When former Florida quarterback and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel told his wife, Jessica, on Tuesday morning he was flying from Atlanta to Little Rock to speak at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, she wasn't sure.
"My wife said, 'You're going to Arkansas?' " Danny Wuerffel said. "I said, 'Yeah. I'm going to Little Rock.' She goes, 'You think they're going to give you any trouble?'
"I said, 'Honey, we played them twice, they never gave us any trouble.' "
In 1995 and 1996, Wuerffel's Gators defeated Arkansas 34-3 in the SEC Championship Game and 42-7 in Fayetteville, respectively.
On Tuesday, Wuerffel, 42, recalled the Gators' game in Fayetteville in 1996.
"It was definitely an intense environment," Wuerffel said. "The fans were into it. It was an exciting place. I remember it being a very bright day outside. They were doing well, but we had a really good day that day. We were really on. Our receivers were great that day. We had a lot of success. It was a good Saturday for Florida."
Wuerffel is just part of the Gators' success against the Razorbacks. Arkansas is 1-9 all-time against Florida, with its only victory coming in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl, 28-24.
In 1996, Wuerffel passed for 3,625 yards with 39 touchdowns and 13 interceptions to win the Heisman Trophy and lead the Gators to their first national championship. He finished his college career with 10,875 passing yards and 114 touchdowns, and he was a two-time first-team All-American in 1995 and 1996.
This past weekend, Wuerffel and several of his former Florida teammates went to Gainesville to honor their coach, Steve Spurrier. Spurrier was honored Saturday by his alma mater and former employer as the Gators' home stadium is now Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
It's a move that's been a long time coming, Wuerffel said.
"It was a great environment there, seeing coach Spurrier back in Gainesville," Wuerffel said. "For me and many Gators, that's the way it should be. He obviously deserved the honor he was getting, but it was fun to see him enjoy himself so much, to be relaxed and happy."
During his career at Florida, Wuerffel was a four-time SEC champion and won the Davey O'Brien Award two consecutive seasons (1995, 1996).
Wuerffel, who went on to play in the NFL for six seasons (1997-2002), credited Spurrier for his success in college.
"We had a lot of great memories," Wuerffel said. "He's a tough coach to play for as a quarterback because he pushes you. He drives you. There are times when that can be frustrating. But he gets the best out of you. I'm so grateful for him. The whole trajectory of my life has been changed because I played for him."
Other highlights from Tuesday's Little Rock Touchdown Club luncheon:
• Rex Nelson, Touchdown Club vice president, on Saturday's Virginia Tech-Tennessee game at Bristol Motor Speedway: "I wish they had the cars racing around the track at the same time the game was going on."
• Gary Underwood, Touchdown Club board director and prayer leader, on the SEC's 7-7 weekend: "I'm not sure whether to pray for the Razorbacks or the SEC as a whole. Hopefully we'll be better in a week."
Sports on 09/07/2016