Not that the LSU-Florida rivalry needed any more wrath, but it got it Tuesday when LSU defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois said on Tuesday that if he and his teammates get the opportunity, they’re going to take out Gators’ QB Tim Tebow.

“If we get a good shot on (Tebow), we’re going to try our best to take him out of the game,” Jean-Francois told the Orlando Sentinel. If LSU can get in such a hit, Jean-Francois added, the effect will be like “a car wreck without a seat belt.”

Jean-Francois did extend props to the Gator quarterback, saying, “With his size and his heart, it’s hard to get a clean shot.” But Jean-Francois, who has been hailed as Glenn Dorsey’s worthy successor at LSU, made it clear there will be no regrets if Tebow gets sidelined.

Said Jean-Francois: “If he does get hurt, there’s a trained medical staff at Florida, so you can go to the training room on Sunday.”

In fairness to Jean-Francois, he’s not saying that LSU is going to take cheap shots at Tebow, but still, letting it be known that you’re out to physical hurt an opponent isn’t very intelligent. Florida is coming off an embarrassing loss to Ole’ Miss two weeks ago and didn’t play that well at Arkansas last Saturday – why give them any extra motivation to re-focus? Why hand them bulletin board material days before the game?