October 24, 2004

Fallout of Florida's loss to Mississippi State continues

Florida Today's David Jones posted in article about the Gator's loss to Mississippi State yesterday and how it might well be the last nail in the coffin for head coach, Ron Zook.

Several Florida players are quoted in the article, all with very different reactions to the latest Gator loss and what it means to the future of Ron Zook.

"I don't worry about that at all," center Mike Degory said. "Coach Zook is our guy and we're looking forward to playing against Georgia with him."

Florida tailback Ciatrick Fason, who rushed for 143 yards on 16 carries, reacted a lot stronger to the defeat.

"I'm angry," Fason said. "We've got a lot of players that talk during the week like they are going to be ready, but today a lot of players weren't ready. The same players that were talking during the week weren't ready. I see that from a lot of players and I didn't say anything to them before the game because I was hoping they were going to step it up and they would realize you can't keep this team close like that."

Asked if he felt some of his teammates quit during the game, Fason grew emotional and only responded with a shake of the head. It went up and down, to say "yes."

The loss makes it close to impossible for Zook to survive the season. The Gators would undoubtedly have to run the table the rest of the way -- including a bowl win -- that would enable UF to finish 9-3. Before the game, Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley declined to comment on Zook.

"It doesn't make any difference how hard it is," said Zook of what's ahead. "You have to do it and we will do it. . . . I think we will look at this tape very closely and see who was laying it on the line and who wasn't."

As has been pointed out in previous articles, the infamous website FireRonZook.com crashed yesterday after the Gator's last-second SEC loss to the Bulldogs. (As of the posting of this article, it is still unavailable).

So, here's the questions for the Florida faithful and the SEC fans alike: Will Ron Zook survive this season as the head coach of the Gators? Should Florida win out and win their bowl game it is enough to keep his job? Is Spurrier waiting in the wings like so many Florida faithful hope or will Spurrier stay in retirement and enjoy playing golf? How much pressure does this loss put on the Gators to win this Saturday against Georgia in the world's largest cocktail party?

Post your comments here (keep 'em clean!). Let the debate begin!

Posted by Michael Hickerson

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1. ken williams says:

   posted on October 24, 2004 01:22 PM — link

   The Gator Nation and fans are at a lose for words today.Our promising season has all but ended. I really feel for the big play makers such as Leak,Fason,Degory and Small. I only hope Foley will do the right thing now, everyone knows what that is. Where are you Spurrier?

2. Michael Hickerson says:

   posted on October 24, 2004 01:27 PM — link

   OK, Florida nation, don't lynch me, but.....

   I am wondering about Chris Leak. He was highly touted but hasn't yet really won a big game outside of the on-the-road-win over LSU last year. Now, it is a reflection of Leak or is it an indictment of Ron Zook and his not being able to develop Leak?

   Just a way to open up some debate...

3. Mike says:

   posted on October 24, 2004 02:25 PM — link

   Zook is gone, they've got at least 4 games left on the schedule that the Gators could find a way to lose: UGA, Florida State, South Carolina and a possible bowl game. This looks like the last straw for ROn in Gainesville, but if they beat Georgia and South Carolina and win a bowl game, he should keep his job. The fact is, this isn't as good a team as Gator fans would like to believe. Channing Crowder makes alot of tackles because the defensive line is awful, and the seconary caved yesterday.

4. DAVE says:

   posted on October 25, 2004 12:23 AM — link

   IT WAS CLEAR, BUT IN RETROSPECT , TO FEW, THAT ZOOKS CHOICE TO START A FRESHMAN 4 GAMES INTO LAST SEASON, AND MAKE NO CHANGES WHEN RESULTS WERE UNSATISFACTORY, WAS A MAJOR INDICATOR THAT HIS THOUGHT PROCESS PATTERN WAS FATALLY FLAWED. THIS FOCUS IS ON ZOOK, NOT LEAK, ALTHOUGH HE IS AN AVERAGE QB AT BEST, REGARDLESS OF ALL THE MEDIA HYPE. HIS CHOICE OF OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, IS JUST THAT , OFFENSIVE. AND HIS MISMANAGEMENT OF GAMES HAS BEEN A GLARING FAILURE. THIS PERFORMANCE IS SIMPLY RIDICULOUS AND AN TRAGIC EMBARASSMENT TO TO UF AND ALUMNI PLAYERS.

5. Michael Hickerson says:

   posted on October 25, 2004 10:23 AM — link

   Looks like Dave found us since FireRonZook.com is down...LOL

6. From SEC College Football - Fanblogs.com

   pinged on Oct 25, 2004 10:52 AM

   ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit is now reporting that Florida Gators Head Coach Ron Zook and his staff have been fired effective at the end of the season by Athletic Director Jeremy Foley. Foley will apparently announce the move this afternoon. Herbstreit confi...