Tim Tebow is not made of steel. He's made of wood.
At least one version of him is.
Sam Knowles finished his wooden 7-1/2-foot-tall carving of the Heisman Trophy winner at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Complete with a Superman cape and the Bible verse John 3:16 written on his face, Knowles said it took him five days to carve the sculpture with a chainsaw and paint the tribute to the Gator legend.
"I feel like I know him," he said. "I've been staring at him for so long."
Knowles said he doesn't do many sculptures of specific people.
"When I first found out that I was going to be carving this tree, I drew up a lighthouse and seagulls, things that would go really well with the restaurant," he said. "But Chris wanted Tim Tebow."
Chris Fragale, Ballyhoo Grill's owner, said he picked Tebow mainly for the children who eat at his restaurant.
"I couldn't think of a better role model for the kids," Fragale said. "Tim Tebow is a part of Gator Nation for life."
Fragale said that Tebow frequents Ballyhoo Grill.
"When he comes here, all of the kids' faces light up," he said. "I thought the sculpture would be something fun for kids to get their picture with and run around on."
While having lunch with a client, Gainesville resident Pat Gleason said Tebow and his sculpture are attributes to the community.
She said that as a parent, she thinks Tebow is a wonderful mentor for children.
"My daughter attends Kanapaha Middle School, and Tim Tebow goes there weekly and interacts with the students," Gleason said.
