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Friday, May 10, 2024

Tebow wood carving forced to get a makeover

Unless Tebow has changed his number to seven, Treebow is no more.

The seven-and-one-half-foot tall wood carving outside Ballyhoo Grill, located at 3700 W University Ave., that used to look like Tim Tebow has gotten a makeover at the request of the University Athletic Association.

Instead of Tebow's No. 15, the statue now wears No. 7.

The Bible verse printed on the statue's eyeblack has also been painted over.

A manager at Ballyhoo said he wasn't allowed to comment on the statue, but another employee said she thought the changes were made Monday.

Chris Fragale, Ballyhoo's owner, could not be reached for comment.

Steve McClain, spokesman for the UAA, confirmed that the athletic association worked with Ballyhoo Grill over the past few months to resolve the issue.

According to National Collegiate Athletic Association rules, if a student-athlete's likeness is used to promote a commercial product, the student or the university has to take action to stop it.

The UAA deals with six to eight cases involving the rule a month, according to McClain.

Recently, the association sent cease- and-desist letters to a children's mental health organization that had placed a turtle bearing the likeness of Tebow in downtown Jacksonville and a Fort Myers baseball team attempting to hold a "What Would Tim Tebow Do?" night.

The turtle's jersey number was changed from No. 15 to No. 1, and the baseball team's night was renamed.

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