"Thank You"

In December of 2005 Urban Meyer was at a hotel in New York City where he first mentioned the name Tim Tebow to a group of Florida boosters. Meyer said, "I don't know if we will get him, but I will tell you this," Meyer told the group that day, "whoever gets Tim, they'll win multiple championships." Florida Linebacker Brandon Spikes first met Tim Tebow on a recruiting visit to Alabama and came away knowing one thing. I am going wherever that kid goes to college. Tebow went to Florida, and Spikes followed. For those of you who read this blog and enjoy the comedy of it, this blog won’t have any. This blog will be remembering one of the greatest collegiate athletes to ever play the game the right way, and go above and beyond of what was asked of him on and off the field.It has been some time since an athlete like Tim Tebow has come along. He has used football as a platform to get his mission out to the general public. It is not about how many football games you win, or how many championships you win, but how you can help affect the lives of others. I think it is safe to say Tebow has done a pretty good job of that. Who knew that Tebow would spend his spring breaks doing missionary work in the Philippines? That Tebow would spend much of his free time speaking to children in hospitals and orphanages and prisons throughout North Florida? That Tebow would make a "promise" during a live press conference to work harder than any player in the country, and then back it up en route to a championship? That 93 million people would Google "John 3:16" the day after Tebow wore the Bible verse on his eye black at the BCS Championship Game?

I went to the SEC title game this past weekend, and saw how #15 has influenced others. I got to my seat nearly an hour before kickoff. I saw a family next to me, a husband and wife, along with their 7 year old boy. All three were wearing Tim Tebow jerseys. The man had told me that they weren’t that big of college football fans until one Saturday afternoon they were watching Florida and listened to the commentators talking about Tim Tebow and some of the programs he was involved with. He said, “We became instant fans, and my son just followed suit.” Their 7 year old boy was asleep when I met him. I asked his dad, “Is he sleeping?” His dad told me that he had his tonsils taken out a few days ago, and the medicine makes him tired. Shortly before kickoff he woke up. His seat was right next to mine, so I asked him, “You ready for this game?” He looked at me and smiled and said, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” The game didn’t go as planned, and that little boy was in tears as he then was sitting on his mothers lap. I wanted Florida to win just as much as the next gator fan did, but it didn’t work out that way. As I made the hour drive back to where I was staying, I took in what I had heard from that family and realized that Tim Tebow did his job and he did it better than anyone could ever ask for.

Thank you for the many great victories and championships you helped win. Thank you for “The Promise” and the promise that was kept. Thank you for the honor and integrity that you displayed. But most of all thank you for the memories. God Bless.