Tebow Time Has Come

Copyright 2010 (c) by Jeffreay Beall

There have been few stories larger in football this year than the emergence of Bronco’s quarterback Tim Tebow as a superstar and sports icon. In his second year, the ex-Florida Gator has made waves throughout the league with not only his unconventional playing style but also his conduct on and off the field.

Since being selected 25th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, Tebow has received little credit from football analysts and experts. The consensus on Tebow was that his throwing motion was long and awkward, and few viewed him as a prolific enough passer to be successful in the NFL.

Despite these criticisms, Tebow was granted the starting job for the Denver Broncos after the team’s disappointing 1-4 start to the 2011 season. Since becoming the starter, he has not looked back. In nine starts this season, Tebow holds a 7-2 record, highlighted by four consecutive come-from-behind wins.

However, Tebow’s breathtaking run has been anything but beautiful. In fact, his statistics would suggest that he is far from being among the upper class quarterbacks; his passer rating ranks him as 14th in the league. The play of the former Heisman winner, consisting of few passing attempts and a variety of option-style running plays, has done little to impress his skeptics.

Yet there is one statistic of Tebow’s that continues to astound his fans and doubters alike: his record. Somehow, even despite his awkward mechanics and unconventional style, he manages to win football games. Regularly struggling throughout the early stages of the game, Tebow has time and time again found a way to pull it together and perform late in games.

“When everything breaks down, he makes plays, and when all hope is lost, he finds ways to pull it out,” FAHS Senior Colton Greiss said.

His late-game statistics seem to personify a completely different player than when compared to his full-game statistics. For example, Tebow has thrown for more yards in fourth quarters this year than he has in quarters one through three combined. It is for this reason that late game situations for Denver have taken on a definitive name: Tebow Time.

Aside from his remarkable style of quarterbacking, another source of controversy surrounding Tim Tebow is the outward displaying of his religion. Tebow, a devout Christian, has been known for his religious displays even since his days playing college football. He can be seen before, during, and after each game kneeling in prayer, a now popular display that has taken on the title of “Tebowing.” In addition, Tebow is quick to thank God in each post-game interview, citing the Lord as his source of strength and motivation.

Some feel that Tebow’s outward Christianity and strong beliefs make him an outstanding role model in a league packed with greedy superstars.

“His open spirituality helps him make a connection to those he plays with and for. I think that his faith in the lord gives him faith in himself, which helps him motivate himself and his teammates to win games,” senior Zach Mourar said.

Many others disagree and are turned off to Tebow because of his very clear expression of his beliefs. These people are likely to be found rooting against number 15 and are often the first to criticize the second-year quarterback.

Though Tim Tebow will likely never be a Hall of Fame quarterback or a Super Bowl-winning quarterback for that matter, he has certainly made his impact on professional football. Beyond challenging the stereotypical mold for an NFL quarterback, Tebow has become a pioneer for the association of religion and professional sports. Because there is no clear explanation as to why Tim Tebow has enjoyed success in the NFL, we’ll just have to stick to a simple, concise reason for the time being: he just wins.