Tebow's father delivers message on life, not football

AIKEN --- Tuesday night's quarterly meeting of the Aiken Baptist Association's men's ministry came in the heart of South Carolina Gamecock and Clemson Tiger country.

But the approximately 300 men who gathered at Millbrook Baptist Church opened their arms and hearts to a Florida man, Bob Tebow, the father of Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner.

The full-time missionary spoke of leadership and shared the gospel in the hour-and-a-half service.

He earned the respect of a congregation of men who valued his spiritual message more than his college football affiliation.

"I respect him for the individual he is and as someone who raised a family and a son with that talent and composure," Graniteville resident Ed Reed, a self-proclaimed South Carolina fan, said. "Despite what team he plays for, you've got to respect him."

Tebow, who arrived in Aiken Monday evening and will leave the area today, said he often encounters fans of rival college football teams on the road but rarely hears anything negative from them.

Tim Tebow and his Gator teammates have recently dominated most of their Southeastern Conference opponents, but Bob Tebow said the fans he meets don't dwell on wins and losses.

"I walked in today and somebody grabbed me and said they're proud of the way Timmy handles himself," Tebow said.

"I know 98 percent of everybody here isn't a Florida fan, but we've converted a few."

But Bob Tebow's main message didn't center on his son's bright future or anything else to do with football.

He instead spoke of leadership and Godly living. He also encouraged the men to finish their life strong and illustrated that with a story from his son's first days at Florida.

"The coaches called me after two weeks," he said. "They told me, 'Timmy has changed the work ethic of our team. He outworked everybody else, and everybody rose to that level.' "

Bob Tebow said his son reminded his teammates of that increased work ethic throughout the season and used it as a motivating factor in the fourth quarter of games.

"You may have tossed away the first quarter of your life," Bob Tebow said. "You may have thrown the second quarter in the garbage. But the fact that you have breath right now means you can finish strong."

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.