LIFE AND WORK OF DR. A. A. MURPHREE


 "I well recall the year it became necessary to disqualify
six of our best football men, if we were to conform to a ruling
in regard to standards of scholarships. There was a storm
of protest, and much bitter feeling. Dr. Murphree announced
quite simply but positively that the rule was there and would
be enforced, whatever the cost in games or scores.
 "This was his attitude toward all of our coaches. Now,
the coach frequently makes mistakes. No one ever heard of
a perfect athletic coach. But Dr. Murphree's attitude toward
them was that they must be given loyalty and support as long
as they were on the staff and doing what they felt to be right.
He held many conferences with coaches during each year, and
his word to them was 'We're back of you.'"
 During Dr. Murphree's first year at the University, Mr.
G. E. Pyle was secured as athletic director. He was a good
football coach, as the season during the year of 1911 demon-
strated. Florida's football team of that year proudly called
itself "champions of Florida and South Carolina," and pos-
sessed an undefeated team. The claim of championship of
South Carolina came about by their defeat of three strong
teams of that state.
 From the Seminole of that year, we read the following:
 "Florida-the undefeated-has this year made an envi-
able record. She has passed through her days of infancy,
and has made the 'Big Boys' sit up and take notice. Stetson,
who has been Florida's closest rival and who has always
claimed the championship of the state, was shown up by a
score of 27-0. Many of the Gainesville citizens journeyed
with the boys over to DeLand where Florida thrice crossed


Stetson's west goal and once paraded across her 'sacred' east
goal."
 During that year, the team also tied the University of
South Carolina and defeated Clemson, Columbia College, the
College of Charleston and won over Citadel 15-3.
 Baseball also took a stride forward that year, and under
Dr. Murphree's encouragement, a good team was built up and
a good schedule worked out.
 Another banner year in athletics in the old days was
1913-14. In the first game of the season the "Gators" piled


I