From the June 4, 1985 South Florida SunSentinel. Vince Dooley being the two-faced a-hole he was known for being.
The University of Florida Monday launched a broad-based, long-range study that will determine whether the Gators withdraw from the Southeastern Conference.
The study comes in response to action taken last week by SEC presidents, who stripped Florida of its 1984 conference football championship.
In announcing the study, Florida President Marshall Criser said the school will continue to recognize the football championship — Florida’s first in 52 years of competition — despite the SEC’s decision to leave the title vacant.
Last week at the SEC’s annual spring meeting, the presidents voted 6-4 to strip the title from Florida because of the NCAA investigation that uncovered 57 rules violations — many involving players on the 1984 team — and left the Gators with a two-year probation.
The presidents’ decision evoked an angered response from Florida officials, particularly since the SEC’s executive committee ruled April 3 the Gators could keep the title.
Criser, a former trail lawyer, also said legal action against the SEC is possible because SEC bylaws do not empower the presidents to take such action.
“I have asked our administration — academic and athletic — to reassess the position that this University occupies in relationship to the SEC. Specifically, what are the positive and negative factors in continuing in the SEC,” Criser said.
Reaction from around the conference was swift.
SEC Commissioner Boyd McWhorter sidestepped a confrontation, saying he was sure the Gators would “do the right thing.”
Bob Woodruff, athletic director at Tennessee, the school that spearheaded the campaign to strip Florida of its football title, said: “I would hate to see any school drop out, but the matter is out of our hands.”
Georgia football coach Vince Dooley expressed astonishment over Criser’s study. “I would almost have to see that statement before I would believe it,” Dooley said. “But I also know of the disappointment that he must feel.”
Criser, who leaves today on a two-week vacation, set no specific timetable for the study.
Some of the questions he expects answered include: How will it affect sports other than football? What are the considerations in further developing Florida’s women’s program? What scheduling problems will be encountered as a non-conference member?
“We’re not threatening to leave the conference,” Criser said. “We are looking at the positive and negative factors of this conference to determine whether it is in our best interest to continue.”
Criser said if Florida pulls out of the conference, the Gators could either remain independent or could possibly join another conference, although he offered no alternatives.
A major factor in Florida’s eventual decision will be its football schedule. The Gators already are scheduled against SEC opponents through 1991, and many of those games already are under contract.
If Florida withdraws from the SEC, it will be the fourth team to do so. Sewanee withdrew in 1940, Georgia Tech in 1964 and Tulane in 1966.
In direct defiance to the SEC’s decision last week, Criser said “We will continue to proclaim the 1984 team as the SEC football champions. We regard that issue as closed, and respectfully decline to recognize any action of the SEC after April 3, 1985.”
The SEC has not asked for the championship trophy to be returned, but Criser said “I don’t know what we’ll do” when someone asks for it.
Florida football coach Galen Hall, in Dallas when he learned of Criser’s announcement, praised the decision.
“We’re pleased he refused to recognize unwarranted action to take it away,” Hall said.
