For Tebow, Jordan Jefferson A Tale of Two Weeks

Race played a role in how fans reacted to triumph, futility

Two divergent story lines dominated the sports news headlines Tuesday: the late-game heroics Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow in the AFC wild card game -- the most watched in 24 years -- and the rough outing of LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson in the BCS national title game.

Both are quarterbacks of the storied Southeastern Conference.

But each are having remarkably different weeks. In each's experience, race is also a factor.

Tebow has even been asked by more than one Republican candidate for an endorsement.

The AP reports:

Sensing the excitement and loving his message, Tebow is also being courted by Republican presidential candidates. The quarterback recently told The Associated Press he's been asked by more than one of the contenders for his support. He wouldn't name names, but did say he'd declined the offer.

"I think you have to have so much trust in who you support, just from product endorsements to endorsing a candidate because if that person or company does something (bad), it reflects on you," said Tebow, who's a pitchman for Nike, Jockey and FRS energy drink.

For ESPN personality and SB Nation columnist Bomani Jones, Jefferson's performance wasn't solely his own.

But few recognized the contributions of the other players on the field when it came to Tebow, including Lady Gaga.

Much of the talk around Jefferson was negative, many of the attacks racial in nature. Many, including ESPN's Mike Hill, spoke out against it.

For Tebow, however, there were mostly no critics -- just comedians and those looking to make greater significance of his accomplishment.