Innovator's Dilemma - Tebowing conventional wisdom

As a lifetime sports fan, it's rare that I recall a professional athlete being so questioned, so mocked, so criticized (and worse) than Tim Tebow. Wearing his religion on his sleeve puts a big target on him for many, while in parallel this young man has become a magnet to many parents and kids starved for a role model. This brief commentary will focus on Tebow's playing skills, strengths and results.

With the University of Florida, Tebow led the Gators to the top of the SEC (Southeastern Conference) - the best collegiate football conference in the nation, and 2 national championships. Thanks in large part to Tebow, Coach Urban Myer rose to the top tier of college football (a case could even be made that Tebow indirectly helped revive the legendary Michigan Wolverine - Ohio State Buckeye rivalry as a result of former Gator coach Myer being hired recently by the Buckeyes. The old ' war' between all time coaching greats Woody Hayes vs. Bo Schembechler is now talk of the town with Myer coming on board for the 2012 season to face the resurrected Wolverines by new coach Brady Hoke who just led Michigan to a 10-2 season - their best in memory. (While Myer's resume is 2 national titles with Tebow & Florida, Hoke took Ball State and San Diego State to high national rankings.) Assist Tebow.

Back to Tebow. A quarterback, his strength is his size and power (& leadership enthusiasm). That works at the college level said the experts, but at the pro level, Tebow's speed and power are common across pro players. Tebow was viewed (and still is) as having very little potential to be a successful quarterback in the NFL.

Last year as a rookie, Tebow captured the imagination of many as he began his career with the Denver Broncos as a back up. Tebow's presence had the impact of immediate star power to may fans but he did not play much. Coming into this season, news came out that even the Denver Bronco leadership was loosing their confidence in Tebow, relegating him to 3rd string.

As the 2001 season unfolded, the Denver Broncos started miserably with a 1-4 record. A decision was made to try Tebow (nothing else was working). The firestorm of attacks and ridicule was unleashed again. Tebow was a joke ... yet in spite of the relentless condemnation, Tebow forged on. With the benefit of a strong Bronco defense, games stayed within reach of winning late into 4th quarter. That said, it still takes leadership to engineer long game winning scoring drives as time winds down. How has Tebow responded? With one of the most remarkable, memorable runs the NFL has seen in memory.

Focusing primarily on his strengths, Tebow has set NFL records for rushes by a quarterback. While the NFL is now a passing game fought in the air, Tebow has turned convention wisdom on its head with his quarterback running game, and select passing that has earned him an impressive quarterback rating.


Does Tebow win with conventional style points? No (in one recent victory Tebow only completed 2 passes ... unthinkable!). Does Tebow win? Not only does he win, he wins with a dramatic flare. Today Tebow marched the Broncos down the field against the Minnesota Vikings on three consecutive scoring drives in the 4th quarter. On the touchdown drive, a Tebow touchdown throw was followed by a Tebow run for a 2 point conversion to tie. After a drive that tied the game again with a field goal, the Broncos won with a field goal at the end of regulation.

Since Tebow took over as the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos, their record is 6-1 and the Broncos are now tied for first place in the AFC West. At least 4 of those victories required Tebow to engineer a late comeback scoring drive ... an achievement viewed as impressive by quarterback greats from Montana, Marino and Elway, to Brady, Manning, Rogers and others. While all of those past and current greats were prolific passers, Tebow has been mocked as a one-trick pony. Call him what they do ... he wins. The NFL is starting to take notice.
Repeat National Championships in any collegiate sport are a rare feat. Tebow earned 2 and was very close to 3. Now Tebow is slowly beginning to influence the thinking of some that there are other ways to win ... an inspiration to any innovator with the vision and determination to make-it-happen with the hand he/she was dealt.