IN THE TASK OF BUILDING MEN


 Similar expressions relative to the "Alabama jinx" were
made by Carl (Tootie) Perry, who was captain of the football
team in 1921.
 "I remember telling Dr. Murphree that if he would only
accompany the team we would be sure to win," Mr. Perry
said. "It was Alabama's homecoming game. Our team was
one of the best the University had ever produced, I believe.
The Alabama team was expected to win by at least two touch-
downs. Dr. Murphree had to make a very important trip
before the game, but he hurried through with it and came over
to Tuscaloosa to meet his boys. As soon as he arrived, things
began to cheer up.
 "Dr. Murphree did not become disheartened about the out-
come of the game even when members of the Alabama faculty
told him that it was their homecoming game and they simply
had to win. As many football fans in Florida remember, the
Gators won that game by a score of 9-2. Among the mem-
bers of that team was Ark Newton, who was playing his first
year and who scored all of Florida's points."
 Prof. Frazier Rogers, who has served for a number of
years on the faculty committee on athletics, has declared:
"No man in any capacity could have served the interests of
clean athletics more ardently than did President Murphree.
His efforts were untiring and his loyal support unfailing.
Every branch of athletics grew under the guidance of his hand.
He would go to any extent to uphold honest, straightforward
athletic teams. Whether they won or lost, he never lost heart.
His spirit of absolute fairness pervaded all of his dealings
with the coaches and members of the teams. One of the last
remarks I heard him make was 'we cannot permit friendship
for individuals to retard the future progress of athletics at the
University of Florida.'"
 Lamar Sarra, former captain of the "Fighting Gators'"
football team, an outstanding athlete of the University of Flor-
ida during all four of his years at the institution in three major
sports and now coach of. athletics at the Gainesville high
school, had this word to say about Dr. Murphree's support of
athletics in the University:
 "When Dr. Murphree came in contact with athletics he
became one of the boys. He liked all University sports but