CFB AM: Tim Tebow gives great life advice to FSU's Jameis Winston
Someday, maybe even soon, Jameis Winston will stop doing things that make the Internet explode and we’ll run out of things to talk about.
Has that day arrived?
Nah – not even close.
This past week has served us a helluva lot of Winston, with him initially being suspended for the first half against Clemson after he reportedly stood on a table in the Florida State student union and yelled a vulgar phrase that’s offensive to women.
Then late Friday night, FSU mysteriously sent out a news release saying Winston would be suspended for the entire game, raising this thing to a full-on crisis. How do you know it’s a crisis?
Because Tim Tebow and Tim Tebow’s healing powers are now involved.
During Saturday’s TV coverage leading up to the FSU-Clemson game, Tebow, an SEC Network analyst, appeared on air and offered Winston some advice about leadership. “He has something more important to live for than just the moment,” Tebow said. “Because when you live for the moment, the moment will always let you down in silly situations like he’s been in the past.”
Here’s the full video of Tebow’s advice to Winston. They’re good words to live by, particularly about being a good role model for kids and using natural leadership ability in a positive way.
(h/t For The Win)
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. What a wild and fun day in college football, and we need to start at this familiar, comforting place. I’m sorry – no, really, I am – but we need to touch on one more Winston thing because he was by far the biggest story of Week 4, and then we won’t mention him again for the rest of today’s CFB AM.
The moment that won the day on the Internet and had everyone talking was in Florida State’s pregame warm-ups. Despite knowing he wasn’t going to play at all, Winston decided to dress in full pads and game uniform and warm up on the field with the rest of his teammates. It was bizarre and utterly pissed off coach Jimbo Fisher, who sent Winston back into the locker room to change out of his uniform. Just look at Fisher’s face when he realizes he’s trying to talk sense into a child who doesn’t understand:
It’s hard to stop laughing. How many parents recognize that look on Fisher’s face as, “Good Lord, how many times and ways must I explain this crap for this kid to get it?”
OK, OK, that’s the last time we’ll mention Winston for the rest of this column. Promise. There was actually a really good football game, too, which No. 1 FSU won 23-17 in overtime. Sean Maguire, who played in place of The QB We’ve Agreed Not To Name Anymore, wasn’t good – going 21-of-39 for 305 yards, one TD and two picks – but he also got little help from his offensive line. Rashad Greene did his part with nine catches for 135 yards and a TD.
The loss stinks for Clemson, but they can leave Week 4 knowing they’ve found their quarterback for 2014 and the next two years. Highly touted freshman Deshaun Watson replaced Cole Stoudt during the game and went 19-of-28 for 266 yards and rushing for 30 yards and a score. This was a blown opportunity for the Tigers, writes Gene Sapakoff. Maybe so, but I’d respectfully disagree that everything was lost on this night. They weren’t great offensively – in seven trips inside the Red Zone, they scored 17 points – but even in a loss, Clemson seemed to have figured something out about itself. Dabo Swinney said after the game Watson will start at QB next week.
2. Another Top 10 team went down in Week 4, and this time it was No. 8 LSU – at home on a Saturday night, no less. I guess it was a bad omen that Tigers fans were filling a coffin full of beer before the game:
Best. Icechest. Ever. #GeauxTigers #LSUgameday #LSUWIN pic.twitter.com/FS2ZJ76ZrE
— This Big Frickin Guy (@bigT4LSU) September 20, 2014
Once the game started, it was all about Dak Prescott, Josh Robinson and Mississippi State, as LSU never lead. Prescott went 15-of-24 for 268 yards, two TDs and no picks while also rushing for 105 yards and a score, and Robinson carried the rock 16 times for 197 yards and a TD. LSU struggled to run the ball – I guess you’d call Leonard Fournette a “success” at 5.4 yards per carry (seven attempts, 38 yards) – and the only threat it showed was in a few big plays in the pass game. Travin Dural caught six balls for 124 yards, and Malachi Dupre brought in four for 120 and two TDs.
But despite MSU committing twice as many penalties and twice as many turnovers, the Tigers could never get close until the end, when they scored 19 straight points in the fourth quarter to bring it within one possession and then threw up a prayer that was picked. It was a great night for MSU, as Jeff Duncan captures.
Not all is lost, LSU fans. You’ll always have that night with Shaq, young and carefree, singing bad Bon Jovi like two boys with no place to be.
3. Alabama-Florida was exciting for a while, until you realized the Tide couldn’t have played much sloppier – with four turnovers and 11 penalties – and still beat the Gators by 21. Alabama rolled up 646 yards, the most Florida has ever allowed, with WR Amari Cooper accounting for 201 of those on 10 catches, including three touchdowns.
We had Stewart Mandel in Tuscaloosa for the game, and he wrote about this entirely new Crimson Tide offense and who Nick Saban can thank for it – Lane Kiffin. The Cooper-Vernon Hargreaves III matchup got a lot of hype leading up to the game, and Cooper had a nice laugh, writes Michael Casagrande. Blake Sims had a huge day – 23-of-33, 445 yards, four TDs and one pick – and cemented himself as Bama’s starting quarterback, and then he directed all the attention to his teammates, writes Andrew Gribble.
Last thing here: Do you think this guy regrets this? Maybe just a little bit?
