If the University of Hawai'i football team wasn't on Southeastern Conference radar, that changed quickly yesterday.

Before the cheering had begun to fade on the announcement of the Warriors' Jan. 1, 2008 Sugar Bowl pairing with Georgia, their head coach was already stoking the fires for the Aug. 30, 2008 meeting with Florida in Gainesville.

While some Bulldogs fans were predicting Georgia would take its frustrations out on UH after the Bowl Championship Series passed over their school for a national championship game appearance, UH coach June Jones brought Gator faithful to an Internet froth of their own with some well-selected darts at the quarterback, Tim Tebow.

Interviewed on ESPN's Bowl Selection Show last night, Jones labeled Tebow a "system quarterback" and said he wasn't sure the Florida star could run UH's system, the nation's most productive. "System" quarterback being derisive on the order of saying your quarterback's mother wears Army boots.

When ESPN's Reece Davis sought clarification, Jones said his own quarterback, Colt Brennan, could "run any system" but expressed doubt about Tebow being able to make all the necessary throws or being a "natural" passer.

So much for sneaking up on anybody in the SEC for a while.

But there is a method to what many would see as Jones' sheer madness. At least in the short term. In case it has slipped your attention in all the revelry over the Warriors' milestone BCS berth, the list of Heisman Trophy finalists is scheduled to be announced Wednesday, the day balloting closes.

So this was undoubtedly more of a campaign speech, a get-out-the-vote effort, if you will, on Brennan's behalf just before the polls close. Tebow, the Gator sophomore, is the odds-on favorite to take home college athletics' most prestigious piece of hardware. His invitation to New York for the announcement show is not in doubt.

Brennan's shouldn't be, but is.

With Brennan's 42-of-50, five-touchdown, 442-yard effort against Washington still fresh in people's minds — or you hope it is, anyway — Jones took the opportunity to buff it up a little on national TV. Nothing Hillary Clinton's campaign manager wouldn't do, too, if the opportunity presented itself.

But, then, Sen. Clinton doesn't have to open at The Swamp next year, without Brennan.

If you want to make a point about quarterbacks in college these days, drawing a comparison with Tebow is the way to make it. If nothing else, it draws attention and generates talk. And Jones surely got that, especially from the Florida faithful who have suggested he perform certain physically impossible feats that have nothing to do with passing the football.

Georgia's pique over being passed over for a shot at the national title in favor of Louisiana State will likely cool down before the Sugar Bowl.

Florida's will likely be waiting for the Warriors come kickoff in August.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.