Tebow tribute to Taylor Haugen

Taylor Haugen , a wide receiver on the Niceville football team, was 15 years old when he died on the 30th Beach August 2008 from complications that arose from a Walton hit he suffered in last night during the Eagles' Kickoff Classic in Fort

The segment, narrated by ESPN correspondent Tom Rinaldi, during College GameDay's lead-up to Saturday's SEC Championship Game between No. 1 and No. 2 Florida, Alabama air. And while much of the country was over-saturated in stories about the Florida quarterback, "said Rinaldi tell this is a story that demands.

"It is a story of two young men, one who wrote his name on a bracelet and another man who wears it," said Rinaldi, when reached by phone on Wednesday. "One of Taylor's dream is to be a Gator, and in a sense, he is now was.

"The most famous Gator bears the name of a boy, got to know he never, never knew his arm as a tribute to Taylor's spirit. We hope that someone sees as history, they see it as a story of a connection between two young men and how Taylor's life goes to giving people with a message and to reach love. "

The seeds were planted for the segment for the first time with Rinaldi said Tebow while he was from a concussion suffered in Florida's 41-7 victory recovered in Kentucky. Rinaldi asked Tebow on the bracelets on the wrists.

Tebow immediately pointed to a bracelet with the inscription "Haugen Taylor" and "Do not Quit … Never Give Up," Haugen's personal motto. The bracelet was Tebow of Taylor's parents, Brian and Kathy, during the All Sports Association Annual Awards Dinner given in February. The Fort Walton Beach-based group honored as Wuerffel Trophy winner Tebow.

Tebow still must remove the bracelet.

"He said if he sees himself on the bracelet, it serves as a constant inspiration to him," Rinaldi said. "And this inspiration to try a legacy in the form of the one that has left Taylor to leave. It was not lost on Tim at all, that this is a boy whose life ended tragically after 15 years. Tim expressed his wish that with his life, he hoped he could one legacy that Taylor approached one left out. "

Rinaldi and ESPN crews spent an entire day with Brian and Kathy Haugen, the couple interviewed for the segment before the visit Niceville High School to talk with head football coach John Hicks, members of the Eagles' football team and some of the closest friends, Taylor's.

While most of the questions that were expected, Brian Haugen to its approval "blindsided" by a few of the questions, but praised the crew of professionalism and genuine interest and care for affected individuals.

"It helped enormously that (Rinaldi) treated us with kid gloves," said Haugen. "He was sensitive. That really helped us, but it was still very difficult and very emotional. There were some difficult issues in there."

Junior backup quarterback Steve Strano was such a friend, spoke with the ESPN crew.

"It's amazing because you are the kind of influence he had seen not only in this community, after he passed, but you see now a year and a half later, it is beginning to impact not only on the community, the entire community and the State of Florida, but now the nation, "said Strano.

"It is beyond our scope of reason, such as T's legacy is the community and beyond, and so many others touched the lives of the people," said Brian Haugen. "It speaks only the legacy of our son."

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