Tebow Swamp Finale: Flashbulbs and Eye-Black

I want to go back to what I said in the previous post about the defining part of Tim Tebow's final game at The Swamp.

It feels like the organic celebration from the fans -- the frenzy of flashbulbs, the spontaneous eye-black tributes -- was the most powerful thing about the event.

The two "planned" components -- Tebow's Senior Day jog from the tunnel to Urban Meyer and his parents and the final play before he was taken out -- both were a little understated, even anti-climactic.

On Tebow's final pre-game entrance, the crowd was loud enough (and the TV replays of Tebow's misty eyes just before he ran out was powerful), but the whole thing lasted 30 seconds -- I guess it is most appropriate for Tebow to get treated no different from any other senior.

On his final play, it was a weird one, following a penalty. I think most fans will remember the final plays of the preceding series: The would-be jump-pass, followed by Tebow's 5th TD of the night, a Tebow bulldozing into the end zone.

Again: The most powerful part of the game setting had nothing to do with anything that Tebow or Florida could control -- it was all about the fans.

Between the flashbulbs and the eye-black, that is a perfect summary of the combination of star-struckness and emotional commitment to Tebow that Florida fans have.

(The photo above is of my 3-year-old son, who had on his Tebow jersey AND his custom eye-black.)