Ode to Tebow

It was Robert's turn last week to send out one of the greatest football coaches, so it is my turn this week to send out one of the best college football players. I don't think there has ever been another athlete that has inspired me more...and he's five years younger than me!

I have been asked on numerous occasions during my soccer career as to who is my favorite athlete. I have always had a tough time trying to figure out who that may be because in all the athletes I have watched and aspired to be, in my opinion, there is always one piece missing in their career that I would want to have in mine. Whether it is a male athlete who outruns all records in football, basketball, or baseball, yet lacks passion and faith. Or a female athlete who withstood the tests of time to create a path for players like me to keep playing the game we love, yet lacks leadership and skill. I just never seemed to find that one athlete that inspires me to run on all cylinders. That is until Tim Tebow declared to come to Florida over Alabama. (Yes that's right, I have to put some jab into Alabama as they beat him last week).

When I heard that he was coming to Florida, I was obviously excited as I knew he was a great player, but I also took it with a grain of salt as so many big time recruits never seen to pan out-especially at the quarterback position. But when all the hype began to swirl around Florida and whether or not Tebow and Urban Meyer would be a perfect match, I also heard all about his family and their faith. I heard that the basis of Tebow is not just his athleticism, but it is his faith and love in Jesus. His mom even helped my mom love Jesus! How cool is that! And now that his career is over(and his numbers and heisman trophy speak for themselves), what he has done and who he has become are what inspires me.

To find a man like Tebow who is a great athlete, an incredible leader, extremely passionate about so many things(even enough to cry), and a man of great faith is rare. He has the whole package. His passion inspired me when I had a torn ACL to keep going. His leadership made me review my own and try to get better. His faith in Jesus just made my faith grow stronger because I saw how God can transform a great man into an even greater one. If there is a more well rounded athlete out there, I would like for someone to show me. His inspiration to me, and I know so many other fans, will forever be implanted in my memories and I want to be an inspiration to someone one day like he was to me. Because let's face it...athletes are role models whether you like it or not and to see a man like Tebow take that responsibility and inspire more than just Gator nation is impressive.

I want him to go out with a win. I wanted him to go out with a national championship, but that won't happen. A couple of tears fell with Tebow(yes I'm strange) after the national championship because I wanted him to let his light shine even more to the entire nation. Soon after those tears fell, I did find myself smiling as I realized that his light is shining even greater as the nation got to see his class and faith even in a loss. For those people who wanted to see him lose, they saw a real man cry on tv because he is so confident in himself and his faith. He was able to show people what Jesus can really do in your life just by playing the game he loves and playing it for the right reasons.