Florida Gators
Florida A&M
On this date in Gators history: Aug. 26, 1984
Sunday, August 26, 2012 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
Charley Pell, citing turmoil surrounding the Florida program amid an ugly 20-month-long NCAA investigation into potential rules violations, informed UF officials that he would re-sign as the Gators football coach effective at the end of the '84 season.
In his letter of resignation, Pell admitted “the drive to win under the circumstances of a few years ago led me to make some mistakes.”
The news broke late on a Sunday night -- six days before the Gators were set to face defending national champion Miami in Tampa -- after Pell gathered his players for a meeting and informed them of his decision.
"He said it was best for the team," defensive coordinator Joe Kines said. "I had no idea it was coming."
UF officials called a press conference for the next day.
Incoming president Marshall Criser, due to take office in five days, and outgoing president Robert Marston accepted Pell's resignation and granted the coach's request to finish the season “to mitigate the damage to the student-athletes” and allow Pell the due process of the NCAA probe to be completed.
Ultimately, however, Criser would change his mind, with Pell stepping down three games into the '84 season.
