Middlekauff from 1922–25 and in 1927 was a member of the University of Florida swimming,
track and
boxing teams. He was often called "Big Bill." At UF he was a member of
Alpha Tau Omega.
Football Middlekauff was a prominent
fullback for coach
James Van Fleet and coach
Tom Sebring's
Florida Gators football team of the
University of Florida from
1923 to
1924, and
1926 to
1927. One accounts recalls he "rams a line and can
back one up to perfection." Jeff Moshier called him Florida's greatest fullback. In 1927, the
Florida Alumnus, the official organ of the Florida Alumni, agreed. In his first season on the freshman team, the team won the southern crown for freshmen squads.
1924 In the 14–7 loss to Army, Middlekauff broke his left leg on what coach
Van Fleet argued was an uncalled clipping penalty. Middlekauff had only just returned to the team.
1926 Middlekauff returned in 1926.
1927 He was
captain of the team in 1927, elected after the regular captain Frank Oosterhoudt was declared ineligible. The season started poorly including an 0–12 upset to
Davidson before Middlekauff was elected captain, and was much better afterwards. He was the only player of the Gators selected
All-Southern that year. In an all-star game of Pacific Coast stars against
Southern stars hampered by rain, Middlekauff got the only score of the game in an 8–0 victory for the South. ==Boxing==