tebow_hooters_girllsu-floridaWhile the world waits for doctors to clear Florida’s Tim Tebow to play Saturday in Baton Rouge – the guess here is that he sits out – those crafty LSU fans are up to their old tricks: They’ve acquired the cell phone numbers of a few players, and are inundating them with prank calls and text messages.

(They got Tebow’s number in 2007; after scoring a TD, he looked into the student section and motioned with his hand to his helmet to call him.)

Victims include backup QB John Brantley, CB Joe Haden, and WR Riley Cooper.

Asked how he responds to the calls, Brantley said: “I don’t. I just ignore, put it down.” The calls “haven’t been bad. It’s just a little annoying,” Brantley said.
The redshirt sophomore may have to step in should Tebow not be able to play.
“They (also) text,” he said.

A brief history of the rivalry:

2003: Florida 19, LSU 7 at LSU. Chris Leak was the QB in the Gators’ last victory at Tiger Stadium.
2004: LSU 24, Florida 21 at Florida (Ron Zook’s final year in Gainesville).
2005: LSU 21, Florida 17 at LSU.
2006: Gators 23, LSU 10. At Florida.
2007: LSU fans badger Tebow’s cell phone. Tigers 28, Gators 24 at LSU.
2008: LSU’s Ricky Jean-Francois talks trash about Tebow. Gators 51, Tigers 21 at Florida.

With or without Tebow, we think the Gators are a dangerous play at -7.5 this weekend. (Gain someone explain why Vegas hates the Tigers?) LSU has appeared weak the last two weeks, needing a 4th down goalline stand to defeat Mississippi State, and then scoring in the final 90 seconds to beat Georgia. The LSU defense should keep the Tigers in the game and special teams are a wash. Jefferson’s the key. Don’t really trust him yet. Too bad the other option is Jarrett Lee, the guy who was terrible last year. All he does is throw pick-sixes. Nobody’s forgotten the 4-interception clunker against Alabama.

LSU fans call Brantley, other Gators on cell phone [Florida Today]