Posted on 12/06/2007 9:31:40 AM PST by cinives
The December 3rd 2007 issue of Sports Illustrated will be of special interest to education reformers.
Next to the cover photo of Chase Daniel, the University of Missouri’s plucky quarterback, is a smaller photo of Tim Tebow.
Tebow is also a QB, but he conducts his business, not on the plains but in “the Swamp,” the football stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville. All of 20 years old, he is a serious contender for this year’s coveted Heisman Trophy, the annual award given to the most outstanding collegiate football player in the nation.
If the strapping 6’3” 235 lb. lad wins the Heisman, he’ll be making history on several counts. First, he’s only a sophomore. Second, he is the only player in NCAA history to run and pass for at least twenty touchdowns each in one season. Third, this son of missionaries to the Philippines was homeschooled in grades K through12. The last fact, no doubt, prompted Sports Illustrated to opine that Tebow is “hardly the typical college athlete.”
Delightfully, so. Of his unique educational background, Tebow states, "I come from a large family (last of 5 children), and all my brothers and sisters were home schooled. My parents were tremendous role models throughout the process, and there were never discipline issues for us. By the time I came to the University of Florida, I felt I had great study habits and felt comfortable making the transition to classes. I think that being home schooled offered me an opportunity to also learn some life lessons, and those experiences help me while I'm on the field."
Those role models - Pam and Bob Tebow - encouraged athletics and combined farm chores with Scripture memory in their household. Mom and Dad are former University of Florida students, yet one wonders what they make of the monikers that the baby of the family (who was recruited by 80 schools) has been saddled with - “chosen one,” “the great white hope,” “Tom Cruise,” “a walking freight truck,” and “Superman.” There is even a ‘Tim Tebow Bill’ in the Alabama legislature which would afford home scholars equal access to public school sports programs and extracurricular activities.
Admittedly, the 1950s television series “Adventures of Superman” does seem to capture the spirit of Tebow Nation. Off the field, he’s the mild-mannered Clark Kent who says “Yes, Sir” to reporters, smilingly poses with orphans, talks to prison inmates, wears jorts (jean shorts), and maintains a high GPA.
But put him in a Gator uniform, sans cape, and watch out Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Florida State. During a memorable gridiron confrontation with the Seminoles, Florida’s archrival, the left-handed Tebow even played with a broken right hand. A broken hand! Superman indeed.
Whenever he appears on television, sophisticated commentators gush like groupies when the camera zooms in on the T-Man, and his legion of fans are fast becoming famous for their creativity. One fella painted himself gold, sporting a #15 on his chest (Tebow’s jersey number), and struck a Heisman-like pose at a game, and the Miami Herald couldn’t help but notice the “Tim Tebow Can Stop Global Warming” sign.
Which goes to show – and without downplaying the physical stamina, commitment, and world-class talent needed to compete in Division I sports – it’s all thoroughly ridiculous. Hype in high def. But Americans have always been rather ridiculous about their football heroes, crowning those who can throw and run and catch with god-like status, and just as casually marginalizing, to the sidelines, the stars who end up in rehab or who run a dog fighting ring in their spare time.
For Tebow and his ilk, the kryptonite is hubris. From all reports, the accolades – which also include a Manning Award finalist, Davey O’Brien finalist, Academic All-American, SEC offensive player of the week – haven’t gone to Tebow’s head. But this young man, like others before him and others after him, will have to guard against the temptations that Fame dispenses like tic-tac mints. Fortunately, his parents remain involved in his life, as do his siblings, including a sister who ministers in Bangladesh. As the Rattler Gator blogger J.B. White sagely observed last year, “Luckily, he's (Tebow) the product of some fantastic home training, because his premature celebrity could have been a disastrous distraction ... ”
Since he’s a professing Christian, Tebow may have to frequently turn to another missionary - the Apostle Paul – for a pep talk. Paul, writing to another Timothy, his disciple, advised: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” Try fitting that on a placard.
Meanwhile, Tebow’s Bunyanesque accomplishments are just another feather in the cap of the modern home education movement which, by now, has a headdress of phenomenally accomplished graduates. But if there was one canard about homeschoolers left standing, despite the plethora of evidence to the contrary, it’s the one about them being non-athletic nerds.
Tim Tebow has sacked that stereotype with Samson-like gusto.
Come to think of it, he’s also given that collegiate athlete party animal thing a rest, too.
The boy is only a sophomore, he has some seasoning to go yet.
Ping!.....
His siblings probably performed those services.
You know, being locked out of one bathroom for hours while his sisters did their makeup and hair, having to stand in line with his 5 siblings, sharing a room with a youger bratty brother ... the possibilities of being brought down to Earth in a large family are endless.
You can play sports at the public schools in Florida.
No wonder he can handle that college football so easily........
Most of the time, it's never a problem.
Sheesh....someone needs to teach HER how to dress.....or is she nursing?
‘If the strapping 6’3” 235 lb. lad wins the Heisman, he’ll be making history on several counts. First, he’s only a sophomore. ‘
I like the guy, and I think he’s got a fair shot at winning the Heisman.
That said, it wouldn’t be ‘historic’ for a sophomore to win the trophy. Archie Griffin won it as a sophomore I think.
The QB isn’t bad either.......
Somebody’s been working out.
the Oregon QB was hurt, season ending, during their Arizona game. He was a viable contender before that.
There's a joke in here about quarterbacks and bombs, but I don't want to get kicked off the site.
I’d be willing to bet he’s ambidextrous!...............
I think Griffin was a junior at the time.
I think the Downtown Athletic Club will stick to tradition and award the Heisman to a Sr. I wouldn’t be surprised if Colt Brennen from Hawaii wins.
My recollection is that Archie Griffin won it 2 years in a row as a Jr. then a Sr.
Those are NOT REAL!
Mr. Tim Tebow probably has a harem to pick from...
“The boy is only a sophomore, he has some seasoning to go yet.”
Your reply could just as easily answer post #19.
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