Zooker Fired!

This news is now - old news. But it is still sad news. Ron Zook the head coach of the Florida Gator's football program has been fired effective at the end of the season.

No, this isn't sad news because Zooker was a great football coach. It is sad because Ron Zook is a great man. He is not just "a class act", but "THE class act" from the University of Florida. He came in at a time when other coaches abandoned us (Mike Shanahan, Bob Stoops, Steve Spurrier) and rallied the Gators with hard work and determination second to none. He accepted a challenge that no coach ever wants to accept. Zooker followed the legend that is Steve Spurrier. Even a great college coach would have a tough time being successful with this task. However, Zook accepted that challenge gladly. He is the model of everything a Gator should strive to be. He knew what he was getting into, having coached at Florida before in the early 90's with Spurrier. He knew that it was both the best job in the country and probably career suicide all rolled together.

No one has put in more tireless hours for the Gators than Ron Zook. No one. We are talking about a man who told the Florida athletic director that the first thing he needed was a cell phone - a waterproof cell phone - so that he could always be in touch with the players. Zook's tireless recruiting was noticed by all the coaches in the NCAA - in fact rumor was that the NCAA was considering a new rule called "The Zook Rule" to slow down some of his recruiting because it was making the other coaches have to work harder to keep up. Ron Zook defined the term "work ethic" No one ever worked harder. No one.

The reason that this is sad, is not because it was the wrong move, or because it was a bad decision. No, it is because we all want to see good people who work hard be rewarded for their efforts. People with character like Ron Zook, are the people you pull for. They are the reason that you pull for the underdog. If you respect character, then you respect Ron Zook. I watched him give his speech at the press conference where they were announcing his firing and he showed more class than any coach I can remember. The man walked in with his head held high, and went out the same way, as he should. Knowing that he gave us his best as our coach, he left us the same way. We can always be proud of Coach Zook.

Thank You Coach. Thank you for the thrilling victories and the heartbreaking losses that make us appreciate the victories that much more. Thank you for accepting the challenge against all odds, and for recruiting your heart out. Thank you for being a loyal and true Gator.

Thank You, Zooker. Thank You.

Go Gators