Behind him were coach Urban Meyer and wife Shelley, pulled by the entourage undertow.

"I got whooshed behind Tim Tebow," Meyer said. "As it was pushing us, I said, 'This is kind of neat.' "

Did anyone even notice Meyer? "No. I was behind Tim," he said.

Next year, every other outstanding college football player will enter the season behind Tim, who will be favored to become just the second player after Ohio State's Archie Griffin in 1975 and 1976 to win two Heisman trophies.

That feat seems entirely possible, considering Tebow has somehow managed to exceed the outsized expectations that greeted his arrival in Gainesville. During his freshman year, he played a key role in the Gators' national championship run. As a starter this year, Tebow became the first major-college player to run for 20 touchdowns and throw 20 TD passes in the same season.

Amid questions about his passing ability, he completed 217 of 317 passes for 3,132 yards and 29 touchdowns (and only six interceptions) and rushed for 838 yards and 22 scores, tying a single-season record for a quarterback.

Though some thought it would be a close race, given there was no clear front-runner until late in the season, Tebow easily distanced himself from Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, the first player since 1949 to finish second in consecutive seasons.

"It's awesome that you're known forever as a Heisman Trophy winner," Tebow said. He received 1,957 points and 462 first-place votes to McFadden's 1,703 points and 291 first-place votes. Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was third and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel fourth.

Minutes after accepting the trophy, Tebow was asked about the possibility of winning a second Heisman or even a third.

"I've already been asked that a bunch of times. I'm just going to get ready for Michigan this year," Tebow said, referring to the Gators' opponent in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1.

The Gators (9-3) should be even better next season given the experience their young players gained this year. "We don't lose many," Meyer said. "We have some very good young players." This season, 51 freshmen and sophomores saw action. On a roster in which 73 percent of the team was underclassmen, there were only 21 combined upperclassmen (including 10 scholarship seniors), the fewest among Southeastern Conference teams. Plus, Meyer is expected to sign another blockbluster recruiting class.

Back when Meyer was recruiting Tebow, he text-messaged the then-senior from Jacksonville about what awaited him if he signed with the Gators: national championships and a Heisman Trophy. "That was back when we were allowed to text message," Meyer said with a laugh.

Given Tebow's humble nature and his grounded priorities (faith, family, academics, football, he listed in that order), Meyer said all the inevitable talk about winning two or three Heismans won't be a distraction. "I'm going to try to stop that. He will, too," Meyer said. "He's not going to be on the banquet circuit."