dennis and aaron the way they intertwined, it was magic in my eyes. >> reporter: magic that didn't last, ending when hernandez was just 16-years-old. brad mcmillan and andrewale were on his basketball team. >> i walked in, he says, dennis has passed away. >> reporter: dennis hernandez, aaron's father, his anchor died unexpectedly after a routine hernia surgery. >> he felt uncomfortable to see him so hurt. >> clearly, at 16-years-old, losing your father, it would be very easy to fall into the lifestyle of following people that don't help you make the best choices. >> reporter: one choice he made was to tattoo some of his dad's advice on his arms. >> this is a quote my father told me, if it is to be, it is up to me. it basically says, whatever i want my life to be, it's up to me to make that it way. >> reporter: what he wanted to be is an nfl football star. so in january of 2007, he cut his high school senior year in half and headed to the university of florida, joining star quarterback tim tebow. by april, still hong before the fwator's season opener -- gator's season opener, the rookie teen loses his cool at this popular off campus restaurant. there is an