NEW ORLEANS, LA, May 2, 1956 - The National Collegiate Athletic Association's Council today placed Auburn on probation for three years and warned the school that any infractions during the period may lead to explusion from the NCAA.
One other Southeastern Conference school, the University of Florida, and the University of Louisville also were placed on probation. Their probations are for two years.
The probations are effective immediately.
The University of Florida's athletics were ruled ineligible to enter athletes or teams in NCAA competition and those invitational events which cooperate with the NCAA in the administration of its enforcement program.
Florida's violations apparently occurred in all sports, Walter Byers, executive director of the NCAA, said.
The University of Florida was found guilty of violating NCAA bylaws "in that staff members of the university, during at least the past four years, have offered prospective student athletes financial aid contrary to that permitted by this association and the Southeastern Conference."
The prospective student athletes were told that "alumni of the university would provide funds for two or three round trips a year between the particular student athlete's home and the campus," the NCAA said.
The NCAA added that it found Florida had provided during the same period for student athletes transportation between the university campus and their homes two and sometimes three times a year.
The arrangements for the transportation, the NCAA said, were made by "university staff members with alumni and friends of the university, who, in turn, gave the money or tickets direct to the student athletes involved or gave it to the University Athletic Department for transmission to the student athletes."
Byers said he understood Florida discontinued the practice in December, 1955, when the NCAA started its investigation.
The NCAA said it found that the policy of transportation apparently took in all student athletes who "lived outside the state of Florida and were awarded regular grants in aid."
GAINESVILLE, FL, May 2, 1956 - Through a misunderstanding of NCAA regulations, the University of Florida permitted alumni and friends of the university to pay for athlete's trips to their homes, Professor HP Constans, faculty athletic chairman, said today.
The university today was put on two years probation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, barring its teams and individual athletes from competing in NCAA championship meets and invitational events sanctioned by the NCAA, such as football bowl games.
"Coach Bob Woodruff knew that athletic association funds could not be used for transportation of student athletes, however, he thought that it was permissible to have alumni and friends of the university provide such transportation," Constans said.
He said the practice has been discontinued since it was learned at the Southeastern Conference meeting in December that such transportation payments were not within regulations.
Woodruff was out of the state and not available for comment.
Constans said he represented the university in recent conferences with NCAA officials over the charges brought by the NCAA against the University of Florida.
But he indicated surprise at the probation action of the NCAA council.
"I am deeply concerned at the severity of the penalty," he said. "Coach Bob Woodruff, director of intercollegiate athletics, knew that athletic association funds could not be used for transportation of student athletes, however, he thought it was permissible to have alumni and friends of the university provide such transportation.
"Upon receipt of notification from Commissioner Moore of the Southeastern Conference at the last annual meeting of the conference that transportation could not be provided student athletes, the practice ceased.
"Coach Woodruff has consistently maintained that the university's athletic policies have been in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Southeastern Conference as we understand them.
"The infraction for which the University of Florida is now being penalized grew out of a misunderstanding of the results of a meeting of athletic directors and head football coaches of the Southeastern Conference held several years ago.
"At the request of the University of Florida for an interpretation by the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, the athletic directors and head football coaches of member institutions in the SEC were instructed specifically by the commissioner at the last annual conference meeting in December, 1955, regarding transportation as allowed under the Dartmouth amendment.
"The commissioner notified all conference members, some of whom had the same misunderstanding as the University of Florida, that alumni aid for transportation of student athletes would be regarded as a violation of the Dartmouth amendment of NCAA rules and regulations as well as the rules and regulations of the Southeastern Conference."
First: On October 16, 1920, Florida was faced with a similar situation. They had a game scheduled with Rollins, but Rollins wasn't able to make the game. Count it as a win for the mighty Gators. It's interesting to me that this game they cancelled with UCLA wasn't counted as a loss. I have a feeling it would have been a win if the situation had been reversed and UCLA had to cancel.
Second: FSU had tried to schedule UF for a number of years. UF always had an excuse why they couldn't do this. One of the main excuses in 1956 and 1957 was they had already scheduled 10 games and couldn't get out of the contracts. Check out their new excuse when we offered to play them so they could complete a 10 game schedule!!
Third: The Gators were back to full practices the week of the game on September 15.
GAINESVILLE, FL, September 10, 1957 - Influenza upset the University of Florida's football timetable today. Because of an outbreak of the virus among Gator players, Florida Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Bob Woodruff announced his team's scheduled opener September 20 with the University of Californina at Los Angeles in the West Coast city had to be canceled.
