Tim Tebow continues to overshadow Matt Leinart

Like just about every other sports fan in this country, I watch ESPN on a near day to day basis. While many of the shows are a snooze (see: Jim Rome is Burning and Around the Horn), it is the best source of sports news on cable television. Sorry, but neither Fox Sports West or College Sports Television really satisfies my sports appetite.

But one of the several problems I have with the World Wide Leader, is its love affair with current Florida quarterback and past Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Tebow, who has won two national championships and has posted video game-like statistics in his three seasons under Urban Meyer, is certainly deserving of the praise he garners from the fans and media. However, the problem many of my fellow USC fans have with Tebow’s media exposure, is that ESPN continues to suggest that his feats have been unmatched in the modern era of college football.

Sorry, but the idea that Tebow is in a league of his own is ludicrous. Yes, he is certainly among the best college football players this decade, but to suggest, that he has surpassed all of the greats in the sport’s history borderlines on crazy.

It sounds so ridiculous in large part, because about four years ago, we watched another player like Tebow achieve similar accomplishments and post equally impressive numbers. That player was USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who led the Trojans to two national championships in three years as the team’s starter.

Before the arrival of Tebow, most pundits regarded Leinart as arguably the greatest quarterback in college football history, but now, he won’t even sniff a mention when Tebow’s greatness is discussed. It’s silly for Leinart not to be included in the conversation with Tebow, because he largely accomplished more than Tebow already has.

Judging simply by wins and losses, Leinart is clearly the more polished of the two great 21st century signal callers. In three years at USC, Leinart lost just twice, and only once in the regular season – a triple overtime loss in his fourth career start on the road at Cal. Following the defeat in Berkley, Leinart led the Trojans to thirty-four straight victories until Vince Young, denied him the chance for a third consecutive national title in the 2006 Rose Bowl. When all the results were tallied after his years as the starter, Leinart had never lost a home game or a game against rivals, Notre Dame or UCLA. Going 37-2 while at USC, he had two National Championships to his belt, in addition to a Rose Bowl and an Orange Bowl championship.

Despite the challenge of following Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, Leinart not only outdid the number one NFL draft pick in the wins column, but also went on to post equally impressive individual numbers. Numbers that can even be considered to be more impressive than that of the almighty Tebow. In three years under center, Leinart threw for 10,693 yards and 99 touchdowns. With just 23 interceptions to his name, his career completion percentage was approximately 65%, and he became known as one of the most accurate passers ever. As a result, he garnered multiple individual awards, most notably the Heisman Trophy in 2004. He was also a finalist for the award in 2005, when teammate Reggie Bush took home the hardware.

In comparison, Tebow has failed to fully match Leinart’s success in both spheres, team success and individual statistics. While Tebow’s record at Florida is 35-5, it’s important to remember that he wasn’t even his team’s starter during the 2006 season, when the Gators won the national title. Chris Leak was the starter for all 14 games that season. So, as a starter, Tebow’s record actually stands at 22-5, a winning percentage of .815. On the other hand, Leinart was 37-2 as a starter, a winning percentage of .949. Tebow does have two national championships to his credit, as does Leinart. However, Tebow was only the starting quarterback for one of those titles.

Statistically, Tebow is a far better than Leinart is terms of rushing statistics, but pales in comparison to number eleven in the passing department. After three years in Gainseville, Tebow has thrown for 6,159 yards, 67 touchdowns, and just eleven interceptions. However, even if Tebow does have a big 2009 season, it is possible he could have fewer passing yards and passing touchdowns in four years than Leinart had in three years.

But while I feel as if ESPN’s coverage has been biased in favor Tim Tebow, Leinart also shoulders some of the blame due to his severe image problem. In the current era of camera phones, blogs, and, twitter, athletes are now under intense public scrutiny. Because of this, they must be extremely cautious when out in public.

However, Leinart has been anything other than careful or cautious. A simple google image search of Matt Leinart will yield several pictures of him out partying and playing beer pong with twenty year coeds. While I am not suggesting that Leinart should stay locked in his house all day, he does need to mindful of his public image, because sometimes the perception is reality. Whether true or not, Leinart has created the image of himself, as a college frat boy, who fails to work hard as an NFL quarterback and is only concerned about having a good time. His actions don’t exactly make him a lovable player.

On the flip side, Tebow’s off the field actions have made him one of the most beloved players in all of sports today. A devout Christian, Tebow has been a good Samaritan of sorts, as he has spent the last three summers assisting with his father’s orphanage and missionary work in the Philippines. While it’s extremely unfair to suggest that Leinart should be forced to take up community service, it is reasonable to assume that Tebow’s Christian faith and selfless actions have made him a more likable figure than Leinart.

Look if Florida runs the table this year and wins the national title, Tebow will have three national championships to his credit and potentially a second Heisman as well. At that point in time, it may be perfectly acceptable to call him the best quarterback of the modern era. But for now, he’s just in the same league as Leinart and even Miami’s Ken Dorsey. But frankly, there is nothing really wrong with that in the first place.