JACKSON, Tenn. — April 20, 2010 — Courage to stand alone, a willingness to serve others and the ability to finish strong are three components to a life of significance and purpose, according to Tim Tebow.
鈥淣o one鈥檚 ever really done anything significant when they鈥檝e been with the pack,鈥� Tebow said April 19 during his keynote address at 51社区鈥檚 second annual Roy L. White Legacy Golf and Gala. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e had to stand alone to do something significant.鈥�
The banquet event drew about 1,700 people to the Carl Perkins Civic Center and completed a day that began with a golf tournament at the Jackson Country Club.
鈥淭he second annual Roy L. White Legacy Golf and Gala was a tremendous event and I believe everyone left encouraged and inspired by Tim Tebow鈥檚 remarks,鈥� said Charles Fowler, Union鈥檚 senior vice president for university relations. 鈥淭he entire Union family is grateful for the ongoing support of Dr. Roy and Martha White to help advance our Christ-centered mission. Last night鈥檚 event would not have been possible without them.鈥�
Tebow, a two-time NCAA national champion as quarterback for the University of Florida and the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, talked about the difficult decision he faced in selecting a college. While he was hoping for a clear word from God about where he was supposed to play college football, that word never came 鈥� and Tebow chose Florida because of his relationship with Gators coach Urban Meyer.
鈥淓ven though God sometimes doesn鈥檛 show you, you have to trust in him 鈥� because he鈥檚 the only one that knew that Florida was the right place for me,鈥� Tebow said. 鈥淢e just trusting in him and not even knowing his plan, that鈥檚 what got me to the right place. That鈥檚 what led me to Florida, and it truly was a blessing.鈥�
Tebow鈥檚 career will head in a new direction on Thursday, when he is expected to be chosen in the NFL draft. Tebow said playing in the NFL has been his dream since he was 6 years old.
鈥淛ust like high school to college, I don鈥檛 know where the next step leads for me,鈥� Tebow said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what the future folds. But you know what gives me peace and comfort, even though I don鈥檛 know what the future holds? I know who holds my future, and that鈥檚 what gives me peace.鈥�
Tebow told about the SEC championship game in 2008 when Florida trailed Alabama by three points in the fourth quarter. He gathered his offense and challenged his teammates to finish well. The Gators came from behind to win the game and went on to defeat Oklahoma for the national title.
At the end of that national title game was a moment that Tebow calls one of the greatest moments of his athletic career. As he was walking to the sideline, Meyer hugged him and said, 鈥淭immy, great job. That-a-boy. You finished strong.鈥�
That moment was more special than winning the Heisman or winning the national title, Tebow said, because it was an intimate moment with a coach who was a father-figure to him.
鈥淢y greatest goal in my life is that when I鈥檓 in heaven and I鈥檓 standing before Jesus Christ, he opens up his arms, and he walks up to me, and he gives me a hug, and he says, 鈥楾immy, great job. You finished. That-a-boy.鈥�
鈥淟et me ask you that question,鈥� Tebow told the audience. 鈥淚s Jesus going to say to you, 鈥榃ell done, my good and faithful servant鈥�?鈥�
In a question-and-answer session following his speech, Tebow addressed such issues as the nationwide reaction to the Super Bowl ad from Focus on the Family (鈥淚t was a God story all the way,鈥� Tebow said), how he can be a good steward of the influence he has (Tebow said football is a means to the end of telling people about Jesus), his most difficult moment at Florida (the loss to Alabama in the 2009 SEC title game) and the new NCAA rule that prohibits players from wearing messages in their eye black (he understands the decision but thinks it鈥檚 unfortunate that players won鈥檛 have the ability to share things that are important to them).
At the golf tournament, the team of Chris Tursky, Brad Tursky, Jimmy Kostaroff and Roger Cook took first place and won the grand prize of a golf trip for four to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.