Tebow; the Ultimate Underdog...

There are those who seem to have the respect of all of those around them right from the outset.  They have all of the right abilities, determination, and leadership qualities that they need to climb to the top of their craft, and doing so seems like a natural ascension.  Regarding football, this was the case for Tim Tebow.  From pee-wee football, through Middle School and High School, all the way up to the most prestigious Football University in his home state, Tebow embodied success.  He won at every level and eventually won the respect and adoration of everyone who ever saw him play.  By the time he left the University of Florida he had captured two National titles, a Heisman Trophy, and the attention of the whole country.  But no one knew what would come next.

Every sports fan knows who Tim Tebow is.  Droves of college football fans couldn’t stand him when he was at Florida, while countless others crossed school and conference (and maybe even religious) allegiances to root for the guy.  But when the NFL draft came around last year after Tebow’s final season in college, everyone could agree on one thing.  He didn’t stand a chance in the Pros. 

The opinions came early and often from everywhere.  Tebow’s success and leadership came from an intense passion.  He possessed an incredible set of intangibles and a determination that was unrivaled perhaps in college football history, but in the NFL those attributes just wouldn’t translate.  In the history of the league there had never been a player like him that any “expert” could relate him to.  There was no way to predict a path for him.  He was a running quarterback who relied on his strength and power, over any type of passing accuracy.  But the only successful “running” quarterbacks the league had ever seen had been super fast and agile athletes who could also much more ably sling the ball downfield.  Tebow, on the other hand, appeared more like the Fullbacks of old , that don’t even really exist in the league anymore, than any quarterback (Tom Rathman, John Riggins anyone?) but ultimately his inferior passing skills and the much larger size of defensive players he would face sealed the expectation for his NFL career.  The verdict was in.  Tebow was a great kid, and one of the best college football players of all time, but he had no future in Football.   

For the first time in his life he was an underdog. 

As a Florida Gator I am biased when it comes to Tim Tebow.  When he was a true freshman he played a bizarre, but extremely important role on a National Championship team as a 3^rd or 4^th down quarterback.  Every now and then he would jump under center to run for short yardage (and almost always pick it up.)  The defenses knew he was going to run it, but somehow he always seemed to get the yardage the team needed.  I’d never seen anything like it.  I’d never seen football even played that way before.  Normally if you wanted to run it you’d hand it to a runningback right?  But with Tebow in there running the option, he could keep it, pitch it, pass for short yardage, or even jump pass it (like a basketball move) which I don’t think anyone had ever seen.  Right from the beginning you could tell that there was something different about this kid.  And over the next four years, the Gators invented an offense around his skill set, and had great success in the process.  But even I had huge reservations about Tebow having any type of NFL career.  It just seemed impossible.  So I was shocked when I saw that the Denver Broncos took him in the first round.  Beyond shocked really.  I thought they had made a huge mistake. 

The fans didn’t feel that way though.  His Number 15 became one of the highest selling NFL jerseys overnight.  I was shocked to see it last year, when I was able to visit the Bronco’s practice facility during training camp.  Tebow Jerseys were everywhere!  Maybe even half of the fans there.  Whole families were wearing number 15.  He hadn’t even played a single down for the team!  And he was projected to be the third string quarterback.  What in the world was going on? 

The fans sensed that none of that negative stuff mattered, and that all of the doubters would just make him stronger.  After years of mediocrity in Denver, maybe they needed Tebow.  Beyond football, maybe they needed something to believe in.  In a way, Tebow became the ultimate underdog, and it endeared him to that fan base in a way that I never expected.  It seemed like nobody else believed in him, and that included team management.  Shortly after Tebow was drafted, former Bronco great (and all-time great passer) John Elway took over as General Manager, and guess what…  Elway never would have drafed Tebow.  As quarterbacks they represent polar opposites.  Tebow couldn’t avoid the scrutiny even in his own clubhouse, and it looked like he would never even get on the field.

So the fans put up a billboard.  No seriously.  They bought time on a giant billboard and advertised their plea for Bronco’s management to start Tebow.  They brought signs to the stadium.  They chanted his name.  They called into radio shows and begged the team to trade starting quarterback Kyle Orton and start Tebow.  Never before in NFL history had a team been in this position before.  It was a daily question.  When would Tebow start?  How long can management anger the fans?  Will they have to start him to avoid an all out fan boycott?  It was like the film Rudy, but in real life.  Crazy stuff. 

Eventually toward the end of the season, the Broncos were so bad that it didn’t matter anymore, and management gave in.  They might as well give the rookie some time.  And he did well; inspiring the players around him with his contagious enthusiasm and leading the team back for a couple of meaningless victories.  But the doubters were still there in full force.  No one thought he could be a full time quarterback in the league, and coming into this year the jury was still out.  Once again he would not be the starter.  He would have to earn it.  And of course, he did. 

After becoming the starter 5 weeks ago, Tebow is 4-1 as the Broncos Quarterback this season.  7-2 in his career.  Perpetuating the notion that in spite of his offensive “limitations” he is somehow able to win.  There can be no statistic to verify this, but somehow… the guy just wins.  Even Elway has to admit that.  And the Bronco fans Love it!  But of course Tebow’s future is still uncertain.  Eventually, NFL defenses will adjust and it will be get harder and harder for him to do the things he’s most comfortable doing.  Can he overcome it?  Can he adapt his game too?  Can he defy the enormous odds he faced in regards to succeeding in the NFL?  These are the great questions, and ultimately only time will tell.  But in the meantime, how can you root against him?

Is it possible?

He’s become the ultimate underdog.  

And we love this stuff.   

Thanks for reading!