COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Kresser Gives Wuerffel-Like Effort in Florida Rout

Eric Kresser showed Saturday what might have been if he had not been sentenced to spend his entire Florida career in the shadow of Danny Wuerffel.

With Wuerffel’s Heisman candidacy given the day off against an overmatched opponent, Kresser made his first start in four years and broke Wuerffel’s school passing record with 458 yards, leading the No. 3 Gators to a 58-20 rout of Northern Illinois.

“In the beginning, I was real excited and overthrowing some guys,” said Kresser, whose six touchdown passes fell one short of the school mark. “But once I got calmed down, things went a lot better.”

Coach Steve Spurrier, caught off-guard when told his backup quarterback is now in the Florida record book, denied there is a quarterback controversy. Wuerffel is the starter and Kresser is the backup, he said.

Playing only three quarters, Kresser carved up the overmatched Huskies (3-6) with a 26-for-42 performance, leading Florida to only the second 8-0 start in school history.