DENVER — Many in Colorado's evangelical Christian community believe the Denver Broncos' first-round draft pick of quarterback Tim Tebow will give them a lot more to cheer about than just football.

Like Tebow, they feel blessed by coach Josh McDaniels' choice.

Tebow, an all-American, Heisman Trophy- and championship- winning Florida Gator, is also the home-schooled son of Christian missionaries. He wore Bible-verse citations on his game-day eye black and starred in a Super Bowl ad for Colorado Springs-based ministry Focus on the Family.

"Tim Tebow is a lightning rod. This transcends football," said Bill McCartney, the former University of Colorado football coach and founder of the Promise Keepers Christian men's ministry.

"There is an anointing on Tim and his family," McCartney said. "He's one of those guys who comes along who has God's handprints all over him."

He's going to make a difference for Denver's poor and oppressed, McCartney predicted.

One 15-year-old Aspen fan, Bobby Moyer, submitted a haiku about the new "Mile High Messiah" to denverpost.com. He said Tebow has inspired him "to share my faith through my sport of ski racing."

Tebow was the buzz of the hallways at Focus on the Family media ministry Friday, said spokesman Gary Schneeberger.

"There are lots of Broncos fans here who are already looking to buy his jersey," he said.

Pastor Rick Long of Grace Church of Arvada has coached high school sports for 25 years. He is a die-hard Broncos fan, he said, and thrilled with Tebow's selection on all counts.

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