Gators fire head coach Ron Zook

[Gator]

WOOOOHOOOOOOOO It's about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you tell I'm happy!!!!!

Florida coach Ron Zook was fired Monday but will finish the season, a university source told The Associated Press on Monday.

The move comes after Florida (4-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) lost 38-31 on Saturday to Mississippi State, which was just 1-5 entering that game.

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It was Florida's 13th loss in three seasons under Zook, hired in 2002 to replace Steve Spurrier, who led Florida to a national championship in 1996.

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley told The Gainesville Sun that he and school president Bernie Machen met Sunday, then informed Zook of the decision Monday morning, the newspaper reported on its Web site.

Calls to Foley by The Associated Press were not immediately returned.

A news conference was scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Zook went 8-5 in his first two years at Florida. The Gators started 4-3 in 2002 before reeling off four straight victories. They opened 3-3 in 2003 - sparking speculation the coach would be fired - but then won five games in a row.


While Ron Zook still has a few games left to coach, many are wondering if Steve Spurrier will return to lead the Gators. (Eliot J. Schechter / GettyImages)


The Gators have had several late collapses in losses, including against Tennessee and LSU this season. And they have fallen out of The Associated Press Top 25 for the third straight year, after being voted No. 11 in the preseason poll.

Off the field, Zook got into a heated confrontation with several members of a fraternity last month while defending his players, behavior Foley called unacceptable and said would factor into a decision on Zook's future.

"Any time a fellow coach is fired, that's disappointing," Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said Monday. "Ron's a good football coach who has had an excellent career. I hate that he and his coaching staff and their families have to go through that. We know this is part of the business, but it's not a part of the business that any of us enjoy."

[RyanH]

What? You think a new Coach will help the Gators?????? I dont think so!!! LOL im pickin on ya!

[The_Kat]

You can't win em all, maybe it's not the coaching....maybe it's the players?

[huntn4bucks]

I think Spurrier is needing a job isn't he?!?!? lol

[Gator]

[ QUOTE ]
You can't win em all, maybe it's not the coaching....maybe it's the players?

[/ QUOTE ]

Kyle, the Gators have a sophomore qb that is awesome, good running backs, good recievers, they have just choked on games the last 3 years that they should have won. Nope, it's time for Zook to go!!

Huntn4bucks, I like what Spurrier did while at Florida, but I really don't want him back due to the way he left.

[buckbuster11]

It might be a good decision but I don't understand the timing at all. If you are going to fire someone right now, then get a replacement. If not, then fire him at the end of the season.

[Chrud]

Mayhem in Florida!

[Gator]

Buckbuster, I don't understand their reasoning for the way it was done either, maybe to have plenty of time to find a new head coach, unlike when they hired Zook.

[RyanH]

You think the coach will try harder? Maybe try to get his spot back? Or you think he wont care and just go to crap?

[Gator]

At this pouint, I really don't care. I didn't like him when he was hired, don't like him now, just glad to be rid of him.

[slugshooter]

As a lifelong Florida fan I was in heaven during the Spurrier years. I had hoped that Ron Zook would carry on the tradition but apparently it wasn't to be. They have an awesome team, but I guess the Alumni and Boosters weren't going to stand for a loss to Mississippi State.

[Gator]

[ QUOTE ]
As a lifelong Florida fan I was in heaven during the Spurrier years. I had hoped that Ron Zook would carry on the tradition but apparently it wasn't to be. They have an awesome team, but I guess the Alumni and Boosters weren't going to stand for a loss to Mississippi State.

[/ QUOTE ]

SS, zook also had a confrontation with some Frat students a coupkle of weeks ago to, so I'm sure that had a play in his departure. I haven't watched many games, but it just seems Fl had no "guts" at the end of several of their games, losing in the last couple of minutes