In 2010, a new rule for the next NCAA football season, dubbed ‘The Tebow Rule‘ by media because it would have affected him, banned messages on eye paint. During his college football career, Tebow frequently wore references to biblical verses on his eye black. In the 2009 BCS Championship Game, he wore John 3:16 on his eye paint, and as a result, 92 million people searched ‘John 3:16’ on Google during or shortly after the game. Tebow stated of the searches ‘It just goes to show you the influence and the platform that you have as a student-athlete and as a quarterback at Florida.’
The NFL already has a rule prohibiting players from wearing messages on eye black; so, Tebow is not able to continue the practice in the NFL. Despite the media label, the NCAA denies the rule was influenced by Tebow particularly, since many other notable players (Reggie Bush and Terrelle Pryor for example) wear or have worn messages on eye black. An NCAA spokesman said ‘When this rule was proposed the committee did not focus on any one team or student athlete. That measure reinforces what the intended use of eye black is, which is to shade the eyes from the sun.’
The Daily Omnivore 
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