HOOVER, Ala. — Steve Spurrier cleared up the biggest mystery swirling around the Southeastern Conference when he said it was South Carolina that left Tim Tebow off the preseason all-SEC ballot.

The Gamecocks coach said Friday at the SEC’s media days that the director of football operations filled out the ballot in his stead and voted for Mississippi’s Jevan Snead.

The other coaches picked Tebow, Florida’s do-everything quarterback and the Heisman Trophy winner two years ago.

Spurrier said he was embarrassed about it and has already apologized to Tebow. He said the SEC has let him amend the ballot to add Tebow.