updated 8:52 p.m. ET Nov. 20, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Florida quarterback Tim Tebow brushed aside comments made by Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes, much like the Heisman Trophy contender has done to defenders all season.

“That’s fine. I don’t really say much or talk trash or anything like that,” Tebow said after practice Tuesday. “They’re just heated up and excited about the game. That’s fine. I’ll just use it as motivation.”

Hayes said a day earlier that Tebow was “going down” when the 12th-ranked Gators host the in-state rival Seminoles on Saturday.

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall,” Hayes said. “Hopefully we can go out there and shatter his dream.”

Tebow said he usually laughs off opponents’ trash talk, but he winked at reporters when asked whether he will seek out Hayes on the field.

“Who knows. We’ll see,” Tebow said. “I might ... remember it. I love playing, so that just fires you up and reminds you what the game of football is all about.”

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