Tebow hurt, ‘Canes and ‘Noles lose … a tough Saturday for the Sunshine State’s big 3 teams

Tebow, Miami and FSU all take their hits

Florida’s Tim Tebow got knocked woozy. Miami and Florida State simply got knocked over.

No, Saturday was not a delight for Florida’s three biggest teams.

At least the top-ranked Gators won: The defending national champions extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 14, beating Kentucky 41-7 and surviving the scare of seeing Tebow lying motionless on the turf in the third quarter after taking two hits to the head.

“He’s a tough nut,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “We think he’s going to be fine.”

The Hurricanes and Seminoles, they were dealing with a different kind of hurt.

No. 9 Miami was overmatched at No. 11 Virginia Tech, falling 31-7. And No. 18 Florida State was handed a stunner: Tallahassee native B.J. Daniels — South Florida’s new starting quarterback following a season-ending injury to Matt Grothe — led the Bulls into the Sunshine State’s capital and past the Seminoles, 17-7.

The day started in Tallahassee, where the Seminoles — coming off a 54-point showing last week at BYU — lost for the fourth time in their last five home games.

A decade ago, who would have thought this was possible? Florida State was a national power, South Florida’s football staff was working out of trailers and fighting for any sort of attention.

“Now I can say we should be talked about,” South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said.

Then came perhaps the nation’s marquee game of the day, the lone matchup of teams in the AP Top 25, the Hurricanes facing the Hokies in rain-slicked Blacksburg, Va. It was touted as a chance for Miami to show the nation that it was indeed back among the nation’s elite.

Er, not quite. The ‘Canes trailed the whole way. Even the final whistle didn’t bring relief: Problems with the planned charter flight home from Roanoke left Miami taking buses to Charlotte, N.C., three hours away, to catch a flight from there.

“Nobody’s perfect,” Miami quarterback Jacory Harris said after completing 9 of 25 passes on the stormy day.

The Gators still are perfect, although Tebow’s week was decidedly imperfect.

A flu bug has ravaged Florida’s players and staff. Tebow was among the sick, and he was in a small group that flew Friday to Kentucky on a separate charter, a move designed to minimize the chance of anyone else falling ill.

Tebow coughed into the sleeve of his suit as he walked into the stadium.

He felt worse when he left.

The Gators were leading 31-7 when Tebow was sacked by Kentucky defensive end Taylor Wyndham. Falling back, Tebow’s head struck teammate Marcus Gilbert’s leg, snapping the quarterback’s head forward.

Tebow lay motionless for several minutes, then was tended to on the sideline. His night was over, after 123 yards rushing with two touchdowns and another 103 yards passing with a third TD.

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to get himself together,” Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes said. “After that, that was another challenge for us to come out and play well for him, and I think we got the job done.”

Among Florida’s big three, only the Gators were able to say that at day’s end.

AP Sports Writer Mark Long in Gainesville, Fla., contributed to this report.