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Florida QB Tebow begins bid for second Heisman

Aug 30, 2008 - 10:14 AM Hawaii at No. 5 Florida, 12:30 p.m EDT

GAINESVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Ohio State's Archie Griffin is the only player in NCAA history to win consecutive Heisman Trophies.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow begins a quest to match that feat when the fifth-ranked Gators host new-look Hawaii in their season opener Saturday.

Last year, Tebow became the first sophomore to win college football's most coveted award and also made history as the first college player to rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in the same season.

Tebow, who recently turned 21, celebrated the accomplishment by spending his spring break in the Philippines helping circumcise impoverished children.

Coming off its best season in school history, Hawaii (12-1) lost record-setting quarterback Colt Brennan, who graduated, and coach June Jones, who took the job at Southern Methodist after a contract dispute.

While the Warriors knew they were going to have to replace Brennan, who threw an NCAA record 131 touchdown passes in his three seasons, the departure of Jones, the winningest coach in Hawaii history, left the school stunned.

But new mentor Greg McMackin, who has coached in the college ranks for 39 years, should not expect much sympathy from the Gators, who are looking to rebound from a sub-par 9-4 season after winning the national championship in 2006.

Junior college transfer Brent Rausch won the job as Brennan's successor. A 6-4, 190-pound sophomore, Rausch played one year at the College of the Desert, completing 201-of-330 passes for 2,653 yards and 28 TDs.