Updated: July 24, 2009, 10:31 AM ET
Sources: Spurrier was the dissenter
By Chris Low
ESPN.com
HOOVER, Ala. -- The Head Ball Coach is expected to confirm it himself later Friday when he appears at the SEC media days, but it appears we have an answer on who snubbed Florida's Tim Tebow in the coaches' voting on the preseason All-SEC team.
South Carolina's Steve Spurrier has told several within the Gamecocks' football program that his ballot included Mississippi's Jevan Snead as the first-team quarterback . . . and not Tebow.
That's right, the same Steve Spurrier who won a Heisman Trophy at Florida, coached the Gators to six SEC championships and remains a legend in Gainesville.
However, SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom confirmed to ESPN.com that Spurrier called within the past 24 hours and asked that his ballot be changed to include Tebow as the first-team quarterback. Spurrier told Bloom that his initial ballot, with Snead as the first-team quarterback, was a mistake.
Each of the other coaches in the SEC has said on the record or confirmed through a spokesperson that he voted for Tebow. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players, meaning a unanimous vote constituted 11 of the 12 votes.
The only unanimous selections on the coaches' preseason team were Tennessee safety Eric Berry, LSU offensive tackle Ciron Black and Alabama receiver Julio Jones.
The fact that Spurrier wouldn't vote for Tebow is surprising over and above his close ties to Florida. He's talked at length about what a great player Tebow is and how he's willed the Gators to victory time and time again.
Chris Low covers the SEC for ESPN.com.
