Meyer takes post-concussion tests with Tebow

[September 30, 2009]  GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida quarterback Tim Tebow went through more post-concussion tests Tuesday, and this time, he had his coach tagging along.

Coach Urban Meyer took several balance and memory tests with his star player because he was curious about the process.

"It's been an amazing week," Meyer said.

It's just getting started, too.

Meyer was inundated with questions about Tebow's recovery for the second straight day. Meyer said the quarterback still has a headache, but he was able to attend a team meeting. Meyer said Tebow hasn't been allowed to watch television or read, and didn't attend practice.

Meyer also said Tebow understands the severity of his brain injury.

"This isn't a turf toe or a shoulder," Meyer said. "This is a concussion. He's a grown man, so he's going to take care of himself. I'm very proud of the way he's handled it."

Tebow spent Saturday night in a Kentucky hospital after his helmet struck teammate Marcus Gilbert's leg following a third-quarter sack against the Wildcats. Tebow dropped to the ground and lay motionless as teammates and trainers rushed to his side.

He eventually sat up with help and slowly made his way off the field. He started vomiting on the sideline, was carted off the field and taken to the hospital.

Meyer said Tuesday that Tebow probably would have been pulled from the lopsided game following that drive. Some have questioned why Tebow was still in the game with the Gators leading 31-7.

"Ultimately, it's my call," Meyer said. "If we go in and score right there, I think we do yank him out of the game. But you also want to make sure you secure the game."

Meyer said there is no timetable for getting Tebow back on the practice field. He also made it clear that Tebow could miss practice this week and next and still start the team's next game, at LSU on Oct. 10.

"You have to earn that right, and obviously the left-handed quarterback's earned that right," Meyer said.

Florida has not made its head athletic trainer available for interviews, but school officials said Tuesday they perform baseline neurological testing on every football player. Tebow's latest neurological test will be compared to his baseline exam to determine whether he has recovered from the concussion.

The school also uses the Balance Equilibrium Scoring System (BESS) and the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) form to evaluate players following concussion, as well as a Post-Concussion Symptom Scale.

Meyer and Tebow went through some of the tests together.

"I was in the room with the doctors because I wanted to see it," Meyer said. "I always hear about the baseline. It's interesting how that's evolved over the years, so I sat and watched it. ... You put your feet together, you hold your hand on your hips, you raise on one foot, those kind of things."

The severity of Tebow's concussion remains unclear.

But several teammates, including cornerback Joe Haden and linebacker Ryan Stamper, said they were surprised by who much attention Tebow's injury has received.

"I think the media is kind of blowing it out of proportion," Stamper said. "Again, the hit and how he was, I can't really say I blame them. ... But when we found out it was a concussion, everyone gets concussions. Stuff like that happens. I guess because it happened to him everyone is blowing it up, but I think he'll be fine."

[Associated Press; By MARK LONG]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.