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The Tim Tebow controversy — it’s about culture, stupid
Christian Post ^ | 06/04/2021 | James Thrasher

Posted on 06/04/2021 8:21:31 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Everyone seems to have an opinion on Urban Meyer’s decision to sign Tim Tebow to the roster of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars. The all-knowing Charles Barkley pontificated that Tebow failed as a quarterback in the NFL and as a Minor League Baseball player—so Sir Charles encourages Tebow to not embarrass himself and just hang it up. A cadre of ESPN commentators have taken their shots at Tebow and Meyer. Stephen A. Smith on “The First Take” show has called the signing racist and white privilege. Shannon Sharp believes that the roster move is because of the Tebow/Meyer friendship: they both live in Jacksonville, and the Jags want to sell more tickets. Ryan Clark has questioned Tebow’s motives and has asked “who the hell does he think he is?” Mike Golic sarcastically asks if Tebow can block or even catch a football? Every possible talking head has offered its absurdly woke or surprisingly imperceptive criticism of the Jags’ move to bring Tebow on board.

Not one of these talking heads got it right.

The Jacksonville Jaguars is a failing NFL franchise. The team leadership has selected the third most successful coach in NCAA history to set a new vision. Over 17 years, Meyer is 187-32, a .854 winning percentage. The Jags and Meyer are decisively leading the organization forward.

It’s about culture, stupid.

Meyer has been successful in the past due to his ability to create transformative team cultures. Culture is the starting point of a team’s reconstruction. The importance of team culture cannot be overstated. How team members think, feel, behave, and perform are all influenced by the environment in which they practice and compete. Dr. Jim Taylor defines a sports culture in his book Prime Sport: Psychology of Champion Athletes as a culture that “expresses a team’s character, attitudes and goals about competition, community, and relationships.” Culture dictates everything from how a team practices and functions to its overall performance. Taylor goes on to say that “culture creates the atmosphere that permeates every aspect of a team’s experience.” Vision drives a culture, and it acts as the rudder directing all team decisions. It also provides a standard by which all goals and objectives are defined and constantly evaluated. A positive team culture eliminates negativity and conflict, and most importantly, it brings out the best in team members. It also wins ball games.

While at the University of Florida, Meyer and Tebow consistently met to talk about how to develop a thriving team culture and how to cultivate cohesive team dynamics. Tim Tebow is an experienced team culture builder. Throughout his life he has evidenced this calling, and Meyer is perceptively capitalizing on it.

It has been proven that shared vision and leadership that bubbles up from within the player ranks delivers organizational success. Tebow is an inspirational influencer. He has been utilized in the past to transform lives, organizations, and teams. He views himself and those around him as individuals who are worthy of dignity and respect. He will play and lead with love, grace, transparency, authenticity, and grit. He passionately brings out the best in those around him, and he has proven the ability to create an environment where change and growth flourish. Tebow has taken ownership of the Meyer vision, and he will be an infectious communicator of that approach to football. He will be an engaging relationship builder in the locker room and on the field. Tebow will catch a few passes, but his most significant impact on the Jags organization will be by being a servant-leader of a cultural re-set.

As a cultural architect, Urban Meyer knows exactly what he needs to succeed. Tim Tebow will make the Jags 53-man regular season roster, and the Jags will emerge as a rising NFL franchise. This will not transpire because of Tebow’s ability to run tight routes and catch bullet passes, but because of his unmatched ability to contribute to a transformed team culture. Mark my words, it’s all about culture.


TOPICS: Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: controversy; culture; nfl; timtebow
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To: SeekAndFind

Urban Meyer’s college coaching career indeed is couched in terms of building culture. Part of Meyer’s “culture” is loyalty. The signing of Tebow might simply be UFM being loyal to his former college star so that he may acquire enough roster time to become fully vested in the NFL players pension plan. While I appreciate and value the Tebow “image”, it would be a mistake to think Meyer or the Jaguar organization are sending a moral message.


21 posted on 06/04/2021 9:16:08 AM PDT by buckalfa (I have forgotten more than I ever knew.)
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To: SeekAndFind
There is NO "controversy"!

Only whining.

Either you're good enough to contribute to the team's success or you are not

22 posted on 06/04/2021 9:20:31 AM PDT by G Larry (Force the Universities to use their TAX FREE ENDOWMENTS to pay off Student loan debt!!!)
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To: SeekAndFind

The NFL is a ruthless league. It’s all about winning . . . today. Coaches ought to get five years to turn around a dumpster fire like the Jags, but Urban will probably get three. If Urban wants to put some chips on Tebow, I’m interested to see how that turns out. The man has athletic talent and character.


23 posted on 06/04/2021 9:23:55 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker
The man has athletic talent and character.

When TeBow was playing QB at Fla, Urban Meyer used to say he was the best short yardage back in college football- and he frequently proved that to be true.

Don't be surprised either way- a flop as a player or someone who causes big defensive problems on 3rd and short.

24 posted on 06/04/2021 9:44:49 AM PDT by politicianslie ( We will NEVER be a communist country-President Trump)
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To: volunbeer

Your assessment is correct. I’m still not watching or buying any nfl gear however.


25 posted on 06/04/2021 9:45:11 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: Not A Snowbird
Shoot, I'm a Seahawk fan and I'LL buy his jersey.

I'm a Tebow fan and I purchased his Fireflies jersey......

26 posted on 06/04/2021 9:51:20 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: SeekAndFind
I still think that Tebow "failed" in the NFL because the Jets front line failed to protect him, making it impossible for Tebow to complete passes.

-PJ

27 posted on 06/04/2021 9:59:09 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too (* LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: ScubaDiver

Agreed. Plus Tebow was a QB, if he’s given a few chances to throw it’ll make defenses squirm every time he’s on the field.


28 posted on 06/04/2021 10:49:19 AM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing of poor moral choices among everybody)
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