Mullen, Tebow square off as friendly enemies
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)—It used to be Dan Mullen’s job to build Tim Tebow up. Now, the Mississippi State coach’s task is to tear down the Florida quarterback.
Such is life in major college football when good friends don different team colors.
“We were close,” Tebow said. “I don’t think it was necessarily that tough (losing him). It was because we missed him, we wanted him here. But at the same time, I knew that he wanted a head coaching job. He wanted that next goal, that next task, that next thing that he could go out there and accomplish, and that was being a head coach.”
With Mullen as his offensive coordinator, Tebow led the Gators to two national titles and won the Heisman Trophy.
While coaches and players spend a lot of time in each other’s company, they’re rarely friends. Players come and go and it’s a coach’s job to get the most out of them while they’re on campus.
Mullen and Tebow, though, are buds through and through. Their families are close. During the offseason, they picked up the phone to catch up. And though both are consumed with the trials of football season right now, they do find time to tap out a text now and again.
Rivals.com
10/23/9
