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Hugo R. Miller aka Hugeaux is an artist/documentarian/photographer and member of the University of Florida Track & Field Alumni

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Part #1
University of Florida Track & Field
THE DARK AGES
1977 - 1983
by
Hugo “ Hugeaux” R. Miller

Names have been omitted to protect the privacy of the individuals
This document speak about University of Florida Track & Field and not about cross-country

Dedicated to the men and women of The University of Florida Track & Field Programs

July 20, 2011. Summer

Preface:
A person asked my close friend what do I do for a living…my close friend reply he documents indigenous cultures…I smile and replied…Yes! I guess this is what I do”…Hugo

The Dark Ages
University of Florida Track & Field
1977 - 1983

The term Dark Ages is synonymously related to the middle age era, however the term has seen various changes throughout history. This documentation refers to the term Dark Ages as a period which little is known about this era as it related to the University of Florida Track program. Most of the information gathered about this period is through verbal documentation of the track athletes who were apart of this period at the University of Florida. The term Dark Ages refer also to the weakness of this program and the implications it had on the track athletes.

Track and field was the major part of these scholarly athletes who travels from around the country to take part in this program. Many of these athlete were honing themselves to be the top of their events and sort this program to assist in their development. Un-benounced to many this was the era where the University of Florida Track program crashed after a very celebrated early 1970’s era. The fallout of this program left many of the track athlete defending for themselves. Some of the athletes focused on there studies with the option to complete their college degrees, however many tried to rely on there natural talents in their events in the hopes to be propelled into a national or Olympic status. Many of the athlete quit and divorced themselves from the sport.

With the structural weakness of the program a cycle of depression overtook the program for many. What turned out to be a major introduction to the collegiate sports arena became a concourse for survival. For some the love of the sport had became the demand of the sport. This was an era when these Track athletes had to make rational decisions on irrational situations. Many of the athletes personal testimonies will leave one speechless about the events which occurred during these “Dark Ages”.

As many of these scholarly athletes became discouraged, few channeled there energies toward completely their academic term, before their athletic terms were over. During “The Dark Ages” of University of Florida Track program, there was a major/high quitting, separation and transferring rate. This is probably the highest rate of scholarly athletes consecutively quitting in the entire University of Florida Track History. During this time The University of Florida Track program produce only a runner-up Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship in 1981. As many athletes became discouraged with the program, the program began to decline. On an average many of the athletes remained a total of up to 2 years of their 4 year scholarships.

Current theories equate the caused were due to a poor coaching/consulting staff. Some theories argue that due to a poor SEC and NCAA Champion producing rate of track athlete, the program could not keep the track athletes it recruited. With a poor performance record the program became wrecked with depression. Many of these scholarly athletes have carried on for 30 years the psychological scars which we involuntary placed onto them. Many of these athletes have tried to block this era of their lives out. Many find these years very difficult to talk about. These scars are deep and depending on the nature of the insult, will never be resolved. The treating of an athletes like cattle was an insult.

This era which added approximately 9 SEC Indoor Champions and 21 SEC Outdoor Champions to the University of Florida Track program is one the lowest ratio in the college’s sports history.


July 21, 2011. Summer

The Dark Ages of the University of Florida Track was a transitional period for the program. Prior to The Dark Ages the program has gained national attention. It had placed in the upper 10% of the NCAA Championships. It produced a first in The University of Florida Track history with the 1975 Mile Relay. The programs popularity was overwhelming. It was the University of Florida Track’s RENAISSANCE PERIOD.

(Continue to Part #2)