Huskerkill: Danny Wuerffel
22 comments so far
June 20, 2008 by
Like Peyton Manning, Wuerffel is a “by popular request� piece of Huskerkill. Picking on Wuerffel kind of feels like kicking a puppy both because he was so thoroughly punished by the Huskers but also because he’s such a genuinely great human being. Sure Wuerffel won the Heisman and a national championship after the 1996 season, but he also has a trophy named for him for athletes that perform exemplary community service and do well academically. He now dedicates his life to the Desire Street ministries which helps children in New Orleans.
If you don’t know what happened in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl then you’re probably not a Husker fan and you’ve probably never met one. No single game is so lovingly revisited by NU fans than this contest. Wuerffel was sacked seven times for 40 yards and a safety. He was intercepted three times including one that Nebraska cornerback Michael Booker returned 42 yards for a touchdown. The Huskers won by a 62-24 margin.
We’d seen that kind of dominance by Nebraska against the nobodies of college football. But this was an All-American quarterback who was leading an undefeated team ranked #2 in the country. His pass efficiency that year set a single season collegiate record. He’d lead Florida to the third of four straight Southeastern Conference championships. And yet against Nebraska, he looked like Beau Davis against Texas Tech in 2004. Well, maybe not that bad.
It was hard not to root for Wuerffel against the hated Seminoles a year later. Certainly his worst day doesn’t define him. He just ran into the wrong team (i.e. the greatest team in the history of college football) at the wrong time.
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bnahusker Jun 20 08
While Danny Wuerffel may be the name on the Huskerkill headline, it is Spurrier's face that I see whenever I read anything about that game. I am still amazed that his head didn't actually explode during that game.
GBR
Bob
Terry Smith Jun 20 08
I'll never forget Game of the Centurn II in Lincoln. The Sooners had lost 2 starters to injury the week before. Their quarterback and full back. The Huskers just knew they had Game of the Century II in the bag. It was a bad day for the Huskers as they didn't cross the 50 yard line into Sooner Territory until late in the 3rd quarter. Needless to say they lost. The worst thing about that day was what those class Husker fans in Lincoln did to the Oklahoma fans. They shot out windows in 40+ cars with Oklahoma License plates and trashed the hotel rooms of several Oklahoma fans staying at the Holiday Inn Airport.
NO2OU Jun 20 08
Terry,
This is a Nebraska website, not a Slowkahoma one. By the way, who was the QB for that Oklahoma team? That's right, it was the crack dealing Charles Thompson. If you want to discuss classy fans, let's talk about the OU Ruffneks. The Ruffneks were a group of jarhead wannabes that were allowed on the field before games to harass opposing teams.
saunders45 Jun 20 08
Terry, I have a quote for you.
"Pot, meet Kettle."
Grant Jun 20 08
Why in the world would you post a comment regarding Century II game, for a topic involving Danny Wuerfell? Can you say troll?
bnahusker Jun 20 08
Terry missed a great opportunity to share a story of a great player that was Schoonered by OU. What a shame!
Happy Friday, and Go Big Red!
Bob
Greg Morrow Jun 20 08
Before I even read this post, I was going to write, "yeah, but he's such a wonderful guy." Then, I see Steve takes care of that.
Had Nebraska somehow slipped past James Brown and his Bevos of renown, it would've been a tough rematch with Wuerffel and Superior. Though, most of Nebraska's defense was intact from '95.
Wuerffel was fortunate Superior picked him up for those extra seasons at Washington. But that reminds me of Nebraska players who hang on in the NFL for a few seasons, but don't distinguish themselves. They essentially got paid for being great Nebraska players. And like with Wuerffel, I don't mind when that happens.
saunders45 Jun 21 08
Shoo fly, don't bother me. I think VT will be slightly harder than SJSU.
Ed Jun 22 08
lol, a buff fan trying to flame is just too funny. They'll be fighting KSU for 6th place in the north this year.
Jason Jun 22 08
For all of you folks stopping by for the first time, try not to get yourselves too worked up. We're just having a little fun in the offseason.
And if you think we're taking ourselves a little too seriously, I encourage you to our Husker Killers series.
You CU fans will especially appreciate this one.
