Monday, August 10, 2009

Tim Tebow - A Hard Guy Not To Root For

Some call him Tim Tebow, some call him the Chosen One. Maybe the latter is more accurate. It is hard to dispute what this one college quarterback has done at such a young age. Unlike most other star colleague or amateur athletes what he has done off the field is either as important - no more important - no as important as what he has done on the field. He is one of the best college quarterbacks of all time. A Heisman Trophy in 2007, a 2 time BCS Championship winner for the Florida Gators and coming back again for his final year for a run at a 3rd. Even that may come behind his accomplishments off the field.... had to believe but true.

Right from the start he had an uphill battle - His mother while in the Philippines serving as Christian missionary suffered a life-threatening infection with a pathogenic amoeba. The drug used put her baby in jeopardy and there was worry of a possible stillbirth and recommended an abortion to protect her life. After praying and having faith She carried Tim to term, and both survived. Tebow now stands a solid 6’3" and 235 pounds. Lets call that Exhibit A.

As a home schooled kid played football during the school year and then he spent his last 3 summers in the Philippines assisting with his father’s orphanage and missionary work. Lets call that Exhibit B.

There is no questioning his leadership on the field as well. Still with 1 year left on eligibility left Coach Urban Meyer had the speech that Tebow gave after a loss last year vs Ole Miss engraved on a plaque and placed outside the front entrance to the new football facility at Florida Field. Now he is a profit too. Exhibit C.

He is also a self-proclaimed virgin and is "saving himself" for marriage. This might be the greatest testament to just how impressive this guy is and how strong his beliefs are. He is a national name - a starting QB for a Championship Division 1 NCAA school one of the best athletes in the nation and could probably pick up any girl he wanted without even trying - on second though I don’t know if he should be praised or ridiculed. If he pulled a stunt like that between the lines he would be accused of wasting his talent.

Upon becoming the first home-schooled athlete to be nominated for the Heisman Trophy, Tebow remarked, "That’s really cool. A lot of times people have this stereotype of homeschoolers as not very athletic – it’s like, go win a spelling bee or something like that – it’s an honor for me to be the first one to do that."

It is almost comical how one can be the best at a position in college and be so widely discounted as being able to play at the next level. College is almost by definition a vehicle to prepare you to go forward, make you better and instill knowledge. Not the case for football at the NCAA level. The spread offence is en vogue and a pro style offence is very, very rare of any of the top teams. QB’s who play in that style are head and shoulders above others in the eyes of pro teams. That is why Tebow despite all of his accolades on the field is being bandied about as a tight end or an H-Back rater then a starting QB.

A lot of people may be Tebow’d out just because of the coverage that he gets. Hopefully people can separate media coverage from the player and the man. Hate the media for the coverage but don’t punish him for doing everything the right way.

Regardless of what happens next he may just be the Chosen One.

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