Tim Tebow
2008 Wuerffel Trophy Recipient
- College: University of Florida
- Major: Family, Youth and Community Sciences
- Position: Quarterback
- Service: Hospital visits, Missions to Philippines, Support and raise awareness of Orphans in Gainsville and Intl.
- Awards: 2006 & 2008 National Champion, 2008 Heisman Recipient, Davey O'Brien Award, Maxwell Award
Tebowās on the field accomplishments include being the only sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy,Ā the Sullivan Award, the Davey OāBrien Award and the Maxwell Award (2007). Also, he is the only player inĀ NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season, ranks first in Floridaās record bookĀ for the most career rushing touchdowns, has thrown for 6,159 yards and 65 touchdowns in three seasons, while having also gained 1,928 yards on the ground with 43 rushing touchdowns, both school records by a Florida quarterback.
āAcademically, he carries a 3.70 GPA, earning the honor of 2007 SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. Tebow was also the second sophomore football player in school history to earn ESPN.com Academic All-American first-team honors in the 2007 season. Thanks to Tebow, Florida became one of only three schools to have a Heisman winner receive Academic All-American honors in the same year.
āTebowās community service is equally impressive. Through his involvement with the University of Floridaās āGoodwill Gatorsā program, he has made many hospital visits and attended numerous community service functions. In addition, Tebow takes it upon himself to schedule his own hospital visits back in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. during his off weekends. He spent his 2008 spring break as a missionary in the Philippines as part of the Bob Tebow Evangelical Association. In April 2008, Tebow organized a flag football tournament to raise awareness for orphans in Gainesville and around the world. Over the next 2 months, he spoke at a business conference in Croatia, was invited by the International Mission Board (IMB) to speak to missionaries in South Asia, and spent time speaking at several prisons across the state of Florida.
āāTo win the SEC championship is a dream come true and then to get this award ā Dannyās award is just great ā itās very humbling,ā said Tebow when notified by Danny Wuerffel that he had won the award.Ā āI want to take this platform that I have by being a quarterback and being at the University of Florida and use that to help people and use that to share my message about helping people and about helping peopleās lives.Ā Thatās the reason I think Iāve been blessed to have the success that Iāve had.ā
āāWithout question, you completely deserve this award and I am so excited to announce thatĀ youāre this yearās winner,ā said Danny Wuerffel to Tebow this morning when notifying him thatĀ he had won the award.Ā Wuerffel then added, āIt was just amazing to see the success that TimĀ has had in all three aspects of this award: academically, athletically and in the community andĀ service to other people. Heās just an amazing young man, an amazing football player. Iām justĀ so incredibly proud to have him (as the winner).Ā Itās funny how things go back and forth. Maybe one day my son will win the Tebow Trophy.ā
āāA leaderās true measurement is if he has the ability to raise the level of play of everybody around him, and Timās as good as anyone Iāve ever been around,ā Florida Coach Urban Meyer said when asked about Tebow winning the award named after Wuerffel.Ā āDanny Wuerffel is obviously a great name around here. I never had the ability to coach Danny, but his history and what people say about him, Iām not sure they ever thought there would be another Danny Wuerffel, but thereās a guy here thatās awful close.Ā Tim will go down as one of the great players ever and one of the great players ever to play the game of football.ā
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