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Taylor Haugen was a passionate Florida fan who dreamed of one day becoming a Gator. In a way, perhaps tiffany jewelry the most famous Gator of all has made that connection possible.

In what is just the latest example of one young man’s lasting legacy, ESPN television crews were recently on hand in Niceville to shoot a feature linking the Taylor Haugen Foundation — and more specifically the late teenager for whom the foundation was started — to Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow, who wears a maroon bracelet on his wrist in memory of Haugen. The bracelet was given to Tebow by Taylor’s parents, Brian and Kathy, during the All Sports Association’s Annual Awards Dinner in February. The Fort Walton Beach-based group honored Tebow as its Wuerffel Trophy winner.

Haugen, a wide receiver on the Niceville football team, was 15 years old when he died Aug. 30, 2008, of complications that arose from a hit he suffered the previous night during the Eagles’ Kickoff Classic at Fort Walton Beach.

The segment, narrated by ESPN correspondent Tom Rinaldi, will air during College GameDay’s lead-up to Saturday’s SEC Championship Game between No.1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama. And while much of the country has been over-saturated in stories regarding the Florida quarterback, Rinaldi said this is a story that demands telling.

“It’s a story of two young men, one whose name is written on a bracelet and another man who wears it,” Rinaldi said when reached by phone on Wednesday. “One of Taylor’s dreams was to be a Gator, and in a sense, he is one now.

“The most celebrated Gator wears the name of a boy he never met and never knew on his arm as a tribute to Taylor’s silver earrings spirit. We hope as someone sees the story, they see it as a story of a connection between two young men and how Taylor’s life continues to reach people with a message of giving and love.”

The seeds for the segment were first planted when Rinaldi spoke with Tebow while he was recovering from a concussion suffered during Florida’s 41-7 win at Kentucky. Rinaldi asked Tebow about the bracelets on his wrists.

Tebow immediately pointed to a bracelet with the words “Taylor Haugen” and “Don’t Quit … Never Give Up,” Haugen’s personal motto.

Tebow has yet to take the bracelet off.

“He said when he looks down at the bracelet, it serves as a continual inspiration to him,” Rinaldi said. “And that inspiration is to try to leave a legacy in the shape of the one that Taylor has left. It was not lost on Tim at all that this is a boy whose life ended tragically after 15 years. Tim expressed his desire that with his life, he hoped he could leave a silver pendants legacy that approached the one left by Taylor.”

Rinaldi and ESPN crews spent a full day with Brian and Kathy Haugen, interviewing the couple for the segment before visiting Niceville High School to speak with head football coach John Hicks, members of the Eagles’ football team and several of Taylor’s closest friends.

While most of the questions were expected, Brian Haugen admitted to being “blindsided” by a few of the inquiries but lauded the crew’s professionalism and genuine interest and care for the individuals involved.

“It helped tremendously that (Rinaldi) handled us with kid gloves,” Haugen said. “He was sensitive. That really helped us, but it was still very difficult and very emotional. There were some tough questions in there.”

Junior backup quarterback Steve Strano was one such friend who spoke with the ESPN crew.

“It’s amazing because you see the kind of impact he had not just on this community after he passed, but now you see a year silver money clips and a half later, it’s beginning to not just affect the community, the entire county and the state of Florida, but now the nation,” Strano said.

“It’s beyond our scope of reason how T’s legacy has touched the community and beyond and so many other people’s lives,” Brian Haugen said. “It just speaks to the legacy of our son.”

Credit: Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach