Editor's note: Florida hosts Hawai'i in a college football season opener on Aug. 30.

HOOVER, Ala. — It was a bizarre beginning to the Southeastern Conference Media Days today. There was a football player at the dais — perhaps the best in the country — and there were football writers in the audience, but the topic of football seemed like a footnote.

Then Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, told hundreds of sports reporters that football isn't that important.

"I want to do everything in my power that football gives me to influence as many people as I can for the good, because that's going to mean so much more when it's all said and done than just playing football and winning championships," Tebow said.

Yet another group converted. College football is a religion in the Deep South, but when Tebow shows up for the season's kickoff party, the whole thing turns into a tent revival.

"I can take what I do in playing football as a game and change people's lives with it," Tebow said. "That's why football is such a great game. That's kind of why I do the things, preaching in prisons, doing those different things, trying to take advantage of that platform that God has blessed me with."

Tebow spoke to media from around the country for about 25 minutes Wednesday. Unlike every other player from every other school who attended the first day of SEC Media Days, Tebow addressed the media from the area reserved for head coaches. Reporters asked about Tebow's stardom and missionary work more than the Gators' spread offense or chances of winning a national championship.

Tebow made headlines this offseason with mission trips to the Philippines, Croatia and Thailand. He also spoke at prisons and preached at churches. Tebow's father, Bob, is a missionary.

"Sometimes my biggest message to other athletes is, 'Yeah, we know you're great in football, but take that greatness, your platform, use it to influence other people,' " Tebow said. "That's much more important than football."

But football is pretty important for the Tebow message. A four-loss season won't expand the spiritual platform quite like a national championship and another Heisman Trophy. Saving as many souls as possible by winning national championships and Heisman Trophies. That is the Tebow way.

One reporter asked Florida coach Urban Meyer if Florida had the fastest team in college football. He might. Here's proof:

Incoming freshman Jeffrey Demps nearly earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic track and field team, but Demps is apparently not the fastest player on the Gators' roster (at least in the 40-yard dash). According to Meyer and Tebow, that honor goes to Chris Rainey, a redshirt freshman running back from Lakeland.

Rainey apparently challenged Demps to a footrace last week and beat Demps head-to-head. Talk of a race between Rainey and Demps has raged in Gainesville and on message boards ever since Demps arrived on campus after the U.S. Olympic trials.

"I wasn't there but I would have liked to," Meyer said. "Could have probably sold about 10,000 tickets for that. ESPN GameDay probably would have been there."

Rainey ran the 40-yard dash inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium before the Gators' spring game and was timed at 4.24 seconds. Demps ran a 10.01 in the 100 meters at the Olympic trials. Demps' time in the 100 was the fastest ever by an American teenager.

"Everyone was saying how fast Demps is so they said let's go in the back of the dorms; let's figure this thing out," Meyer said. "They raced. I guess Chris nudged him out. So, we got some speed."

Rainey has a history of challenging speedy running backs to impromptu street races. He once challenged West Virginia running back Noel Devine to a duel in a Lakeland movie theater parking lot. According to Rainey, he beat Devine by two steps.

Meyer said he plans to move a yet-to-be-named freshman from offense to defense to compensate for the lack of depth at safety. Florida lost five safeties this offseason.

Cade Holliday, a former walk-on receiver, has already made the move from offense to defense.

Incoming freshman T.J. Lawrence also could be an option.

Sophomore Ahmad Black is considered the front-runner to replace injured strong safety Dorian Munroe but Meyer said on Wednesday that incoming freshman Will Hill will likely challenge Black for the starting spot during two-a-days.

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