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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:18 a.m., Sunday, January 11, 2009

CFB: Gators' Tebow returning for senior season

Associated Press

GAINESVILLE Fla. — Tim Tebow is coming back.

The Florida quarterback told a crowd celebrating the school's latest national title today that he wants to lead the Gators to another championship.

Tebow thrilled the 40,000 fans by saying: "Oh, by the way, let's do it again. I'm coming back."

In 2007, Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. In the Gators' 24-14 win over Oklahoma on Thursday night, Tebow completed 18 of 30 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 109 yards.

"Overall, I just felt loyal to this place," Tebow said after the celebration. "I feel like I'm a role model and a lot of times people start things and don't finish them. I didn't want to be like that. I wanted to be loyal to the university. I wanted to finish what I started and play another year."

Tebow talked to several NFL coaches about his pro prospects — he said feedback was mixed — but nothing they told him really swayed his decision. He knew he wanted to stay in Gainesville, and told coach Urban Meyer on Saturday.

"Some of that stuff is tempting at the next level and everything that goes along with it, especially ending on a great note and ending up with a national championship and moving on from there," Tebow said. "But I love these guys and coach Meyer and this program too much. I feel we can still end on a bang next year."