updated 5:58 p.m. ET Nov. 24, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State couldn’t walk the walk last year after boasting they were going to take down Tim Tebow when they went to Florida.

One particular braggart, linebacker Geno Hayes, is off to the pros following his one-tackle showing in last year’s 45-12 swamp stomping, possibly veteran coach Bobby Bowden’s worst whipping in 33 years at Florida State.

No one’s talking trash this year.

“We’ve probably learned from that,” Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder said Monday. “It didn’t turn out too well.”

Tebow brushed aside the idle threats along with Florida State’s would-be tacklers and cemented his Heisman Trophy season, throwing for three touchdowns and running for two more in the rout. And he accomplished it while playing with a broken right hand in the second half.

This time around it’s the Tim Tebow admiration society instead.

“The thing about him I that I always thought was very unique he always seemed to have that “it” factor,” Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. “There have been some guys that are maybe as tough, but you don’t see it because they don’t run that style of offense.”

And Tebow’s got several weapons to help out, starting with do-everything speedster Percy Harvin, who scorched the Seminoles for 224 all-purpose yards a year ago.

Aside from an apparent talent advantage, the second-ranked Gators (10-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) can’t afford to overlook their intrastate rival with the Dec. 6 SEC title game looming in Atlanta against top-ranked Alabama.

Those distractions might help the Seminoles, whose coaches are already bleary-eyed from studying Florida game film.

“If you had your druthers you’d probably rather be on a creek bank or somewhere than try and defend a team as talented as they are,” said veteran Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

“They’re not as good at time outs as some people are,” Andrews joked. “It’ll take our best effort of the year to even have a chance.”

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In addition to snapping a four-game losing streak against Florida, the Seminoles (8-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) will be interested in the outcome of the Maryland-Boston College game since a Terrapin win would give Florida State a spot in next month’s ACC title game in Tampa.

“We can’t worry about that,” Ponder said.

Florida is more than enough.

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