Tim Tebow booksigning draws crowds at Florida Wal-Mart

GAINESVILLE, Fla.  Gone but not forgotten?

Great college football players come and go. But anyone who doubted if the player many consider the Greatest Gator would ever be forgotten. After leaving the school with a national title, at least one appears to be bigger than ever.

He proved that at Wal-Mart.

If you wanted to buy a CD or TV at Wal-Mart you probably weren't going to get much service on Thursday night.

Heisman Trophy winner and former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow showed up in Gainesville for a 6 p.m. booksigning and all 800 were long gone by the time Tebow showed up to begin offering his signature on the book titled with his name.

Books sold for $21.59 and Tebow admirers were wrapped in a line around the store, as hundreds of fans let out a roar that filled ever isle when he came in the back of the building.

The Denver Broncos' first-round pick in last year's draft starting signing immediately and quickly noted the Broncos' jersey of a young fan and smiled.

Tebow has been touring the state, with a previous stop in his hometown of Jacksonville and a stop in Orlando after Gainesville.

The local Wal-Mart officials deflected attempts for interviews, saying he was off limits before and during the event. Some customers looked on in amazement as fans started doing Gator chants in the middle of the store, hundreds dressed in blue Gator tops _ almost all with Tebow's No. 15 on it.

The parking lot was overflowing as fans streamed into the store. The of the line was in women's clothing, where an amazed shopper laughed in amazement as fans negotiated the huge line patiently as she tried to get to a blouse that interested her.

Meanwhile, if you wanted to buy some toothpaste or pick up some snacks . . . the check out lines were at an all-time low with gawkers all trying to get a peek at Tebow signing books in the electronics area as highlights of his career covered all the TV screens.