If you’ve ever met a celebrity or an idol of yours and they turned out to be less than friendly, inviting, and kind, I’ve shared your disappointment. After last week’s game, I had an encounter that gave me the chance to put Tim Tebow’s legendary kindness to the test.

After the FIU game, a friend and I walked past the track on our way home, our usual route. On the way back, we happened to catch a glimpse of Tim with his parents making their way to a private tailgate and onto a bus with very tinted windows.

After deciding not to attack him like crazed fans, our excitement overtook us and we had to share the sighting with the first strangers who walked by. They happened to be a family, including a young boy holding a football. His mom, Angie, explained to us that he was upset because they waited outside the stadium, but Tebow didn’t come out with the rest of the players, so he never got the chance to have his football signed by his hero. She asked if we thought Tebow would sign the ball if they asked him. We all doubted that he would deny a young fan.

Angie and her son,Wyatt, made their way behind the bus while we waited with her husband, curious of the outcome. After about forty minutes of waiting, Angie came running out from behind the bus, football in hand. She told us that she was able to get Tebow’s attention and asked him to sign the ball. He took the ball on the bus with him and promised to send it out when he could.

Angie waited, trying not to draw attention to herself next to the private tailgate, when a woman approached her. The friendly woman asked if she knew her, and Angie explained why she was there. She told her they had waited outside the stadium and that Wyatt had dressed up as Tim for superhero day at school. The woman introduced herself as Pam Tebow and went onto the bus to see if the football was signed yet. She emerged a moment later, signed ball in hand, and asked Angie her son’s name. She ran back onto the bus again and came back out to present Angie with the ball, signed and addressed to Wyatt. Angie thanked her and handed the ball to Wyatt. She was shaking as she told us what happened, and Wyatt was beaming. They thanked us for telling them we saw Tebow. We had made Wyatt’s day.

So for all of us who have felt the disappointment of meeting an unfriendly celebrity or hero, maybe we should try to meet more people like Tim Tebow. He makes a victory lap after every game with a smile on his face. He signs a kid’s football even though he’s probably tired and just trying to spend time with his family. He is just as giving and friendly as legend tells.

Ly Anne is a Columnist for GatorTailgating.com