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Even off the field, Tim Tebow finds TV spotlight

 
Tim Tebow answers a question during a interview on the set of ESPN's SEC Network in Charlotte, N.C.  [AP photo]
Tim Tebow answers a question during a interview on the set of ESPN's SEC Network in Charlotte, N.C. [AP photo]
Published Sept. 18, 2014

GAINESVILLE — It's hard to imagine Tim Tebow's public profile being elevated any more than it was during his days as a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Florida or during his two-year NFL career.

But spend a little time with him on or around the set of the new SEC Network traveling Saturday morning college football show, SEC Nation, and you realize he might be becoming an even bigger star.

Last week Tebow and his colleagues broadcast live from the UF campus. Fans lined the area around the set, screaming and waiting patiently in 90-degree temperatures, hoping for a selfie or just any interaction with Tebow.

It's like traveling with a rock star, his colleagues say.

"When we went to Auburn (two weeks ago), we thought we needed extra security for (radio personality and network analyst) Paul (Finebaum), but we found out we needed extra security for Tim," said Joe Tessitore, the host of SEC Nation. "We had our production meeting on Friday on the Auburn campus student union, and we had hundreds of co-eds waiting outside our meeting within two hours, and we needed police to get us out of our meeting."

It most likely will be the same this weekend when SEC Nation broadcasts live from Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the matchup between No. 3 Alabama and unranked Florida.

Tebow, 27, is in a suit and tie pouring over game notes these days, but he is also learning to navigate the balance between being analytical and still loving his Gators.

"I'll always be a Gator fan, but when you are live on the show, you take that away and you look at the facts," he said. "And you look at your ability to analyze tape and analyze film. If I think (the Gators) are going to win, I'll say it. If I think they are going to lose, I'll say that as well. I think you take being a fan out of it for a little while."

Tessitore said Tebow has worked as hard at his new television job as he did as a player, saying the former quarterback and co-host Marcus Spears, a former LSU and NFL defensive tackle, are "the guys earliest in their career that I've been most impressed with just getting it." Tebow is a "megastar" who also will "be a star broadcaster," Tessitore said.

Spears said he and Tebow had an instant chemistry.

"It's a unique opportunity for us," Spears said. "I think it touches him more to be in this culture because these are the people that saw him take this ascent and rise up. So it's definitely fun to watch him, watch people's reactions and to be around the culture which raised both of us."

Beginning this week, Tebow's television duties have expanded. He joined ABC's Good Morning America as a correspondent, reporting inspirational stories for a segment called "Motivate Me Monday."

"It's an opportunity to show my heart and be who I am, too … someone who likes to make a brighter day in people's lives," he said.

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Whether Tebow will again play in the NFL remains to be seen. He hasn't thrown an NFL pass since 2012. When asked how long it would take him to get ready if a team called, he smiled and said "not long."

But for now he's content to hone his broadcast skills and views every day "as an opportunity to count your blessings."

Tebow was the MVP in Florida's 31-20 win over Alabama in the 2008 SEC Championship Game and was on the losing end of the 32-13 title game in 2009. He believes Saturday's game between the teams is one in which each has something to prove.

"I think it's going to be a great game in an awesome environment, and we're going to be there to share it with everybody," Tebow said. "And that's going to be really fun."

Contact Antonya English at aenglish@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3389. Follow @TBTimes_Gators.