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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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Hugo "Hugeaux" R. Miller

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PART #2: THE DARK AGES: University of Florida Track & Field
by Hugo "Hugeaux" R. Miller


The Renaissance Period
University of Florida Track & Field
1969 - 1976

This can be described as a period where the Track program was flowering with diversity. There was a wide range of cultural and intellectual uniformity. There was a resurgence of learning the sport. This Renaissance revolution was an upheaval for developing high caliber national athletes. It changed the social make-up of the team. This era of 8 years was more athletically advanced than any other era prior to its time. This era has produced more multifarious Southeastern (SEC) champions post Dark Ages and prior to 1987. It appears that its natural philosophy was “Team Winning and Athletes well-being”. This era had developed a technique of comradeship that rendered to the magic of the sport. To listen to verbal testimonies of University of Florida Track athletes of The Renaissance Period, a person understands that there was a strong love for the coaching/consulting staff and a dedication for the art of winning. This was an era when the metric system was slowing making its way into the United States of America Track & Field arena. This era added approximately 39 SEC Indoor Champions and 29 SEC Outdoor Champions to the University of Florida Track program. A beginning of an era which shall not be duplicated again until the late 1980’s.


The Transformation from The Renaissance Period into The Dark Ages of The University of Florida Track & Field

Little is known about what had happen between the transitions. Various testimonies states a disagreement within the Athletic Department, but as the coaching staff began to change so did the attitude of the athletes. There became a barrier between the coach and the athlete. Few if any of the athletes from the Renaissance period where making the transition. Many had gone or were completing their athletic/academic scholarships. A new and younger era of stars were approaching. The national recognition brought by the team was now being under the microscope. Their competitors were reviewing what The University of Florida Track program would produce next. Very little had happen. The sport was entering the metric system and now competing with the rest of the world. There was developing a strong dissimulation between the athlete and the coach. The decline of the sport was insight. Many theories speculate that the coaching staffs were trying to ride the tails of their prior comrades, with little or nothing to contribute. Other theories prevail that the younger athletes trusted in the program to hone their talents with much disillusion. The connection between the athlete and coach had reached a deep low. By 1977-1979 the program had produced very few SEC champions.

The Track Women of University of Florida

Based on the little information known about the Track Women of The University of Florida there progression was very slow. In the 1970’s and 1980’s these female athletes did not have a locker room. They had to dress for practice in these respective dorms. There was not dormitory which housed the female athletes during the Renaissance and Dark Age period. Their recognition was carried by the UF Trackmen program. Very few were highlighted and or singled out to express their views. Some resources state that their program began in the early 1970’s. There is little known about their programs progression throughout these eras. However, they were a strong force to be reckon with. Little is known about their coaching turnover rate. Their friendships remain in tact throughout the decades.

Conclusion

These “Dark Ages” were a time when boys were entering manhood. This was a time when these young men were looking for new rules and customs to better their physical athleticism. They were seeking a higher level of organization and competitiveness. There hearts were set on breaking records or personally enhancing their performances. They were seeking a well-defined criteria of excellence. They were seeking to hone good sportsmanship and to entertain a broad range of competitors. The sportsmanship they brought with them to this era was a courtesy towards opponents and teammates, only to be faced by a aggressive disillusion.

These “Dark Ages” revealed the breaking down of these young men inter-selves. This was an era when these young men felt they were coaching themselves. Many saw their natural talents crushed. Many were not use to losing on a consecutive basis. As many began to see no light, the track became dark, thus “The Dark Ages”.

WE ARE NOT FORGOTTEN