No freshman or sophomore had ever won college football’s coveted Heisman Trophy. That changed this year when University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (a sophomore) stepped to the platform to accept this prestigious award. Not bad for someone who considers football a “distant fourth” on his list of priorities.

Tebow told a national television audience last Dec. 8 that, for him, football comes after God, family, and academics.

“I’d just like to first start off by thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave me the ability to play football and gave me a great family and a support group and great coaches and everything around me,” Tebow said at the award ceremony.

Later in the ceremony, Tebow thanked God again. “I am fortunate for a lot of things. God has truly blessed me, …” he said. “I’m just thankful and this is such an honor and I am so happy to be here.”

The son of missionaries to the Philippines, his family calls Tebow a “miracle baby.” His mother, Pam, declined the advice of a doctor to get an abortion after she became seriously ill and dehydrated when she was pregnant with him.

Tim was home–schooled but allowed to play high school football because of a Florida law.

Tebow helped Florida win a national title last season as a backup quarterback. This season, he became the first major college player to run for at least 20 touchdowns and throw 20 touchdown passes in the same season.

In a profile that ran along with the Heisman Trophy presentation, Tebow said he wants people to see Christ in him.

“Through everything that I do in football, in school, in living, I want people to see [Him] in me,” Tebow said. “I don’t want to be just another guy who’s walking down the street. I want, when people see me, they say, ‘Hey, there’s something different about this guy, and that’s because he has a relationship with Jesus Christ.’ ”

—Portions from the Baptist Press

“Not Ashamed of the Gospel” is a new column that will run periodically in Good News! It will chronicle athletes, celebrities, movie stars, and others who publicly give glory to Jesus Christ in an increasingly secular world. If you see or hear someone who should be included, let us know.