▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Florida ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 7 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁the ▁Florida ▁Legisl ature ▁author ized ▁state - fund ed ▁schools ▁of ▁medicine ▁and ▁n urs ing ▁with ▁a ▁university ▁hospital , ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁specify ▁G aines ville ▁as ▁the ▁site . ▁ ▁The ▁cities ▁of ▁Jackson ville , ▁Miami ▁and ▁T ampa ▁wanted ▁the ▁new ▁medical ▁school , ▁too . ▁ ▁Ult imately , ▁the ▁advis ory ▁committee ▁established ▁by ▁the ▁legisl ature ▁and ▁the ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁Florida ▁Medical ▁Association ▁recommended ▁G aines ville . ▁ ▁Miller ▁author ized ▁the ▁university ▁architect ▁to ▁begin ▁planning ▁for ▁the ▁new ▁health ▁center ▁facilities ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁consult ants ▁were ▁engaged , ▁Miller ▁prompt ed ▁the ▁prepar ation ▁of ▁the ▁" Med ical ▁Center ▁Study " ▁using ▁money ▁from ▁the ▁Commonwealth ▁Fund ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 2 , ▁and ▁presented ▁the ▁compreh ensive ▁plan ▁to ▁the ▁Florida ▁governor ▁and ▁cabinet . ▁ ▁The ▁legisl ature ▁appropri ated ▁$ 5 ▁million ▁for ▁construction ▁of ▁the ▁new ▁medical ▁sciences ▁building ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 3 , ▁and ▁construction ▁began ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 . ▁ ▁Miller ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁strong ▁pro ponent ▁of ▁the ▁university ' s ▁Florida ▁G ators ▁inter col leg iate ▁sports ▁program . ▁ ▁He ▁prompt ed ▁the ▁h iring ▁of ▁a ▁new ▁head ▁coach ▁to ▁rev ive ▁the ▁mor ib und ▁Florida ▁G ators ▁football ▁team , ▁advoc ated ▁the ▁expansion ▁of