 through 4.5 innings but scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth including two RBIs apiece from senior right fielder Preston Tucker (1/3, HR, R, BB) and senior center fielder Daniel Pigott (1/5, R). Florida captured Sunday’s contest with an 8-2 victory behind another solid outing from sophomore right-hander Jonathon Crawford (2-1, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K). The Gators offense was fueled by a trio of solo homers from Tucker (1/3, RBI, 2 R, BB), freshman designated hitter Taylor Gushue (1/4, 2 RBI, R) and freshman second baseman Casey TurgeonSEC Player of the Week award in his career on Monday.

3 » No. 4 Florida softball (26-2, 7-1 SEC) also swept a conference opponent over the weekend, taking down the South Carolina Gamecocks (19-12, 2-6 SEC) by a combined score of 17-3 over three days at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville. Sophomore RHP Hannah Rogers and freshman RHP/first baseman Lauren Haeger dominated the weekend for the Gators. Rogers (14-1, S 2) earned two victories and a save, while Haeger (8-1) picked up a win and also went 5/8 over the three-game stretch with a homer, six RBIs and a run scored.

4 » No. 6 Florida lacrosse (8-2) defeated the William & Mary Tribe (2-6) 21-8 on the road Saturday. Junior midfielder Brittany Dashiell led Florida with five goals, and UF added four more each from junior attackers Kitty Cullen and Gabi Wiegand and freshman M Shannon Gilroy.

Tags: Alaina Johnson, Ashanée Dickerson, baseball, Brian Johnson, Casey Turgeon, Daniel Pigott, gymnastics, Hannah Rogers, Jennifer George, Jonathon Crawford, Kytra Hunter, Lanita Bartley, Lauren Haeger, Marissa King, McKethan Stadium, NCAA, NCAA Tournament, Ohio State Buckeyes, Player of the Week, Pressly Softball Stadium, Preston Tucker, SEC, softball, South Carolina Gamecocks, Taylor Gushue, Utah Utes, Vanderbilt Commodores, women's basketball

The Florida Gators men’s and women’s basketball teams were each victorious in their respective games in the 2012 NCAA Tournament on Sunday. The seven-seed men defeated the 15-seed Norfolk State Spartans 80-54 in the evening after the nine-seed women topped the eight-seed Ohio State Buckeyes 70-65 in the afternoon.

Below are a pair of videos courtesy of GatorVision.tv featuring the men’s team and women’s team celebrating their respective victories in the post-game locker room.

The Florida women’s team will take on top-ranked and undefeated Baylor in second-round action on Tuesday, while the Gators’ men’s squad will square off against three-seed Marquette in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.

Tags: NCAA, NCAA Tournament, Norfolk State Spartans, Ohio State Buckeyes, Sweet 16, women's basketball