25 Cheers for 25 Years: The Promise

Tim Tebow #15 is stopped short of a first down in the closing moments against the Ole Miss Rebels at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 27, 2008 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

On September 27, 2008, Florida’s star quarterback Tim Tebow stood at a post-game press conference choking back tears.

The Gators had just been dealt a devastating 31-30 home loss to Ole Miss, shattering their hopes of an undefeated season. In the BCS era, it also meant that Florida couldn’t lose another game and also play for the national title.

Tebow — the reigning Heisman Trophy winner — took the podium to address fans. What he said in the emotional moment would later be known as “The Promise,” and it became part of University of Florida legend.

“To the fans and everybody in Gator Nation, I’m sorry – extremely sorry,” Tebow began. He apologized for the loss and for failing to achieve the goal of an unbeaten year, something “Florida’s never done here.”

Then Tebow’s tone shifted. He became harder and more convicted.

“I promise you one thing: a lot of good will come out of this,” he said firmly. “You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season, and you will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season, and you will never see a team play harder that we will the rest of the season. God bless.”

Those words changed Florida sports forever and became the catalyst for the championship run. True to his promise, Florida did not lose again that season.

Florida went on to win the SEC Championship over Alabama and then defeated Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS National Championship Game, capturing the program’s second national title in three years.

Tebow’s promise became the team’s rallying cry.

“We responded by running the table,” Tebow later reflected when asked about the team’s attitude after the speech.

The legacy of the Promise speech has grown over time.

The speech was so impactful that head coach Urban Meyer had it engraved on a plaque and placed outside Florida’s football facility less than six months later.

“It was a speech that everybody in Gator Nation has a right to see on the side of the building,” Meyer explained of immortalizing Tebow’s words while the quarterback was still in school. Meyer didn’t want to wait, calling the speech “huge” and emblematic of Tebow’s leadership.

Beyond the championship that season, “The Promise” became part of college football lore. Years later, it’s still cited as one of the best examples of an athlete walking the walk.

Florida fans remember the shock of that Ole Miss upset, but they remember even more how their quarterback stood up afterward and guaranteed he would make it right.

Tebow’s promise wasn’t empty. He threw himself into preparation and inspired teammates to do the same.

As a result, the 2008 Gators achieved redemption in the ultimate way – hoisting the national championship trophy.