I come not to praise z00k but to bury him: As I’m sure you all recall the search for a new head coach was controversial; the selection more so. As long term denizens of the VS may remember I became disenchanted with Foley when he left, imo, SOS out to dry regarding the Dockett matter. Foley’s, imo again, cowardly behavior revealed his character in the harsh light of reality. When that was followed by the ‘Air Foley’ coach search tour ending in the selection, of the to me, wholly unqualified Ron z00k, I was thoroughly disspointed in the direction of Florida Football. We had suffered for my whole life until SOS came along, bringing us to the promised football land. To take a perennial top 10, arguably top 5 program and to turn it over to an NFL assistant, with no head coaching experience of any kind seemed particularly tragic. However, for some, Emperor Foley’s clothes were sparkling silk, he could do no wrong, nor could his new protégé. As time revealed the rather obvious deficiencies of z00k , it was clear he was the Anti-Spurrier. Uncontroversial, a spouter of coach speak, a tireless worker, a NICE guy but alas, essentially unintelligent and undyingly conservative. A man without an original thought in his head. Does that mean he can’t win as a football coach in the SEC, heck no, genius is NOT necessary to win in the SEC or for that matter nationally, but it does help. So we plodded on, told by many here and elsewhere that we shouldn’t believe our lying eyes, that z00k was better than SOS; (YOU remember who you are); that his recruiting would save the day, give him time, that SOS had left the cupboard ‘bare’. (no matter that we had more players drafted in the aftermath of z00k year one than any team save Miami, no matter that our QB had been the Heisman favorite before SOS left). As the z00k are preceded, we critics were told by his blind supporters that we were DISLOYAL, that we were stupid, that we should ‘get over it’ and embrace z00k. Any criticism was met with harsh verbal retribution. As things got worse, it was the ‘breaks’ or the ‘disloyal’ fans or lastly the assistant coaches. When he was hired, I thought the one bright spot was that he was a pro coach, that he’d bring in some bright young position coaches as coordinators; but no we went to MTSU and Marshall for our offense and ultimately to USC for our defensive coordinator. When they didn’t produce, they were blamed; still some could not imagine that the stench was coming from the head; that the philosophy was z00k’s; even when he’d tell them in plain English, they just couldn’t hear. The bottom line is that it appears z00k has undone the entire Spurrier area, he has, in a few short years returned Florida to mediocrity. He probably needs to go and soon. However there is arguably some uncertainty. Was the cupboard ‘bare’, does he have the midas touch in recruiting (despite the fact that he got Leak because Grossman was run off, that Crowder was an SOS recruit, that FASON committed while SOS was still there), if so does he ‘deserve’ another year. In my mind he ‘deserves’ nothing, that isn’t what it’s about. He was and is being handsomely compensated and if terminated will be well paid, total package, more than most make in a lifetime. What is important is the future of Florida football. As I have said from the end of year one, when I thought the experiment had abysmally failed, replacing a coach is costly for a program, you have to start over again. One failure can be overcome fairly rapidly a chain of failure cannot. The question is, next year, will he have a better program? Arguably the answer is yes, there will be more depth and the players he recruited will be a year older, a year more experienced. However a player like Crowder, the heart and soul of the defense will likely be gone. My fear is that next year z00k will win 8 or even 9 games and be given an even longer stay, then the inevitable, (again imo) will occur with a slide the following year. I received an email from a z00k supporter, saying he needs AT LEAST 2 more years? When does it end. I think we’ve seen more than enough, I say it’s not simply the losses, it’s the way the game is played and he doesn’t play it well. All games where the other team has even reasonable talent will be close, all games will be losable and eventually the top talent wont come to play under his systems; systems that have proven to be pathetically boring as well as ineffective. It is time to plan for the post-z00k era. Whether it be the Utah coach or some other solution, it is time to move on. I am sure some of those that attacked me for criticizing z00k still feel the same way but it seems I am not as lonely as I once was. I also believe that Foley should go but more importantly I believe that unless z00k loses MORE than the F$U and UGA games Foley wont fire z00k. (though I hope I’m wrong) It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why. Funny thing is z00k may salvage his season and career by winning one or both of those games, UGA is hardly unbeatable and F$U came very close to being beat by a pathetic Syracuse team. F$U and UGA both have very aggressive defenses and unless we change that philosophy or get very lucky we wont beat them but it is possible; if that occurs, z00kettes, step right up and say ‘I told you so’; I’ve stuck my neck out on z00k early on, so if I’m proved wrong I’ll get over it. Enjoy the rest of the season (bright side is, tickets will be ‘reasonably priced’, and GO GATORS!