Students at Riverhead HS (Action News)
LET US DEPRAVE: Students at Riverhead HS drew heat for imitating religious Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow in the hallways. (
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The Tebow mania sweeping the nation sacked a group of Long Island high-school students who were suspended for mimicking the quarterback’s famous prayer pose.
Twin brothers Tyler and Connor Carroll of Riverhead HS and classmates Jordan Fulcoly and Wayne Drexel were hit with one-day suspensions for kneeling and bowing their heads like Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow does when he scores a touchdown.
Administrators said the weeklong “Tebowing” craze was a distraction and a hallway hazard after dozens of classmates followed their lead.
“It was basically just a tribute to Tim Tebow,” Carroll Connor, 17, who planned the prank with his brother and friends, told The Post.
“It was more than a religious thing. There was some of that involved obviously, because he prays. I guess it was basically like a moment of silence.
“I just don’t think it’s fair,” said Connor, a senior linebacker, of the school throwing the penalty flag.
“We were never given any warning. They said they did, but that’s completely false.”
The brothers have to serve their suspensions; the others were rescinded because the other participants had not been given warnings, officials said.
About 40 students had been gathering in the hallway all week emulating Tebow.
School administrators said the stunt jammed the hallway, making students late for class, and was a fire hazard.
“This is not about religious discrimination,” said Riverhead School District Superintendent Nancy Carney. “It is about being sure kids are able to get to class on time and keeping the kids safe and orderly.”
She said Principal David Wicks was completely justified in ordering the suspensions.
“These students were warned and and did it again,” Carney said. “If the kids aren’t going to abide by rules, there are consequences.”
Connor insisted the Tebowers did not create a safety problem.
“There was no pushing or shoving,’’ he said.
But a video of the stunt posted on YouTube clearly show kids shoving each other.
Reaction to the suspensions spread quickly and Carney said she has already received “hate mail” from around the country.
Tebow, 24, a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida, has received national attention this season because of his religious beliefs and late-game heroics, including a comeback rally against the Jets.