"What Would Tim Tebow Do?" night, a minor league baseball team's promotional event, was shot down by UF last week because of NCAA rules against the commercial use of student-athletes' names.
The promotion, which was changed to "What Would T.T. Do?" night, included a man walking on water, promise rings and a ceremonial jump pass with a football instead of a first pitch.
Initial ideas for the event also included a live circumcision, according to news reports. The idea was reportedly rejected by management.
In an e-mail sent to the team Wednesday, UF stated Tebow would have been ruled ineligible under NCAA rules if the promotion had used his name. Stacey Osburn, a NCAA spokeswoman, however, said the rule merely states that the student-athlete or the school must make an attempt to stop the commercial use of the student's name. UF fulfilled that obligation when it sent the letter, Osburn said.
Gary Sharp, director of promotions for the Fort Myers Miracle baseball team, said the event was meant to poke fun at overzealous Tebow fans.
"It was more a night of us mocking how people treat [Tebow] and put him on a pedestal," Sharp said.
