voice of the heisman

hate all you want on my gators, but you have to love an athlete humble enough to know that there are things much bigger than football. one who uses his platform as a football star to tell people about Christ. check out this article about Tim Tebow at the SEC Media Day. That's why this guy is my favorite player, plus the 40+ touchdowns last year.







Florida’s Tim Tebow hopes to use football as a platform for philanthropy
By Joseph Goodman / McClatchy Newspapers
Thursday, July 24, 2008

HOOVER, Ala. - It was a bizarre beginning to the Southeastern Conference Media Days on Wednesday. There was a football player at the dais - perhaps the best in the country - and there were football writers in the audience, but the topic of football seemed like a footnote.

Then Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, told hundreds of sports reporters that football isn’t that important.

"I want to do everything in my power that football gives me to influence as many people as I can for the good, because that’s going to mean so much more when it’s all said and done than just playing football and winning championships," Tebow said.

Yet another group converted. College football is a religion in the Deep South, but when Tebow shows up for the season’s kickoff party, the whole thing turns into a tent revival.

"I can take what I do in playing football as a game and change people’s lives with it," Tebow said. "That’s why football is such a great game. That’s kind of why I do the things, preaching in prisons, doing those different things, trying to take advantage of that platform that God has blessed me with."

Tebow spoke to media from around the country for about 25 minutes Wednesday. Unlike every other player from every other school who attended the first day of SEC Media Days, Tebow addressed the media from the area reserved for head coaches. Reporters asked about Tebow’s stardom and missionary work more than the Gators’ spread offense or chances of winning a national championship.

Tebow made headlines this offseason with mission trips to the Philippines, Croatia and Thailand. He also spoke at prisons and preached at churches. Tebow’s father, Bob, is a missionary.

"Sometimes my biggest message to other athletes is, ’Yeah, we know you’re great in football, but take that greatness, your platform, use it to influence other people,’ " Tebow said. "That’s much more important than football."