It sure puts perspective on the game.

Florida sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow dazzled the college football world with a campaign matched by none other. He became the first major college football player to rush and pass for over 20 touchdowns in a season, calmly running for 22 scores and throwing for 29 more.

What makes Tebow so intriguing from an outside observer is his gift with a football in hand, no doubt.

Yet, when it comes to level of importance in the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner's life, football is fourth — behind faith, family and academics.

After watching Saturday night's presentation and discovering that the man with the captivating smile has remained steadfast in his own beliefs despite being the biggest thing in Gainesville, Fla., Tebow impresses an altogether different appeal: humility.

If it wasn't for his mom's faith, Tim and his undeniable charm wouldn't exist.

She was told to have an abortion after coming down with amoebic dysentery and falling into a coma while serving as a Christian missionary in the Philippines.

From surviving in one piece while his mother was ill, to winning over the hearts of countless fans, to winning the Heisman, Tebow has lived a storybook life — one that could very well just be beginning.

Fortunately, at no point have any of his top three focuses in life forced him to give up football.

For a less-known player, the stakes and results were different. Tebow's No. 2 focus, family, took the pigskin out of former Wisconsin Badger wide receiver Jarvis Minton's hands.

Minton left the Badger family to raise his own family following the 2006 season.

Unlike Tebow, he has no story. Not because there his life lacked flair or compelling storylines, but because he never bothered to share them.

Even when dropped lines by numerous reporters (including myself) Minton, through his wife, declined comment. He has simply moved on.

Tebow has opened up to the outside world to tell his story, lifting his status from a great football player to an all-around talent and personality both on and off the field. Minton, meanwhile, has remained closed — not wanting to be recognized, not wanting to be revered.

Making a living deep on the depth chart during his three years with Wisconsin, Minton wasn't exactly a "can't miss" talent. In nine career games, he snared three balls for 46 yards and returned 17 kicks and two punts for a combined 301 yards.

So when he became a father in the midst of his collegiate career, the decision to leave perhaps was a no-brainer. Some athletes who have kids still play, like Wisconsin's own Marcus Landry and, up until a knee injury forced him to quit the team, Marcus Randle El. Maybe Minton didn't see the point — he would have landed in a reserve role to start the season. Or maybe Minton couldn't handle the task of doing them both well.

Whatever Minton's rationale for leaving the team was, football clearly didn't trump family. He let go of a dream and focused on making a new one with his little son, Jarvis, Jr., and wife back home in Texas.

No amount of press or flowery stories would get Minton to come back, let alone answer a phone call. He's with his family now. And that's perhaps the most humbling story of all.

Minton doesn't want praise for leaving the football team to be a father. He just quietly walked out the backdoor and moved on.

No parting words. No tears. No remorse. He just moved on.

Kevin Hagstrom is a senior majoring in economics and journalism. E-mail him at [email protected] if you'd like to see "Tuesdays with Haggy" stick around next semester. While Kevin will be stepping down as sports editor, your influence may move him to vie to keep his weekly column. After all, his readers are among his top four — along with rocking out to Led Zeppelin, watching The Simpsons and being from the ‘Ville.