Former Homeschooler, Tim Tebow, is One of Sport's Good Guys

Florida's Tebow one of sports world's good guys

Looking back on the sports world in 2007, many disturbing stories come to mind - the Barry Bonds' steroid charges, Michael Vick's dog-fighting conviction, NBA referee Tim Donaghy's betting on games.

It seems sports is going in the wrong direction. Athletes should be good role models for kids, but many of them are cheating and lying. Unfortunately, children want to do exactly what their favorite athlete does. This can be a bad thing, unless their favorite athlete happens to be Tim Tebow.

There are many excellent role models in sports, but no one really compares to Tebow, the University of Florida's starting quarterback.

Many talk about the 6-foot-3-inch, 224-pound sophomore's ability on the field, and that is important. He was the first college player ever to rush for 20 touchdowns along with passing for 20. At the end of the season, he was listed as the second-best quarterback in the nation with 4,181 total yards.

Some of the awards Tebow won in 2007 include the Heisman Trophy, the Associated Press Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien Award. He will likely get better as a player during his next two years of college.

Tebow was home-schooled by his mom along with his four older siblings, two girls and two boys, in the Philippines before moving to Jacksonville, Fla. The Tebows lived on a 44-acre farm, where the three boys were taught a strong work ethic. They repaired fences and took care of gardens and cattle.

Tim Tebow played football for Nease High School [NOTE**In FL homeschoolers can play in their local p.s. sports team ~~ KW<><] where he threw for an incredible 5,552 total yards and 70 touchdowns as a junior. Not only hard-working on the field, he earned a 3.5 grade point average in high school and as a ninth-grader, achieved the required college score on the SAT.

As a senior, he chose to go to the University of Florida.

Even though Tebow has one-of-a-kind talent, it is the way he acts off the football field that sets him apart. If he was a jerk to his teammates and the fans, people would have a hard time cheering for him. Instead, he will be remembered as one of the most respected football players of all time because of the way he acts towards fans.

He has been happy to sign an autograph or take a picture with someone. Tebow has even been asked to sign a baby's head, a nose and a watermelon.

Asked about his priorities, he has responded, "My faith is No. 1. Family is No. 2, then academics. After that is football."

If he is that awesome at football, how strong must his faith be? When talking about his faith, he has said, "Jesus means everything. Without Him I would be nothing. He is the reason why we are here. We are to honor Him in everything we do and say and be thankful for Him. He has given me athletic ability. On the field and off the field, I give all praise, honor and glory to Him. He gave me the athletic ability and He can easily take it away."

If kids look to someone like Tebow as their role model, the future of sports will be bright.

Untitled Comment

02:47, 2008-Jan-28 .. Posted by gabbie427

What an excellent role model.

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo