Posted: December 13, 2011  David Lamm

Those of us who live on the First Coast take great pride that Tim Tebow is one of us. To say the First Coast has an epidemic of “Tebowmania” is an understatement. To call him our “Favorite Son” is as much a fact as the sun rising in the East. But, incredibly, Tim has become much more than a product of the First Coast. “Tebowmania” is truly nationwide. He’s become America’s “Favorite Son”. He has become the face and the story of America’s game, the NFL.

Sure, the Green Bay Packers are working on perfection, but they take a backseat to Tebow. Obviously America’s love for Tebow is based on his incredible athletic exploits, but the roots of that love go much deeper. The silent majority now has a hero who is the epitome of the term ‘role model’. When you combine his success on the football with his religious conviction, his humility, his caring, his sharing and his charisma, you have the likes of someone truly special. It would be naïve to think we’d even know much about Tebow if he weren’t a football player. He became a local celebrity at Nease High, becoming a blue chip recruit while leading his team to a state title and setting state passing and touchdown records. He thrilled Gator Nation when he chose Florida over Alabama, and then played a key role as a freshman when Florida won the national championship. His fame went nationwide when he won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. His name entered the debate as the greatest college player of all time when he quarterbacked the Gators to another national title as a junior.

A 13-1 record and publicly telling the nation he was a virgin as a senior only added to his legacy. Even the incredible controversy surrounding whether or not his game would translate to the pro game added to his iconic status. A rookie season spent mostly on the Denver Broncos’ bench made him the most talked about, loved and disliked football player on the planet. His demotion to third string before this season, his second, made big national news. When he was finally named as the Broncos’ starting quarterback – after many Broncos lobbied for him — critics literally screamed he was nothing more than a run-of-the-mill fullback trying to play quarterback. Since then Tebow has put up poor statistics but helped the Broncos go 7-1. Five times he has led them on fourth quarter comebacks. It has been one near miracle after another. The number of his critics has diminished, but everyone, save for his strongest supporters, remain cautious about buying into his continued success. Meanwhile, Tebow has remained the same humble, loving man, never lashing out at his critics, crediting his teammates and praising the Lord. He seems too good to be true.

My advice to his critics, regardless of where they live, who moan about hearing, seeing and reading too much about him is this: prepare yourself. Chances are you haven’t heard, seen and read anything yet compared with what’s to come.

 
Sports bring out the best and the worst of the human condition. It has been said that pressure builds a person’s character. I submit that pressure doesn’t build the character of a person as much as it reveals it.  In this particular instance this fight revealed the ugliness of humanity. At the end of the day, I agree with Coach Cronin of Cincinnati….”These guys are good people, who for a few seconds made some really bad decisions.” Now I know for a certainty that there isn’t anyone reading this who has made a bad decision. We’re all perfect people who have never regretted making a bad choice. Ok, maybe not. Probably not. Ok…NOT!
 
Here’s a context to consider. On the night of this fight between Cincinnati and Xavier, there were approximately another 340 Division I schools who didn’t have a fight. Another 265 Division II schools who didn’t hold a slugfest, and about another 325 Division III schools who found it more appealing to play a game rather than to stage a throw down.
 
In any endeavor involving people, especially young people, things will sometimes go awry. It is best left up to the adults and coaches of these two schools to sort this mess out. Yes, let everyone bemoan the fall of Western Civilization in their condemnations of the punishments meted out. I say let’s see how things play out from here. If I’m any judge of basketball coaches, my guess is they will make these young men learn from their mistake and make them regret ever having crossed this line of decorum. One thing about coaches that I know is this - most of them use any and all situations as a learning tool. This is a tool that will keep on giving for Cincinnati and Xavier’s coaching staffs.
 
Submitted by:
 
Joe O’Neill

Posted by Joe O’Neill

All I’m going to say on this…. is that Tebow isn’t doing it alone. Without a stolid defense and guys that make plays on offense, he doesn’t accomplish anything. It’s his character, more than anything, that’s carrying this team. Guys will line up behind him.
 
In the meantime, Coach John Fox has done it using the proverbial “smoke and mirrors” approach. Tebow does not yet possess the NFL QB style of play. He’s learning, no question, but Fox had to come up with something “right now” that would save his job and make them competitive. The fact he resorted to an Option Offense is a sign of clear desperation. The fact the Option isn’t viable in the NFL, and therefore, isn’t prepared for, speaks volumes. Someone please tell me another QB who could run this and not get absolutely killed? Tom Brady? Aaron Rodgers? How about Tony Romo?  Tebow is the only guy with the body to do what he’s doing. How long is the question????
 
In seven starts Tebow has learned enough about the drop back passing game that opposing defenses now have to prepare for the occasional pass from the pocket. I agree with Kent….God is using Tebow to confound the “experts.”
 
However, the truth is still the truth…he isn’t doing this by himself. And to give him all the credit is to diminish the team that plays with him.
 
I’m sorry, I know this sounds arrogant, and probably is….. so be it. Having coached football and been around some of the best collegiate minds such as Jimmy Johnson, I think I know a little something of where I speak. I’ll be honest with you guys….I get really pissed off at people who are “fans” and pseudo football coaches and make all these crazy stupid statements. They don’t know anything but from a fan’s perspective and are talking out of their asses.  They make all these wild assertions, “It’s Tebow Time!” , like Tebow is the only guy out there who determines what happens. Someone needs to ask Tebow if it’s just him. My guess is he would say, “NO. ” For instance, good thing Dumerville was at the bottom of the pile to recover the fumble yesterday. Without his contribution, Denver most likely loses.
 
Most people have never played football, much less coached it. Among the radio set and some TV, like Jim Rome, Tebow is admired by those who fit this description. It’s among the announcers who’ve played in the NFL,  who have been his biggest critics. It’s the novices that are enthralled with Tebow. I believe it feeds the underdog desire we all have to pull for the guy who goes against long odds. I get it, ok? People live vicariously through their heroes.  Most people don’t even know what it is like to play any sport beyond high school. So, they attach their emotions to someone they can identify with. It still doesn’t change the fact of their ignorance about why things are happening.
 
Quarterbacks receive way too much credit, and too much blame. I’m from the school of, “If a player does something well, WE do something well.”  Personally, I’m happy for Tim Tebow. I wish him the best.  Eventually, this current phenomena will run its course. Tebow will improve and adapt…or the NFL defenses will catch up with him. In the meantime, everyone better hope Denver’s defense continues to play well. The day that goes caddywampus is the day Denver’s run comes to an end.

Submitted by Joe O’Neill

Every year for the past 111 years two teams rife with history and tradition line up for a not-so-friendly game of football. This year’s edition, the 112th, takes place this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS. The annual Army, Navy Football Game is the stuff of legend, and it’s coming straight at you this weekend.
 
Currently, Navy leads the series 55-49, with 7 ties between the two programs. Each school regards any tie game as a loss and a stain on its own record. It is a game steeped in rivalry and competitveness that plays itself out in campus skits and parodies that are good naturedly sent back and forth between Mids and Cadets by virtue of the internet, email, and video’s. You can check many of these out yourself by going to “You Tube” and searching for Army, Navy skits or parodies.
 
The thing that makes this a truly American classic is that, ultimately, both of these schools fight together against our nation’s enemies. But, at least once a year, for three hours, on a Saturday, come what will, the military academy world, and much of our nation’s armed forces, stop just long enough to watch two teams lock in the fiercest of rivalries on a football gridiron. Many of our sailors and soldiers watch intently, or secretly listen through an earwig, or get updates sent to their duty posts, while we here at home enjoy the peace and sanctity of a quiet saturday afternoon, tailgating, prepping for a party, and enjoying an American pastime. All the while we are doing this, some of America’s finest are standing watch over us, making sure our lives are not disturbed. It’s almost as if they say to us, “Go ahead, America, enjoy the game. We got you covered.”
 
To be a Cadet or a Mid is the highest of honors that comes with a very high price tag. Years of prepping in school, studying, playing sports, and serving your local community.  Rigorous entrance examinations of tests, questionaires, interviews, essays,  letters of recommendation, and the vetting of a senator’s  or congressional representative’s select committee. In 2010 alone, over 24,000 applicants to Navy waited to see if they were in the lucky 1,300 chosen by way of a coveted “Appointment”.
 
What makes a young man or woman vie so hard for the right to go to a school of extreme challenges academically, personally, professionally, and militarily? At Navy, there is a popular saying, “Everyone wants to say they’re from the Naval Academy, not in the Academy.”  Such is the stress and pressure of the work and expectations that go with an appointment to Army or Navy. Weekly, on a regular basis, it is not uncommon for Mids or Cadets to get to bed at one or two in the morning and be up at 5:30 a.m. getting ready for a new day. After four years of this “grind” then each Cadet or Mid must serve another five year commitment. With this commitment comes the virtual certainty, in this era, of seeing overseas duty and possible combat.
 
One of the great traditions that this game embodies is the comaraderie and respect that exists between these two storied programs. The most enduring tradition is that of the post-game alma maters. After both teams spend their competitive time trying their best to disembowel the other, they each do homage and honor to the opponent’s school by walking together to each team’s student body and singing that school’s alma mater together. In the 2009 game, at the game’s conclusion, there was a poignant instance of where an active duty Navy Admiral went down onto the field and among the Army team and praised and encouraged their players after an extremely hard fought game.
 
Americans should be proud of their servicemen and women. We should honor all those who serve. However, when Saturday rolls around, and if you dare take the time to watch the game, know that you’re looking at the “Tip of the Spear” of America’s finest young people. They chose a different path in life, a path of, as West Point proclaims,  “Duty, Honor, Country.” All of these young men and women are enlisting in the cause of America, to serve her as our next generation of leaders who stand between us and those who would deprive us of our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.  Saturday’s game will produce another winner and loser, but, Americans are the true recipients of the blessing of having a nation of young warriors who represent the best of what America is all about.