SEC Network Announces Five New SEC Storied Films, Including ‘Wuerffel’s Way’ Debuts Tonight
By GatorZone.com // August 28, 2015
Special Premiere Tonight At 7:30 p.m. ET On ESPN
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA (GatorZone.com)– The newest SEC Storied film, “Wuerffel’s Way,” debuts Friday night at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The film is a documentary focused on the journey of Gator Great Danny Wuerffel – from winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship to spearheading the Desire Street Academy in New Orleans and leading recovery efforts for that community outreach program after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina ten years ago.
The special premiere of the film airs Friday night, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
In July, the SEC Network unveiled five new football-related SEC Storied documentaries slated to run in September.
Produced by ESPN Films – creator of the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning 30 for 30 series – the documentaries will debut on five consecutive Tuesday evenings throughout September at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
The roster of new SEC Storied films also includes the extraordinary turnaround of Auburn football in 2013, the sudden and tragic death of Bo Rein before he ever coached his first game at LSU, the acceptance that All-American defensive end Michael Sam found at the University of Missouri, and the odyssey of the late Alabama star linebacker Derrick Thomas through the eyes of a son he never knew.
ESPN Films launched the SEC Storied documentary series in September 2011, presenting fans the opportunity to explore the rich athletic history of the Southeastern Conference.
From extraordinary athletes and coaches to defining games and moments, the series has featured films that focus on the SEC’s recent and more distant past, including one of the most-viewed documentaries in ESPN history, “The Book of Manning.”
Earlier this year, SEC Storied received its first two Sports Emmy nominations for both “Outstanding Sports Documentary” and “Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics” with the film “It’s Time: The Story of Brad Gaines and Chucky Mullins.”
The September Lineup (all debut at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT)
Tuesday, September 1 – “Wuerffel’s Way presented by Chick-fil-A” (special premiere on ESPN, Friday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET)
Tuesday, September 8 – “Miracles on the Plains presented by Regions Bank”
Tuesday, September 15 – “The Bo You Don’t Know”
Tuesday, September 22 – “SAM presented by Dr Pepper”
Tuesday, September 29 – “In Search of Derrick Thomas presented by Belk”
Film Summary
“Wuerffel’s Way” – Directed by Jim Jorden
Danny Wuerffel was on top of the world at the end of the 1996 college football season. The University of Florida quarterback had just won the Heisman Trophy and led the Gators to a National Championship. But drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the spring of 1997, he struggled to attain the same kind of success in the NFL. It was in that first year as a pro that he began volunteering in New Orleans’ Desire neighborhood, one of the poorest locales in the country. After Hurricane Katrina devastated his Desire Street Academy in late August 2005, Wuerffel took the lead in tracking down his students, established a new location for the school in Florida, and expanded his outreach to help several more communities in the southeastern United States. He continued his efforts while battling a life-threatening illness. Now, ten years removed from the costliest natural disaster in American history, Wuerffel returns to New Orleans to dedicate the rebuilding of the Desire Community Square and further the cause he joined two decades ago.