The decision to call off the game was reached early this afternoon following medical advice that many of Florida's gridders would not be physically able to play.
Some 65 varsity and freshmen players have been stricken since the squad assembled on the campus August 30. Four players were admitted to the infirmary yesterday, bringing the total in the hospital to 13.
Woodruff and team physician WW McChesney met with University President J Wayne Reitz and Faculty Chairman of Athletics Phil Constans to discuss the problem. They agreed that cancellation of the game was the only course to follow.
Following the meeting here, Woodruff contacted UCLA Athletic Director Wilbur Johns and told him the decision. The UCLA director had been told last Sunday that such a decision might be reached later in the week as it was becoming apparent that the Gators would not be physically capable of playing in the Los Angeles game.
The decision, however, does not mean that Florida and UCLA will not collide this year. Both Woodward and Johns are considering rescheduling the game at the end of the regular season.
Florida closes out its regular campaign on November 30 while the Uclans are scheduled to wind up November 23, against traditional rival Southern California.
"If the game is rescheduled we will first have to agree on a date to play," Woodruff said, adding, "then each team will have to receive the approval of its conference."
Woodruff was obviously unhappy after announcing the game was off.
"The decision to cancel was a tough one and I know our boys are disappointed, but we must follow medical advice. It is impossible to play a football game until these boys are fully recovered," he declared.
Whether it is Asian flu that is racking the players is not known. The university's school of medicine is currently running tests to determine the type. A report is expected tomorrow.
Players stricken first suffer headaches followed by fever for about three days, Dr. McChesney said. The team physician revealed the flu is often followed by coughs, sore throats and muscular weakness.
It is five days or longer before a player is ready for practice after being released from the infirmary.
The Gators were sent through an hour of drill this morning and those who had suffered the flu showed signs of exhaustion.
The squad returned to the grind this afternoon after being held up for about 15 minutes becuse of rain.
Florida's flu trouble started August 31 when Billy Booker reported to the infirmary. During the first practice, September 3, halfback Jim Rountree and others bowed to the virus.
Rountree returned to the practice field this morning but participated in only dummy drills and avoided any contact.
The outbreak has been so widespread that only seven of the 25 Gators who played varsity football last season have been at every practice thus far.
Oddly, the flu has hit all positions but quarterback.
Now the Gators are scheduled to open here September 28 against Wake Forest, but even then the team may not be at full strength because more sqaud members may be stricken.
TAMPA, FL, September 14, 1957 - Coach Tom Nugent of Florida State University proposed today that FSU and the University of Florida play in Tampa's Cigar Bowl football game in December, apparently overlooking the fact that Florida is on probation by the NCAA and ineligible for post season bowl games.
As an alternate proposal, Nugent said he would be willing to consider trying to cancel one of his regular games so FSU and Florida might play a regular season game this year.
Bob Woodruff, Florida's football coach and athletic director, did not take to that proposal much either.
Woodruff said he might not schedule a 10th game "unless we can get a good trip for the boys."
He said he would not play another game in Florida after the Miami contest November 30 because it would be an anti-climax.
Woodruff said, "I have not been contacted by Coach Nugent. From the press report I have received, the whole idea is so obviously impossible that it should need no comment.
"However, to clarify the stuation:
"1. Florida is not eligible for a post season game in the Cigar Bowl or any other bowl.
"2. We certainly would not want FSU to break its contract with North Carolina State on October 12, Floirda's open date.
"3. As far as I am concerned, Florida will not fill its open date with anyone just for the purpose of playing a 10 game schedule. Many teams, such as all Big Ten teams, Army, Navy, etc. play nine games, and we have a rugged schedule left to play, even without UCLA.
"Any game that we would consider scheduling after the Miami game in December would be for the sole purpose of giving our players a wonderful trip."
Nugent said that he made the offer to solve Florida's problem of finding a 10th opponent this season. The Gators were left with only nine games when the scheduled opener against UCLA was cancelled because a flu epidemic hit Florida.
Florida and Florida State are scheduled to play their first game in Gainesville in 1958.
"We may not be quite ready to play a team of the caliber of the Gators, but we certainly would welcome the opportunity," Nugent said. "We are sorry to hear about Florida's flu trouble and if there is anything we can do to help so they can get 10 games, we would be glad to do it."