Q&A With Tim Tebow In NYC

By Mark Zavodnyik

Tim Tebow was awarded the William V. Campbell Trophy Tuesday night in New York.

The trophy is sponsored by the National Football Foundation and presented annually to the “individual as the absolute best in the country for his academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.”

Prior to the award ceremony and dinner, Tebow spoke with the media on a wide range of topics, including the Heisman Trophy, the SEC Championship Game, and his favorite football memories at the University of Florida.

-On his Heisman chances: “I think there’s a lot of great candidates,” Tebow said. “It would be tough based on that last game, that last loss [against Alabama]. It would be tough, probably a long shot. It’s just an honor that I am a finalist and that I have an opportunity [to win].”

-On getting over Saturday’s loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game: “I don’t know that I will necessarily be over it…it’s still gonna hurt,” Tebow said. “It is still something that we wanted, a dream for us. It’s how you want to go out, how you want to finish things. So yeah, it’s gonna hurt.

“But I think we are moving on and bouncing back, using it as motivation in this next game and in the next steps that I’m going to take in my life,” Tebow said.

-On what sets Alabama’s defense apart: “Well number one, their coaching. Their coaching is phenomenal,” Tebow said. “They put themselves in great positions to make plays and they game-plan what you do well and what they are going try and take away.

“And then they have great players,” Tebow added. “They have some of the best players in college football. I respect so many guys on their team. From Rolando McClain to [Terrence] Mount Cody…all of those guys. Especially Rolando McClain, just him as a person and as a player. I respect him as much as anybody I’ve played against in college football in my career.”

-On the possibility of winning the Campbell Trophy, frequently called the “Academic Heisman”: “This award means so much because it's not just how you play on the field, it's not just what you do in the classroom, but it's what you do as a leader and someone who is going to serve your community,” Tebow said.

-On what position he pictures himself playing in the NFL: “Hopefully quarterback, that’s my goal. Ever since I was very young I wanted to be a quarterback and I just want to have an on opportunity and a chance to do that, that’s all I can ask for,” Tebow said. “My goal is to be a quarterback.”

-Favorite memories as a Gator:

“Obviously beating Alabama in the SEC Championship [2008]…coming back in the fourth quarter to beat them was fun,” Tebow said.

“All the rivalry games, really. If you count Alabama as a rival, we lost two games in our career versus rivals and that’s pretty special. We didn’t lose to Tennessee or FSU [Florida State], and we only lost once to Georgia and that’s pretty special,” Tebow said.

“I think that’s one of the coolest things that I’ll take away from my time at the University of Florida because honestly, as a Gator fan you grow up and every year it’s just, ‘OK, if we beat FSU, it’s a good year…if we beat Georgia and Tennessee it’s a good year, regardless of what happens.’ So that was pretty cool for me to be able to do that.”

Photos Courtesy of The National Football Foundation

On Location: Scholar Athlete ZaVious Robbins

By Mark J. Zavodnyik

Hardin-Simmons University wide receiver ZaVious Robbins has accomplished a lot, both on the football field and in the classroom.

The Mesquite, Texas native was in New York on Tuesday after being named a National-Scholar-Athlete and a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented annually to “individual as the absolute best in the country for his academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.” The award is presented by the National Football Foundation.

“It's definitely an honor being here,” Robbins said at a news conference with the other finalists. “I never guessed I would be on a stage with such prestigious guys and be recognized by such a prestigious award. I'm humbled by the entire situation.”

Robbins is a two-year captain for the Cowboys. At 5’10”, 160 pounds, Robbins has been a dual-threat player for Hardin-Simmons, excelling as a wide receiver and in the return game.

He has 75 career receptions for 1,119 yards and 13 touchdowns. Also, Robbins is Hardin-Simmons’ all-time leader in kickoff return yardage (1,211) and has three kick returns for touchdowns. The two-year captain was First-Team All-American Southwest Conference (ASC) in 2008.

Robbins expressed gratitude toward the coaching staff at Hardin-Simmons who helped him accomplish his goals, “I thank my coaches, Coach Keeling, Coach Burleson, Coach Wartes,” Robbins said.

Robbins’ academic success equals that which he has earned on the gridiron. In December, he will graduate with honors after earning a 3.9 GPA as a marketing major. He is a three-time Dean’s List and President’s List honoree and was named Hardin-Simmons’ most outstanding marketing student.

Perhaps no person has played a bigger role in Robbins’ life than his father, Kevin.

“My dad has been the most important influence in my life, my best friend,” Robbins said. “I can tell him anything.”

Robbins said that it has always been important to his father that ZaVious achieve on the field of play and in the classroom.

“He told me when I was growing up that he wanted me to not only be an athlete but be smart and be able to give back to the community in some way,” Robbins said. “So I think that being selected for this award has definitely shown that we’ve reached that goal.”

