Charley Pell

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Charley Pell (1941 - May 29, 2001) was the Clemson University head football coach from 1977 through 1978 and University of Florida football coach from 1979 through 1984, credited with laying the foundation for the later success of both programs.

Pell, a native of Albertville, Alabama, was a graduate of the University of Alabama; he played for the Crimson Tide under coach Bear Bryant as a lineman on his first national title team in 1961. Pell later served as a graduate assistant at Alabama. He earned his first job as head coach at the age of 28 at Jacksonville State University. Pell later coached at Clemson University, where he was twice named ACC Coach of the Year. During his tenure as head coach at Clemson he earned his nickname "Cheatin' Charley" because of deep involvement of NCAA rules and recruiting violations that came to light during his successor Danny Ford's tenure. Pell later coached the Florida Gators from 1979 through 1984, when he was fired in light of multiple NCAA rule violations, for which he took full responsibility. Pell had originally said he would resign at the end of the 1984 season, but after the NCAA announced that Florida was suspected of 106 violations, he was fired after three games. His successor, Galen Hall, won the 1984 SEC Championship, but the Gators were stripped of the title because of those violations. Pell was unable to secure another coaching job. He attempted suicide in 1994 and died of cancer in 2001

During the Pell years, the University of Florida undertook several major facility improvements at Florida Field, including the construction of a world-class training facility (the Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Athletic Training Center), the construction of the South End Zone stadium expansion, and the construction of the first luxury skyboxes. Pell is credited by many with turning around the finances of Florida Football but at the same time condemned for being responsible for NCAA violations that put the Gators on probation for 5 years.

[edit] See also

• Clemson University football recruiting scandal

[edit] Bibliography

• Litsky, Frank (2001). "Charley Pell Is Dead at 60; Ousted as Florida Coach." New York Times. May 31.
• (1984). "Florida President Waits No Longer, Fires Pell." Los Angeles Times. September 17.
• Henry, Orville (1966). The Razorbacks: A Story of Arkansas Football. Fayatteville: University of Arkansas Press.
• Nissenson, Herschel (2001). Tales From College Football's Sidelines. New York: Sports Publishing.
• Yaeger, Don (1991). Undue Process: The NCAA's Injustice for All. New York: Sports Publishing.

[edit] External links

• Charley Pell at Find A Grave

Preceded by Jim Blevins	Jacksonville State University Head Football Coach 1969–1973	Succeeded by Clarkie Mayfield
Preceded by Red Parker	Clemson University Head Football Coach 1977–1978	Succeeded by Danny Ford
Preceded by Doug Dickey	University of Florida Head Football Coach 1979–1984	Succeeded by Galen Hall

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