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But Leak never wavered, always believing coach Urban Meyer's pledge to build his spread-option offense
around his star quarterback. And after everything Leak had been through - two coaches, three offensive
coordinators and probably way more criticism than he deserved - all he cared about was winning a
championship.

"My main focus is on the team," Leak said. "I really never focused on anything else. All the outside things that
people say, I really never pay attention to that. The main thing that's important to me is how my team's doing
and making sure those guys are prepared. It's the mind-set you have to have as a quarterback. You have to
focus on the right things. My family and my coaches have really helped me with that."

Tebow might have made it easier, too.

Offensive coordinator Dan Mullen recalled a day when the quarterbacks were sitting next to each other
watching video of Florida's victory against Alabama. Tebow, known as one of the most dedicated
weightlifters on the team, carried the ball late in the game and was stuffed at the line of scrimmage.

"We're watching the film and Chris, who you don't always think to be witty, looks over and says, 'Hey Tim,
they lift weights at Alabama, too,'" Mullen said. "Tim has made it OK for Chris to laugh and have fun in the
game. When he makes mistakes, does something wrong, Tim will kind of like egg him on and tease him a
little bit and make jokes and he can laugh. The relationship that those two have built has really allowed Chris
to open up and relax and have a lot more fun playing."

Yet, some believe there has to be tension.

"I don't know why," Leak said. "Why is that?"

Mullen might have the answer.

"People look on the outside in and say, 'OK, these two are competing for a certain job.' If you look at it that
way, you could say there must be tension," Mullen said. "But for those two, there's really not. All year, Chris
Leak's been our quarterback, Tim's been the backup and Tim has a certain package of plays that he comes
in and runs.

"Chris has never stormed into my office and said, 'OK, on fourth-and-1 I need to run the (isolation) play right
up the middle.' He'll look at me and say, 'It looks pretty good for Tim to go do that.'"

The duo - nicknamed "Leak-Bow" early in the season - bonded
with each victory and helped carry the No. 2 Gators (12-1) to the
Bowl Championship Series title game in nearby Glendale, where
they will play top-ranked Ohio State on Monday night.

"It is a good working relationship and it's a good relationship off the
field, too," Tebow said. "We just kind of know what the game plan
is and do what the coaches say. As far as anything else, we don't
worry about it. We just try to do our jobs."

Leak has started 46 consecutive games, taking over as a
freshman and breaking nearly every school passing record over
the last four seasons. He has completed more than 61 percent of
his passes for 11,000 yards and 87 touchdowns. He also has 13
rushing touchdowns.

He easily could have been sour after Tebow arrived on campus
last January with more hype than any freshman since Emmitt
Smith in 1987. Tebow was constantly surrounded by fans and
media, and the hype grew with every touchdown he accounted for
during the season (four passing, seven rushing).

Gator Football - 1/5/07

Leak, Tebow Bond Through Gators' Success

Chris Leak and Tim Tebow could have been rivals. Instead, the
Florida quarterbacks became friends and saved the rivalry for
Florida's opponents. "My competition is not with my teammates.
My competition is with the teams we play," Leak said Thursday. "I
was willing to do whatever it takes for us to have an advantage
offensively."

The senior (Leak) and the freshman (Tebow) have made the
Gators' two-quarterback system work well enough to average 29
points a game - with a lot of help from their speedy receivers.

Leak handles most of the passing, making touch throws, moving
when he has to and avoiding negative plays most of the time.

Tebow takes care of the running, using his 230-pound body to pick
up first downs by bullying past linebackers and defensive backs in
short-yardage situations.