Tebow supports suspended Riverhead students

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow expressed support Friday night for two Riverhead High School senior football players suspended for leading other students in copying Tebow's pose of kneeling in prayer.

"I think if they had good intentions, then good for them for having the courage to do something different,'' Tebow told The Associated Press in Denver. "You have to respect the position of authority and people that God's put as authority over you, so that's part of it, and just finding the right place and the right time to do things is part of it, too.''

Twin brothers Connor and Tyler Carroll were given one-day suspensions because school officials said their action of gathering an estimated 40 students in a hallway could have created a dangerous situation.

Connor Carroll, who served his in-school suspension Friday (Tyler will serve his on Monday), said he received support from his fellow students. "It was amazing,'' he said. "I got two breaks to go to the bathroom, which is right across from the lunchroom. People erupted when they saw me. It was pretty cool.''

Connor maintained his position that the suspension was unjust. "I felt like it wasn't necessary,'' he said. "They have good points, but basically they overreacted.''

There are no plans to repeat the "Tebowing,'' Connor said. "I think that would be rubbing it in, taking it too far.''

Principal David Wicks said the school day was "as normal as could be possible'' but acknowledged there was criticism. "I've got over 100 emails from people around the country,'' he said. "Our phone's been ringing off the hook. The majority of those displeased are going along the lines of us being anti-Christian.

"These students were given their consequences because they were part of an unsafe situation by stopping student traffic in the hallway and because they had been warned previously about doing this sort of behavior.''