College Sports

HOOVER — Move over Alabama and Nick Saban.

There's a new rock star in town.

Florida's do-everything, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow boasted a hoard of fans to rival those typically reserved for all things Alabama. The lobby of The Wynfrey Hotel, typically shaded crimson during the Southeastern Conference Media Days, temporarily took on a different hue at Wednesday's 2008 kickoff.

Blue and orange prevailed as fans — about 100 strong — tried to get autographs from or catch a glimpse of the junior quarterback. The Heisman Trophy made its way around on Wednesday as well, courtesy of SEC corporate sponsor Nissan. Teased about it by the media, Tebow said he wasn't aware it was here.

"It's here?" Tebow said when asked about it. "That might be the university's trophy. I think ours is still in my house in Jacksonville. I don't think they moved it."

The circus continued inside the interview area, with journalists just as fascinated by the reigning Heisman winner who spent his free time doing missionary work in the Philippines, as well as Croatia and Thailand.

Florida coach Urban Meyer was asked many questions about Tebow, including how he handled Tebow having more popularity.

"How do I feel? I loved it when I was getting pushed in the back by security in Times Square," Meyer said. "They thought I was like hanging around Tim trying to get an autograph or something. I hate to say this: I was. I wanted to get a Christmas present for my son.

"He deserves it. He's a helluva guy."

Tebow's eye-popping numbers and accomplishments have lifted him high onto a pedestal. Tebow became the only sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, as well as the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards. He also received first-team All-America honors and was the SEC's offensive player of the year.

Despite the loftiness of his position, Tebow comes across as appreciative and humble in nature, the antithesis of a rock star. Tebow, who is majoring in family, youth and community sciences, spent all his free time in the offseason on the missionary trips.

"All three of those places, I got to do a lot of very neat things: Preaching in prisons, in schools, in hospitals, in market places," Tebow said. "I'm sure I'll get asked about the circumcisions, helping perform surgeries over there. But it was a great experience for me. It's something I enjoyed doing, I love doing. It's something I'm very passionate about." Tebow says he's even more passionate about his missionary work and touching other individuals than he is about playing football. He said there are times he'd like more rest, but then he thinks about what he wants to do.

"I want to do those things because those things are more important than playing football for me," Tebow said. "Going and speaking in a prison is more important to me. Going to speak to a youth organization is more important to me than winning or playing a game.

"If I can change a kid's life for the better, that's much more important to me than going out there and beating Georgia or Florida State or whatever team it is. That's very special to me, but it doesn't come close to having the ability to put a smile on a kid's face."

Tebow's popularity has grown to the point that he doesn't spend much time at the mall or Wal-Mart in Gainesville, Fla.

"There's been some interesting experiences, some inappropriate was, well, that I can't really mention," Tebow said. "There have been a handful of them that you kind of just got to prepare yourself for and get used to 'cause some people are willing to do anything."

That's how it goes for rock stars.