Joey Johnston Contributor

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow made history Saturday night when he became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.

Get used to it.

Yes, this is slightly premature. But considering where Florida’s program is going, knowing the playing and strategic experience Tebow can build upon, it’s very easy to visualize a Heisman repeat, the first since Ohio State’s Archie Griffin (1974 and ’75).

Brace yourselves.

Even more history?

The first Heisman three-peat?

OK, now we have officially gotten way ahead of ourselves. But guess what? That’s what we do here.

Climb into the time machine …

It’s a chilly New York evening in December 2009 and the metropolitan populace, while otherwise disgusted with how the Knicks are playing under first-year coach Stephon Marbury, is really buzzing.

And not just because President Obama is in town.

Tebow has arrived to complete his boxed set of Heisman Trophies. Everyone wants to witness one of the great feats in college football lore. Everyone wants one last look at Tebow, even though it seems like he has been around the sport forever, in a warm-and-fuzzy, Major Oglivie-kind of way.

Then a shocking announcement.

The Heisman Trust announces a new name for its award.

The Tebow.

But we digress.

Heisman three-peat, huh?

Consider this:

Florida’s offense will continue to add layers — and players.

Its blue-chip defensive recruits will find their sea legs.

I mean, if Tebow can win the Heisman as a sophomore with a three-loss team — effectively making a mockery out of the award’s time-honored voting philosophies — what’s going to happen when the Gators are back contending for national championships?

Three-peat!

Three-peat!

Three-peat!

Whew.

You may now take a deep breath.

Slowly, we’ll sprinkle in some widely held perceptions, seeing if this three-peat theory really sticks (we think it can, but you be the judge).

• Tebow Is A Fluke.

Really?

He just stumbled into becoming the first player in Division I-A history with 20 rushing touchdowns and 20 passing touchdowns?

Tebow wins Heisman Trophy Florida QB first sophomore to win prize Tebow has 2 more years, or does he? Opinion: This just a warm-up for Tebow? Celizic: Win by Tebow won't start a trend Opinion: Tebow wasn't even among top 3 Final voting: Top 10, region-by-region results Winners: Year-by-year | By school   Discuss: Sound off on Tebow's historic win

Folks, the kid comes to play every week, regardless of the competition. Somebody called him the college football version of RoboCop, and that’s a pretty good description. He rumbles, almost welcoming a collision. He also slithers, with a feline instinct, as he picks his way through a hole, surrounded by a wave of defenders who can’t get him down.

Before the season, skeptics said Tebow’s style simply wouldn’t fly in the rough-and-tumble SEC.

Point: You can’t run your quarterback 27 times in a game (as Tebow did against Ole Miss). He’ll never last.

Counterpoint: But he did — and he thrived with 838 rushing yards and 22 TDs on the ground, tying the record for a Division I-A quarterback.

This isn’t a mirage.

It’s not a gimmick.

The kid, all 6-foot-3, 240 pounds of him, is that gifted.

• Beware of the Sidekick.

Oklahoma junior quarterback Jason White was the 2003 Heisman winner with a 40-touchdown-pass regular season. But in 2004, the Sooners largely revolved around running back Adrian Peterson (1,925 yards), who became the first freshman to finish second in the Heisman voting. (White finished third).

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The 2004 Heisman winner was USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who led the Trojans to an unbeaten national-championship season. He probably would have been the NFL draft’s No. 1 overall pick, but decided to return for his senior season (and a possible Heisman repeat). But in 2005, USC junior running back Reggie Bush had a magnificent do-everything season (including 513 all-purpose yards against Fresno State) and became the Trojans’ third different Heisman winner in four seasons (Leinart finished third).

Tebow will return next season.

So will Gators hybrid offensive threat Percy Harvin, who could already be one of the top five individual talents in college football. Harvin has been haunted by injuries, severe migraine headaches and occasionally not getting enough touches.

Harvin for the Heisman in 2008?

Don’t rule that possibility.

Tebow’s biggest competition might occupy the same locker room.

Beware of the sidekick.

• Hype, Hype, Hooray.

One of the keys to an effective Heisman campaign is exposure.

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Tebow need not worry about that. If anything, Gator officials must guard against his overexposure.

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