Anger Against Tim Tebo May Be Faith Based

Why is it that many people in the sports media are upset with Tim Tebo. What's not to like about him? He was a great quarterback in the SEC, he won the Heisman Trophy, and he led the Florida Gators to two national titles. On top of all that, he spends the off season doing charitable Christian mission work in the Philippines. He has never broken the law, unlike his teammate Carlos Dunlap. He's a great person!

Much a do about nothing was made of his crying on national television after losing the SEC Championship to Alabama. So what! He's emotional. He has a great amount of passion for winning. We all want our college and pro athletes to have that . He's not a wimp, and he is not afraid to get into a teammate's face and let him know he isn't getting the job done and he's hurting the team. He embodies everything we want our athletes to be: tough and gritty on the field, but a nice guy with good morals off the field. You cant ask for more than what you get with Tim Tebo.

So why does Tim Tebo rub some in the media the wrong way? I'm wondering if it's because of his Christian faith. He was criticized for wearing Bible verse titles above his eyes. No one criticizes these athletes who wear tattoos of dragons, skulls and other strange things. Some have suggested that Tim Tebo isn't being real. I don't think that's the case. He wears his emotions on his sleeves and he does it at the proper time, nothing wrong with that. He has the heart of Christ for the unfortunate. That's why he helps his missionary parents over in the Philippines during the off season. Why else would he do that? He's a lot like another former University of Florida QB, Danny Wuerffel. Both are Christians and both are involved in charitable missionary work.

It's nothing new that most in the media are hostile to the Christian message. Perhaps they are waiting for Tebo to pull a Jim Baker or Jimmy Swagger. They want to see him fall from grace. He doesn't come across as arrogant and haughty, like a lot of athletes do. If you had a daughter, Tebo would be the kind of guy you would want your daughter to marry. He's a leader, but a leader with humility. There are those who don't think he can play quarterback in the NFL because he has too slow of a delivery. That's interesting. If I recall, several NFL people thought current San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers' side arm delivery of the football would keep him from succeeding in the NFL. Other than getting his team to a Super Bowl, Rivers has been very successful.

I think Tebo can correct that slow, wind up delivery that he has. I believe he can work on getting rid of the ball quicker. If he doesn't play quarterback, he has the size and body type to be a Tight End or a wide receiver like former Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Out Matt Jones. He certainly would be great on Special Teams. There is a place somewhere for Tebo in the NFL.

Perhaps those who criticize him do so because, deep down, they want what he has. They would like to be as good as him but know they cant be and they are jealous. It's understandable if you are an Alabama fan, a Tennessee fan or a Georgia fan, like I am. We root against the Gators know matter who plays QB, but I'm rooting like heck for Tebo to succeed at the next level. He's worked hard to get where he is, and I don't begrudge him for that. What I like about him most is that he doesn't let all of his success get to his head. As I mentioned earlier, he is humble and not full of himself. He is a fiery competitor and it's ok to be a fiery competitor and be a Christian. We Christians (I am one) do strive, and should always strive, to do their very best to honor our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tebo reminds me of another former Christian athlete: former L.A. Dodgers Pitcher Orel Herscheiser. Hersch was a fiery competitor on the mound, but was humble and gave glory to God for his successes. That is what Tim Tebo does.

We complain when athletes break the law or cheat on their spouses. We excoriate them. Why are people complaining about a great athlete who does what is right. Why should they want him to fail. Tim, I wish you all the best whether you play in the NFL or not. You are the proper model of what an athlete should be, striving to be the best, but doing it with humility.