OU7times Jun 23 08
Terry, are you sure that happened at the "Game of the century 2"? I was at that game and I'm just sure that it couldn't have been done by the NU fans I saw cause they were all just sitting there with their mouths wide open and paralyzed, unable to move, even. Heh,heh...
NO2OU Jun 23 08
Charles Thompson- Crack Dealer
OU7imes Jun 23 08
Yea, he was a COCAINE dealer, actually. If you are going to hate someone or something, try to be factual. Sad fact is that he was a doper and still beat a good team. Seems to me that a really good response from you would have been to acknowledge that a few rotten "fans" don't represent thousands of good ones. You might want to sip and not gulp your Haterade. BTW, how's Lawrence Phillips these days?
NO2OU Jun 24 08
There's not a big difference between cocaine and crack. Let's just call him a dope dealer.
Jerry Parks- shot a teammate
Charles Taylor- dope dealer
Barry Switzer- Arrested at an airport with a loaded gun
The list goes on and on.
From 1973 on, OU football was known for academic fraud, coaches providing alcohol to players, drugs, players with weapons, and sexual assaults. In 1988, Oklahoma was placed on a three year probation for players accepting money and gifts from boosters. By the spring of 1989, at least five OU players were facing charges ranging from drug dealing to shooting to rape. In addition to probation, Switzer was forced to resign. A legendary coach resigning after a legendary scandle.
You can have the 1987 win. We'll take integrity.
NO2OU Jun 24 08
By the way, Lawrence Phillips was an isolated case. He wasn't needed to win the national title that year. NU had Ahman Green, who rushed for over 1000 yards that year. Phillips was allowed back on the team to improve his draft status so that he might straighten his life out. Dick Vermeil tried very hard to help him out in St. Louis as well.
If you want, I can write a comprehensive list of OU players and their discretions. It's very lengthy.
OU7times Jun 24 08
Bitter Soul should be your book title. For your info NU has had plenty of scandleous players and coaches. You enlighten me...not! You choose to hate. If you have kids (unlikely) do you have control over every move they make? Answer is NO. So if you don't why does a coach have to be a baby sitter for over 100 kids? Face it, it's easier for you to judge on "isolated" incidents to bolster your hatred for a team that has beat you for titles. It's isolated when only your team does it,i'm sure. Grow up and use your "stats" to impress the 13 yr. olds in your neighborhood. Maybe you can team up with Steve and start a neighborhood "He man Sooner haters Club". Heh,heh...
Steve Jun 24 08
OU7,
Why do you gotta drag me into this? It's bad enough Terry had to take a post about Danny Wuerffel and make it about a game played against an entirely different opponent 8 years earlier. Seriously, when have I ever dissed the Sooners?
If anything, my comments about the Sooners have been downright glowing:
http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2008/02/big_12_recruiting_roundup_okla.html
http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2008/01/big_12_state_of_the_union_okla.html
http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2007/08/2007_opponent_previewoklahoma_1.html
http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2007/02/big_12_classes_of_2007_oklahom.html
http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2007/02/state_of_the_union_oklahoma.html
http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2006/11/as_it_should_be.html
OU7times Jun 24 08
Just remember, when you judge a team (in this instance)by the acts of 1 or 2 players you spit in the face of the other 98 or 99 players who do it right. That mentality is dangerous as well as just plain ignorant.
OU7times Jun 24 08
Heh,heh, Steve ole buddy. I was referring to when you let me have it with both barrels, at least once. I understand how you feel about OU. Regardless, I still like your articles a lot. Signed..."The Highjacker".
Steve Jun 24 08
Thanks OU7,
I'm hoping it won't be long before we'll have more real "business" to discuss about our teams like we did in early December 2006. Like Darren, I think the Huskers will just have to take our medicine in Norman this year.
NO2OU Jun 24 08
It's not 1 or 2 players. If you want the rest of the details, check out the February 27th 1989 edition of Sports Illustrated.
By the way, Terry hijacked this thread. I'm just responding to the pride demonstrated by certain posters regarding a dirty and corrupt OU program.
bnahusker Jun 25 08
Can't we all just get along? hehehe
Along with the bad we also get the likes of Midren and J.C. Watts.
If you are looking for dirt, you will find it.
Sign me "Too busy to Hate OU"
GBR
Bob