SIX BITS: Tebow, Andrews, baseball, softball, lax

1 » Between critics, supporters and analysts, former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow always has plenty of people talking about him. You can add former USC Trojans safety Taylor Mays to that list. Mays – who has grown close with Tebow after appearances at college football awards shows, 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl and 2010 NFL Scouting Combine – got defensive when asked about his new friend’s ability to transition to the NFL. “I don’t understand it. He did everything right,” Mays said. “It’s not like everybody thought he was going to be the first quarterback taken, so I don’t understand why they’re killing him like that. You’re looking at one of the most established players in college football, ever. Ever! All these people they’re talking about don’t have half the credentials he does.”

2 » While Mays was defensive, New England sports writer Tom Curran went on the offensive against Tebow Wednesday. Curran opines that Tebow’s very public meeting with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is out of character for the team and was perhaps done in order to boost Tebow’s 2010 NFL Draft stock and, in some way, help out his friend and Gators head coach Urban Meyer. Side note: Tebow spent two days in Boston; he was not just there for a dinner. Curran also questions what Tebow is as a person. “I mean, how do we know the kid’s a virgin? He talks about it. And just as it’s his right to talk about it, it’s the right of observers to wonder what the motivations for doing so are,” Curran wrote. “Is he a football player? A spokesman? A vessel of the Lord? A well-crafted public relations creation? All of the above?”

Four more BITS on Erin Andrews’ ESPN contract and future as well as results from baseball, softball and lacrosse…after the jump!

3 » Though currently taking a sabbatical from ESPN in order to compete on Dancing with the Stars on sister network ABC, former Gators dazzler Erin Andrews wants to remain at the Worldwide Leader. Andrews, whose contract is set to expire soon, is currently in negotiations to re-sign with ESPN to cover college football and basketball from the sidelines. “I want to stay covering sports. I love sports,” she told USA Today this week. “Where I am right now in my career, I have developed incredible relationships with coaches and athletes. There’s a really big trust and respect factor with all of these guys. I’m just really, really happy with the way things have progressed in my career.” However, other reports state she has larger aspirations and may look elsewhere if the network does not pony up the cash.

4 » No. 8/11 Florida baseball (18-6) fell Tuesday to the No. 4/6 Florida State Seminoles (20-4) 7-2 at a neutral site game at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Gators committed a season-high five errors that led to five unearned runs and gave the Seminoles the win. Sophomore designated hitter Tyler Thompson (1-2) scored the team’s lone runs with a home run in the second inning, his first in almost a year. Senior Jeff Barfield got the start but only pitched two innings; freshman Hudson Randal (2-2) was attributed with the loss though he only gave up a hit and a run in 2.1 innings.

5 » No. 6/9 Florida softball (24-4) had better luck Wednesday, defeating the Central Florida Knights (22-13) 4-3 in nine innings on the road at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando, FL. Freshman infielder Brittany Schutte smacked a game-winning solo homer in the top of the ninth, winning the game for classmate Ensley Gammel (5-0) who pitched four scoreless innings of relief with six strikeouts to earn the win.

6 » Gators lacrosse (7-4) continued its strong play in its inaugural season with a 16-6 victory over the Oregon Ducks (4-7) Tuesday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Freshman midfielder Kitty Cullen scored a season-high five goals as the defense only allowed the Ducks three shots on goal and two scores after halftime.