Football rates a mere fourth on his list of priorities behind God, family and academics. Even so, in New York City Dec. 8, Tim Tebow became the first college sophomore to win the famed Heisman Trophy in the 70-plus years of the award.
The University of Florida quarterback was a finalist along with Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel. The trophy is one of the most prestigious individual awards in all of sports.
“I’d just like to first start off by thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave me the ability to play football and gave me a great family and a support group and great coaches and everything around me,” a breathless Tebow said at the ceremony, moments after the award was announced.
Going on to thank teammates, high school coaches, his parents and siblings, Tebow repeated thanks to Jesus Christ and drew laughter when pledging his love for his chosen school for the third time.
“I love the University of Florida, I love being a Gator. I love Gator Nation,” Tebow said.
A home-school student who played for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Tebow helped Florida win a national title last season as the Gators’ backup.
He is the first major college player to run for at least 20 touchdowns (TD) and throw 20 TD passes in the same season. This year’s 22 rushing TDs are tied for the Football Bowl Subdivision record (formerly Division I-A) for rushing TDs in a season by a quarterback.
Tebow, affectionately referred to as “Timmy” by his family, is the youngest child of Bob and Pam Tebow, missionaries to the Philippines through Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association, supported by First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla.
In a profile aired on ESPN during the Heisman award ceremony, Tebow said his priorities are: “No. 1, my faith in God; No. 2, my family and my relationships with my family; No. 3, academics; and No. 4 is football.”
His mother, Pam Tebow, in the profile, said she declined the advice of a doctor to get an abortion after she became seriously ill and dehydrated when pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, while living overseas.
Bob Tebow said his son is a “miracle baby and so we have reminded him that hundreds of times.”
He was home-schooled but allowed to play high school football thanks to a Florida law.
Tebow said in the profile he wants to be a standout both on and off the field.
“Through everything that I do in football, in school, in living, I want people to see that in me,” Tebow said. “I don’t want to be just another guy who’s walking down the street. I want when people see me they say, ‘Hey, there’s something different about this guy, and that’s because he has a relationship with Jesus Christ.’”
Crediting his family with teaching him priorities, Tebow said his dad taught him about character and his mom taught him to memorize Scripture verses.
Brothers and sisters created a path for him by which he is able to “just follow in their footsteps,” he said.
‘He gave me the ability’
“God gave me the ability to play football and I’m just trying to go out there and honor Him with it and just be as passionate and enthusiastic about it as I can,” Tebow reiterated.
“It’s a game that I love and you’ve got to remember that He gave me the ability and the opportunity to play and it can be gone at any moment.”
After receiving the Heisman, Tebow was thorough in his thanks and praise of those who have shaped and taught him, inside and out.
“I am fortunate for a lot of things. God has truly blessed me and I am blessed with so much stuff,” Tebow said.
“I’m just thankful and this is such an honor and I am so happy to be here.” (BP)
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