Tim Tebow is a polarizing figure in the NFL and he apparently is a polarizing figure in local politics, as a bill that bears his name in Alabama is making its way through the state legislature and it made it through another hurdle this week, just as the quarterback spends time being mentioned in trade rumors.
According to the News Courier in Alabama, the "Tim Tebow Act", which is legislation allowing home-schooled children to play for sports teams, cleared committee in Montgomery and is making its way through the rest of the legislative system. The bill started and was introduced as Senate Bill 186 and House Bill 287 and it would allow those students to participate in public school athletics at the schools in their school district.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Shadrack McGill, R-Huntsvillle, in the Senate, and Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, in the House, and a similar bill died in the Congress last year. The main website of the bill says that it is named for Tebow with his permission and likens the new legislation to what he did as a student.
Tebow was home-schooled by his parents, but he was able to play football and took Neese High School to the state championship in 2005 before playing at Florida, where he won two national titles and a Heisman trophy. Tebow was on the field for only 73 offensive plays and gained 102 rushing yards on 32 carries this season. He had eight pass attempts and completed six of them for 39 yards and scored zero touchdowns and has 2,422 yards for 17 touchdowns and nine picks in his career.
The website also says that 24 other states have introduced legislation regarding home-schooled students and activates and offers some statistics backing up their argument. Tebow has been a polarizing figure in the NFL and he has been the subject or trade rumors all year as the New York Jets try to figure out what to do with him. The Arizona Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills could be options after releasing their quarterbacks, but any deals will likely have draft picks involved.
The committee was one of the first hurdles for the legislation and it passed by a vote of 3-2 with support from McGill and Sens. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, and Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, while Committee Chairman Dick Brewbaker, R-Pike Road, and Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Daphne, abstained from voting on it.
McGill has sponsored similar legislation in the past, but the proposals died out in the government process. The new bill would allow the home-schooled students in athletics only and no other extracurricular activities like clubs and other organizations.
The bill is not a sure thing yet though, as it still has opponents in Senate Minority Leader Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, who voted against the legislation, as well as the Alabama High School Athletic Association, which sees it as an impediment to sports in the community.