Been to quite a few Pro Days over the years and it is pretty straightforward, college players showing off their skills to NFL scouts and coaches. Enter Tim Tebow and you have a circus. You have countless head coaches. You have a semi-packed stadium. You have headlines on ESPN for several segments. You also have a catchphrase…….Tim Tebow 2.0.
The Heisman winner was out to show all the haters that he can throw the football with a revamped throwing style that looked pretty darn good. When you hear the zing of that ball hitting the hands of receivers you know he has a cannon. Some team is gonna get a proven winner.
For me it was the culmination of 4 years of chasing him around on and off the field. We had a fitting ending (at least in my eyes). After his workout he started walking in my direction and we made eye contact. I said “one last victory lap?” and he said something along the lines of “let’s do it”.
The two of us made our way to the loving fans behind the confines of the chain linked bench area. Just me and him as none of the other photogs made it in. It was funny in that I had to continuously move the benches out of the way so we could both make it through. Of course I was shooting the whole time.
There was no hug goodbye or even an acknowledgment. I am a media guy at heart and would never feel comfortable with that anyways. Regardless, I have chased him for years, had portrait sessions together and even spent a day in a youth prison while he preached. Not to be a homer but this guy is as class an act as you could ever meet. In a world of ego-driven, money hungry athletes, this guy is someone everybody could root for.
And if he gets drafted by the Jax Jaguars…….well I have field passes for them as well.
