NEW YORK — Tim Tebow rolled into the New York Athletic Club on Central Park South sporting the same great suit he wore to win the Heisman Trophy in this town four months back.

His individual award collection spree has tripled his suit collection, from one to three, and given him a mantel-full of mementos from his spectacular 2007 football season.

But as he reflected last night before claiming the 78th Sullivan Award, presented each year to the nation's most outstanding amateur athlete in any sport, Tebow kept referring to the platform these awards give him. More than the wardrobe or the hardware, he said, the chances to share a message rank as the most valuable parts of the past few months.

"You get to learn how to present yourself, to speak, to talk to people that might not always listen to a college student," he said. "I can tell people what's important to me and how blessed I am, and maybe influence some other people."

Tebow's plans for 2008 include another big season at quarterback, leading the Gators back toward championships, and all the rest. (Florida opens by hosting Hawaii Aug. 30.) But as he hits his third full year as a college student, and his profile grows throughout the nation and beyond, the nation's best college football player said he hopes he can become one of his sports' best off-the-field leaders.

That change will start in the next two weeks when Tebow will spearhead a charity flag football tournament that hopes to raise money for orphanages in Florida and overseas.

The event, scheduled for April 13, will feature teams of sorority girls coached by UF football players.

Tebow said he started thinking of running some sort of charity event during a March visit to the Philippines with his father, brother Robby and two friends. A powder puff tournament became the focus after meetings with some campus leaders, including a few Gator teammates and student body president Ryan Moseley.

"We thought having like a date auction, but there are a lot of those," Tebow said. "We think this can really bring people together on campus, and hopefully raise some money and change some lives."

Yesterday, Tebow's life-changing was limited to a gathering of fewer than 100 on the ninth floor of the NYAC. He schmoozed with the fellow finalists—a collegiate softball pitcher, ice hockey goalie and gymnasts, as well as a 61-year-old track and field world record holder—and signed a half-hour worth of autographs for guests.

He was expected to address the small crowd, sprinkling in talk of faith and thanks-giving and leadership, taking advantage once again of a platform his success gained him. And then like seemingly always, he claimed an award, this night becoming the fifth football player and third quarterback (FSU's Charlie Ward, Tennessee's Peyton Manning) to win the award.

The winning has become habit for Tebow. Seizing those platforms, he hopes, will become just as much part of his life.