With his college career ending, Robbins plans to go to graduate school. Soon, he will start a business helping high school athletes navigate the recruiting process and get ready for college. He says this will allow him to give back to the game of football as well as the Dallas community.

For now, ZaVious Robbins is thankful for his college experience and summed it up simply by saying, “It’s been amazing.”

Tim Tebow Wins 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy

The prolific Gators' quarterback now adds the nation's premier scholar-athlete award to his resume, as Florida becomes the first school in history to boast three Campbell Trophy winners.

NEW YORK, December 8, 2009 - University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, arguably one of the most decorated players in college football history, became the 20th recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, at The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's Annual Awards Dinner in New York City tonight.

The Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Draddy Trophy) is one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. The award comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. A total of $300,000 was awarded to Tebow and the other 15 Campbell Trophy finalists, who each claimed $18,000 scholarships for their post-graduate educations.

"Tim Tebow is a once in a lifetime student-athlete," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "Tim's unparalleled accomplishments and charisma have transcended the playing field, capturing the imagination of both young and old. We could not be prouder to have Tim as an ambassador of this award and our sport."

Boasting a 3.66 grade point average as a Family, Youth & Community Sciences major, Tebow has twice been named the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year. Based on his combined scholastic achievement and campus involvement, Tebow also recently earned induction into the university's Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious honors awarded to students by the Division of Student Affairs at the UF. The Jacksonville, Fla., native is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and a two-time First Team Academic All-American.

As the only sophomore to ever win the Heisman, Tebow boasts two national championship titles and has also won the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, the Manning Award, back-to-back Maxwell awards in 2007 and '08, and the Sullivan Award, which is annually presented to the nation's top amateur athlete. As the undisputed leader of the nation's No. 5 team, he is the only player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season (2007) and entered his senior campaign with four NCAA, nine SEC and 23 school records. Tebow leads the Gators in both rushing and passing, accounting for more than 11,000 yards of total offense and 140 touchdowns in his career.

Tebow has spent nearly every summer of his life preaching the word of God around the country and participating in mission trips abroad. In 2009 alone, he has dedicated nearly 700 hours to community service efforts and appearances, including hospital and orphanage visits, and was named the 2008 Wuerffel Trophy recipient for his exemplary outreach.

Tebow joins former Campbell Trophy winners Brad Culpepper (1991) and Danny Wuerffel (1996) and three others as the sixth NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Florida.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The centerpiece to the NFF's scholar-athlete program, which has awarded $9.2 million to 724 top athletes, the Campbell Trophy, first awarded in 1990, was renamed this fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal.

"The NFF mission is to build leaders through football, and the 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete class members stand as a testament to that creed," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (1997 Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "We look forward to supporting the bright futures of each of these fine young men, and we take great pride in holding them out as examples of football's unique ability to build tomorrow's leaders."

Candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

The 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients and Campbell Trophy Finalists includes:

Jon Asamoah - OG, University of Illinois
Matt Bauman - LB, Brigham Young University
Eric Decker - WR, University of Minnesota
Moses Harris - S, Fresno State
Tim Hiller - QB, Western Michigan University
Paul Jasinowski - OT, Brown University
Beau Kildow - WR, Morningside College (Iowa)
Josh Mahoney - LB, University of Northern Iowa
Colt McCoy - QB, University of Texas
Jarrell NeSmith - TE, Tusculum College (Tenn.)
Joe Pawelek - LB, Baylor University
Todd Reesing - QB, University of Kansas
ZaVious Robbins - WR, Hardin-Simmons University (Texas)
Tim Tebow - QB, University of Florida
Blaine Westemeyer - OT, Augustana College (Ill.)
Reed Williams - LB, West Virginia

Listed in chronological order, past Campbell winners, counting two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, and a Heisman Trophy winner, include:

Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990 - College President)
John B. Culpepper (Florida, 1991 - Attorney)
Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992 - Leader in Climatological Research)
Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993 - Engineering Executive)
Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994 - Physician)
Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995 - Real Estate Executive)
Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996 - Nonprofit Executive Director)
Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997 - NFL Player)
Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998 - Television Broadcaster & Insurance Executive)
Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999 - NFL Player)
Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000 - NFL Player)
Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, 2001 - Corporate Executive)
Brandon Roberts (Washington University in St. Louis, 2002 - Physician)
Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003 - Insurance Executive)
Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004 - Marketing Manager)
Rudy Niswanger (Louisiana State University, 2005 - NFL Player)
Brian Leonard (Rutgers University, 2006 - NFL Player)
Dallas Griffin (University of Texas, 2007 - Corporate Finance Associate)
Alex Mack (University of California, 2008 - NFL Player)

Photo Courtesy of The National Football Foundation