What if Tim Tebow played for Alabama?

Before Tim Tebow turned into Tebow Mania and one of the most nationally recognized football players at any level, he was a high school football player for Nease High School in Jacksonville, Fla.

Tebow gained special attention during his junior season when he injured his leg and continued playing for the entire second half, even scoring on a 20+ yard touchdown run. After the game it was discovered that he was playing on a broken fibula. He sat out the remainder of his junior season. Upon returning for his senior season, Tebow put up impressive numbers and was one of the biggest quarterback recruits in the country.

As a young person in Jacksonville, Tebow grew up a fan of the Florida Gators. And, Urban Meyer was recruiting Tebow hard to be the main piece of his spread offense attack. But, Alabama’s Mike Shula was turning his program around and had developed a nice relationship with Tebow through the recruitment process.

When attending a Florida-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa in 2005, Tebow said the following:

“It was very exciting and I had a good time. Alabama has a great team and so does Florida but I don’t think anyone expected the game to be like it was. I didn’t expect a blowout either, so that surprised me but not really because I know how good Alabama was…Their fans seemed to know me and were yelling for me to come to Alabama. I didn’t know it would be like that. It was a good feeling because it made me feel wanted there. I’ve had people recognize me before but never like that.”

What if Tim Tebow played for Alabama and not Florida?

In the end, Tebow would stay close to home, join the Florida Gators and win two national championships along with a Heisman Trophy. He’d also get drafted in the 1st round of the NFL Draft after his senior season in Gainesville.

What if Tebow had chosen Shula over Meyer? What if Tebow had decided to chart his own path in Tuscaloosa rather than stay near mom and dad in Gainesville? What if Tim Tebow played for Alabama and not Florida? The impact would have been significant.

Let’s speculate how things might have played out had Tebow gone to Alabama over Florida…

1. The Chris Leak led championship of 2006 would likely not have happened.

Tebow arrived in Gainesville for spring practice prior to Leak’s senior season. Tebow looked impressive in spring practice and several in the media were already sounding the call for a QB controversy. Chris Leak, the calm, pocket passer took the opportunity to hone his game and improve his leadership by learning from the young Tebow. The more confident, vocal Chris Leak is exactly what Florida needed in 2006.

Urban Meyer used Tebow sporadically throughout the 2006 campaign and masterfully kept the QB competition in a positive light in which both Leak and Tebow benefitted. In a season where so many things have to go right to win a title, Tebow helped push Leak to higher levels in 2006. The result was a national championship victory over Ohio State and the beginning of a major run for Florida (and the SEC).

2. Florida might have had a different Heisman Trophy Winner and Championship Quarterback: Cam Newton.

Had Tebow not attended Florida, Florida football history would have been massively different, but it doesn’t mean Urban Meyer would have been without a national championship ring during his tenure. That is because Cam Newton arrived on campus one year after Tebow arrived. Prior to transferring amidst trouble and frustration in sitting behind Tebow, Newton served as the backup to Tebow during the 2007 Heisman Trophy winning season. Eventually, Newton found his way to Auburn (via Blinn College) and won a national title for the Tigers. With how much talent Urban Meyer had on his Florida teams, it’s not a stretch to say that Cam Newton would have helped the Gators win it all (likely in 2008).

3. Urban Meyer might have remained at Florida longer.

While Tebow was like a son to Urban Meyer, the departure of Tebow to the NFL combined with the fatigue of spending a decade climbing to the top left Urban Meyer burned out. Meyer of course quit (twice) and Florida football hasn’t been the same since.

It’s likely that Florida doesn’t reach the heights under Meyer without Tebow, but it’s also possible that Meyer’s tenure would have stretched out longer without the rise and hard fall of the quality of play tied with Tebow’s tenure. When Meyer lost Tebow, he lost his leader, his quarterback, his best player, his friend and essentially a partner in their quest for titles. Losing Tebow was quite significant and indeed helped push Meyer towards taking a break from coaching.

4. Auburn doesn’t have a national championship in 2010.

Without Tebow in the way, Cam Newton becomes a multi-year starter at Florida. It’s likely he would have become the starter in his freshman season during 2007. A sophomore Newton in 2008 with a roster full of NFL talent would have indeed been a national title contender. Of course this means that Newton never arrives in Auburn for the magical season of 2010. No “Cam-Back” against Alabama, and no BCS win over Oregon.

5. Gus Malzahn is not the Auburn head coach today.

Gene Chizik’s fate would likely be the same regardless of Cam Newton, but it’s likely that Newton’s 2010 season helped propel Gus Malzahn to the heights of the coaching profession in college football. Without that championship win, Malzahn would likely have been fired along with Gene Chizik’s staff and remained an offensive coordinator or head coach at a smaller program. It’s doubtful that Malzahn would be the head coach at Auburn in 2015.

6. Nick Saban never comes to Alabama.

Had Tebow played at Alabama, it would likely have resulted in fewer championships for the Crimson Tide. Mike Shula’s tenure would have stretched out further meaning Nick Saban doesn’t arrive in 2007. Tebow’s career at Alabama would have likely resulted in some nice seasons for Alabama, but without Saban, Alabama doesn’t win multiple BCS Championships from 2009-2012.

7. Tim Tebow never becomes one of the best college football players of all time

Specifically to Tebow, playing for Florida was the perfect combination of having Urban Meyer as coach, Meyer’s spread offense attack, and the talent around him that helped Tebow become one of the top college football players in the history of the game. With two BCS Championships straddling a Heisman Trophy season, Tebow did it all at Florida on and off the field. He became one of the biggest stars in all of sports while playing quarterback in Gainesville, Fla.

8. No statue, no engraved speech on the stadium in Gainesville.

Of course, no Tebow and no statue outside the stadium celebrating the 2007 Heisman season. No Tebow and no famous speech after the Ole Miss loss which propelled the Gators to the 2008 national championship. No famous speech and no engraved “The Promise” on the side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

There’s also one more honor for Tebow to gain in Gainesville: his place in the Ring of Honor alongside other Florida legends (eligible to be inducted this season). Tebow’s legend in Gainesville will be remembered as long as football is played in “The Swamp”.