GAINESVILLE - Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel don’t just live in Florida football lore. They’ve got bronze statues at the Swamp, places in the Ring of Honor and permanent spots in the memories of Gators fans.
Seeing all three together in Gainesville is another matter entirely.
On Sunday, that rare gathering turned the inaugural Florida Legends Card Show into something much bigger than a trading card event. The three Heisman-winning quarterbacks signed autographs, met fans and helped bring attention to a fundraiser tied to the Isiaiah 1117 House, a nonprofit that provides a home for children removed from their families while they wait for foster care placement.
“In terms of doing an event just for Gators that have the three of us, this is a pretty rare ticket to get,” Wuerffel said.
The action centered at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center, with a high-priced dinner later scheduled at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille featuring Spurrier, Tebow and Wuerffel as guests of honor. Organizer Freddie Wehbe set the goal at $1 million for the nonprofit.
Spurrier said the mission behind the event gave the weekend real weight.
“I heard something the other day about children like this - one out of five become homeless when they get to 18 or 20,” Spurrier said. “This Isaiah 117 group gets them in school, gets them somewhere to stay, and hopefully they’ll have a good future. They got a chance.”
For fans, the draw was obvious: three of the most recognizable figures in Gator Nation in one place, taking photos, signing footballs, tossing short passes and trading handshakes and hugs.
For some, it was the kind of moment they’d never forget.
Michael Herkov, a 66-year-old former UF psychology professor and Gainesville resident since 1990, called catching a throw from Tebow “a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Herkov wore a Tebow jersey while meeting the quarterback with his sons, Stephen and John. He said he lived through Florida’s first national championship with Wuerffel running the offense and Spurrier calling the shots, then attended the Gators’ 2008 national title win in Miami with Stephen.
“I’ve been watching him play football since I was a little kid, and it was just awesome to meet him in person,” Stephen said. “He’s a great guy.”
Herkov said Tebow’s impact goes beyond football.
“Seeing how he’s been able to turn the God-given gifts of athleticism into all this good just makes it all special,” Herkov said.
Lake City’s Victoria Peurrung had her own memorable turn. She caught a pass from Tebow, immediately did a split and drew cheers from the former quarterback before cradling her signed football.
“I’ve gone to some of his fundraisers because he does so many good things for everybody,” she said. “It was amazing.”
Tebow drew a more limited crowd than the others, with access restricted to those who paid to meet him and a large partition separating that area from the card show tables and general crowd. When asked about the day, a member of his PR team said the 39-year-old native of the Jacksonville area could not fit the request into his schedule.
Later, the three were set to be photographed with fans at Spurrier’s restaurant before sitting down for dinner. Prices for the table seats reflected the exclusivity: $749 for Tebow, $449 for Spurrier and $349 for Wuerffel.
“When will that happen again?” Herkov said. “Three Heisman Trophy winners from the same school and getting a photo with them.”
The weekend also brought serious money into the trading card world. The show featured 202 vendors, and by Saturday, many millions had already changed hands.
One of the standout pieces was a 2018 Kaboom Green card of Tebow from his time as a baseball player in the New York Mets organization. Geoff Wilson, a 2001 UF graduate from Sarasota, owns the only one printed.
Wilson, who founded Sports Card Investor in Atlanta, said his $6,000 purchase is now worth $60,000, though he has no intention of selling.
“I bought it not for the value of the card; I bought it for just wanting it for my collection,” he said.
Wilson said the Gainesville setting made the show stand out because Gator cards don’t get the same reaction elsewhere. He sold hundreds of cards Saturday and had to restock before the final day.
“Nowhere else do they really care about my Gator cards,” he said.
Vendors tailored their setups to the crowd. Steve Weitlaugh of Grand Slam Collectibles in Ocala brought 75 footballs signed by the three Heisman winners and 300 jerseys with Wuerffel’s No. 7, Spurrier’s No. 11 and Tebow’s No. 15, each with signatures, priced at $695.
With orange and blue filling the building and the three quarterbacks at the center of it all, the day had a feel that was part memorabilia show, part Gators reunion.
“It’s an incredible trilogy of talent today,” Gainesville’s Greg Schultz said. “It’s really nice that they’ve done this, and the cause that they’re raising money for is even more important.”
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