Cortland (WSYR-TV) - One of pro-football's biggest stars is coming to Central New York this summer.
Quarterback Tim Tebow’s trade from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets means the Heisman Trophy winner will be with the team when it opens training camp at SUNY Cortland in July.
Talk of “Tebow-mania” has people in Cortland buzzing. Tebow’s popularity was already overwhelming. His move to New York could make him even more popular among fans of the green and white.
“We go to every Jets camp we can make unless it’s rainy. But with Tebow here, we’ll be there for all of them,” said Jets fan Jim Phillips.
With the Jets staying away because of the NFL labor dispute last year, fans are even more anxious to see the team return. Some say it could beat out the record 41,000 visitors they saw in the city in 2010.
“I think it’s going to be crazy, that’s the first thing I thought,” said Doug’s Fish Fry Manager Eric Cole said. “It’s going to bring a lot more people. Tim seems to bring in his own group of fans.”
The school hopes Tebow’s star power could attract potential students to the SUNY school.
“Last year, we had close to 13,000 applications for 1,100 openings in the freshman class,” said SUNY Cortland President Erik Bitterbaum. “I can assure you part of that is the visibility the Jets have brought to our campus.”
The staff is already working with the club to have their facilities prepared for the summer.