@ClayTravisBGID @jimdunaway gator fans are running wild in tuscaloosa. pic.twitter.com/g9uc6Yfoyg
— Cole Medders (@cmedders1) September 20, 2014
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
1. Most fans probably didn’t see this Saturday night, because it happened around 2 a.m. ET, but it was a phenomenal capper to a great day. After trailing 31-13 at home to Cal entering the fourth quarter, Arizona scored 36 points in the final 15 minutes and ended up beating the Bears 49-45 on a last-second Hail Mary. Here’s the video:
Apparently the Cal gift shop also went to bed early.
Week 4 was pretty quiet for the Pac-12, with USC, UCLA and Arizona State all on byes. No. 2 Oregon was in action, and it had to work for a 38-31 victory at Washington State. Marcus Mariota was his normal self, going 21-of-25 for 329 yards and five TDs with no picks. He also ran for 58 yards.
2. I thought No. 4 Oklahoma at West Virginia had some solid upset potential, and it did as it was only a four-point game deep into the third quarter. But WVU just couldn’t overcome the emergence of freshman running back Samaje Perine, who ran up 242 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries for the seniors. Perine was playing in place of the injured Keith Ford, and his 242 yards were the most by an OU freshman since Adrian Peterson in 2004. It wasn’t all about Perine, though, as Oklahoma’s defense forced three turnovers and turned back the clock, writes Berry Tramel.
3. Our other big upset in Week 4 was No. 18 Missouri falling at home to Indiana, 31-27. Great win for Kevin Wilson and staff, one that could potential change the course of the program, writes David Woods. The previous two times Indiana visited Mizzou they tied, and what Mizzou would give for a tie today, Dave Matter wonders.
THREE THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW
1. How was Michigan’s Week 4? Let’s ask Spartan Humor:
The Michigan stadium is currently drowning... Just like their program. pic.twitter.com/g9ldFNqbsu
— Spartan Humor (@MSUHumor) September 21, 2014
Hey, guys, come on now. That’s not nice – even if it’s partially true. The Wolverines waited out a storm delay that only prolonged their ugly 26-10 loss at home to Utah. Devin Gardner was awful, going 14-of-26 for 148 yards and two interceptions before being benched. Michigan couldn’t run the ball effectively, and only one receiver had more than two catches (Devin Funchess, four). “I’m concerned with everything we are doing,” coach Brady Hoke said after the game. Not a good sign for him.
Credit to Utah, though. No matter what people say about Michigan, winning in the Big House is a big deal for a team that can respectfully be considered average in the Pac-12 right now. One cool moment from the game you’ll want to see: Utah WR Kaelin Clay returned a punt for a touchdown and then honored a Michigan great with his end zone celebration.
And one important note: Utah QB Travis Wilson, who has a history of concussions and wasn’t sure he’d even be medically cleared to play in 2014 until this past summer, took a nasty fall on his head that resulted in stitches on his nose. Wilson came back to play in the second half and “didn’t know if he would need further medical care” when the Utes got back to campus. Here’s the fall (courtesy of SB Nation):
We just saw Texas’ David Ash quit football after he took a seemingly innocent hit against North Texas and return to play, only to experience concussion symptoms later in the night. Utah needs to run Wilson through a rigorous examination back in Salt Lake. That’s a scary fall and nothing to mess around with considering Wilson’s history.
Quick spin through other parts of the Big Ten:
This pretty much explains what Michigan State did to Eastern Michigan:
When EMU wasn’t just forgetting to snap the ball properly, that is.
What’s Nebraska’s Bo Pelini up to? Just gettin’ pissed at some refs (Nebraska beat Miami, by the way):
This is a very smooth one-handed catch by Iowa’s Damond Powell. Well done.
2. The ACC had a poor Week 4 out of the conference. North Carolina got crushed at ECU, 70-41, Pitt lost at home to Iowa, Syracuse lost at home to Maryland, 34-20, and the Canes fell in Lincoln as we mentioned. Good thing Boston College whipped Maine’s ass! Phew. Enjoy this funky Virginia Tech TD and let’s just move on.
3. Want to see a Colorado student eat it while running with Ralphie, the massive live buffalo mascot? Here ya go.
LASTLY
* Louisville QB Reggie Bonnafon was grieving this week after his father’s death. Thoughts with the Bonnafon family.
* Y.A. Tittle had an opportunity to return to Tiger Stadium, possibly for the last time.
* Nick Saban gives money management advice in a new commercial.
* This didn’t happen on Saturday, but HBO Real Sports has a big feature coming out on Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and released a short clip to promote it. In the clip, Meyer talked about being depressed in 2009 and using sleeping pills and beer just to get to bed. He lost 37 pounds in a season in which Florida was one of the nation’s best teams. “I thought I was dying,” Meyer said. Powerful lesson about how all-consuming and destructive someone’s work and pursuit of success can be.
* Let’s end a fantastic week on a happy note. This Texas A&M Cadet deserves a game ball for the block he put on an SMU player to save the Aggies dog mascot:
Have a great and relaxing Sunday, all. Hope you enjoyed Week 4.
Teddy Mitrosilis is an editor and writer for FOXSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TMitrosilis and email him at tmitrosilis@gmail.com.