CHAPTER TEN
 IN THE TASK OF BUILDING MEN

 Athletics at the University of Florida
 Be strong!
 We are not here to dream, to drift;
 We have hard work to do, and loads to lift;
 Shun not the struggle-face it; 'tis God's gift.
 Be strong!
 It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,
 How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
 Faint not-fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

 S THE University of Florida grew, athletics in all
 its collegiate forms grew with it. And Dr. Mur-
 phree kept in close touch with the expanding needs
 of good, clean sport in the institution. He con-
sidered the faculty committee on athletics one of the most
important groups it became his duty each year to appoint.
 During the last few years of his administration he placed
Prof. P. L. Reed of the College of Engineering as chairman
of the athletic committee. Prof. Reed recalls that it was with
members of this committee that the late president met as the
last official group he saw on a very important matter of athletic
policy during the Christmas vacation before his death.
 "He was fond of athletics, but he wanted all sports con-
nected with the University to be unmistakably clean," Prof.
Reed comments. "Frequently the athletic committee, or my-
self as chairman, would make a ruling that would be criticized
by the athletes involved, by students, or by others. On such
occasions, Dr. Murphree would call me in and we would go
over the whole matter. If there was a written rule on the
subject almost invariably Dr. Murphree would get it down
and read it carefully. Then he would sy:
 "'This course is right, and we shall not vary from it to suit
the whim or criticism of anyone.' He would back me to the
limit when he felt we were on the right path.