Tim Tebow to pass on the NFL

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/sports/ncaafootball/12tebow.html?ref=ncaafootball

When Tim Tebow and his family sat down with Florida Coach Urban Meyer on Saturday to talk about the possibility of his entering the N.F.L. draft, the chat did not center on bonus money or his draft position.

Skip to next paragraph
Enlarge This Image

Phil Sandlin/Associated Press
Florida Coach Urban Meyer, right, had reason to smile after Tim Tebow announced he was not entering the N.F.L. draft.



Interviews, insight and analysis from The Times on the competition and culture of college football.

Go to The Quad Blog »

Division I-A
This Week’s Games
2008 B.C.S. Rankings
A.P. Poll | USA Today
Scores: Top 25 | All Div. I-A
Conferences and Teams
Small Colleges
Div. I-AA | Div. II | Div. III
Meyer said that the Tebows relished Tim’s platform as the most recognizable player in college football. Meyer said they discussed how the verse that Tebow wrote on his eye black — John 3:16 — for the Bowl Championship Series title game last week became the most searched item on Google.

So Tebow’s announcement on Sunday that he is returning to Florida for his senior year means more than assuring that the Gators, who could return 19 of 22 starters, will be ranked No. 1 next season. Tebow will continue his unusual role of a college athlete who transcends his sport.

“I think it will be out of control,” Meyer said of Tebow’s returning for his senior year. “I don’t know if I’d put him with Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, but he’s as visible as any college athlete has ever been.”

Along with helping Florida to two national titles and becoming the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, Tebow has carved an equally impressive niche off the field with his missionary and charity work. Meyer said that Tebow’s decision to return to Florida dovetailed with the power to spread his message off the field.

“His whole purpose of playing football and being Tim Tebow is to use it as a platform to spread his faith,” Meyer said in a telephone interview Sunday night.

Meyer said that Tebow talked on the telephone with New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick before making his decision. Scouts and analysts have diverse opinions about Tebow as a pro prospect, ranging from his being a first-round pick to his having to convert to fullback.

“What about H-back?” Tebow joked Thursday, the night Florida won the national title.

Tebow made his announcement Sunday to a crowd of 40,000 gathered to celebrate Florida’s national title. He started to walk off the stage before returning to grab the microphone.

“By the way,” Tebow told the crowd, “let’s do it again.”

The Gators will begin next season not only with the pressure of being heavy favorites to win back-to-back national titles, but they also project as one of the best teams in modern college football history.

Tebow should have a stout cast around him; the only players seriously considering early entry to the N.F.L. are receiver Percy Harvin and linebacker Brandon Spikes. The deadline is Thursday. Regardless of their decisions, Tebow’s return will bring stability at quarterback.

“It means that we’re a very good team coming back,” Meyer said.