The definitive photo of the Ron Zook era at Florida

[jaywalker72]

I can remember @oxking, @oxrageous and I discussing this photo the morning after this 34-7 debacle, at home, vs. LSU, in which Grossman was picked off four times and won in the Swamp for the first time since 1986.

This picture perfectly captured the defiant, noise in the system defensiveness Zook displayed while over his head as the head football coach at Florida.

Discuss and/or share your definitive photo of the Zook era.

 

[gatorev12]

I downvoted "ban" because Zook memories are best suppressed as a hangover between the Spurrier and Meyer eras.

Don't even ask what the Chump and Butters eras are best suppressed with: dangerously high amounts of unhealthy substances.

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

After getting thumped by Iowa in the 2004 bowl game.

 

[GatorBart]

Following the 04' loss at MSU, and his job, thankfully.

The Ghosts Of Mississippi State
I came from the west coast to see that 04' game in StarkVegas. My friends thanked me later for my sacrifice (At the time, I hadn't seen the Gators win a game I had attended since the 97 FSU game, so I was like 0-7 going into it, thinking I was going to break my streak). The streak went to 0-8, but better things were to come for the Mighty Gators. I haven't seen them lose in person since.

 

[-THE DUDE-]

Why would we want to relive that era?

Mine would be him getting carried off the field against FSU after finally getting past the tally curse. I remember late in the game there was a 4th and short on fsu side of the field and he went for it and got it that pretty much sealed the game. I thought at the time had he coached like it was his last game every game maybe he wouldn’t have failed as bad. Had he not been fired he punts and we blow the game for another disaster of a loss.

 

[AuggieDosta]

...at a BANK!

 

[soflagator]

Honestly, not sure I've ever seen that first one. Man was he stomping his feet. Fortunately, I decided not to drive up for that game. This is my quintessential Zook pic. Sorry, for the poor angle.

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

Zook’s reaction after hearing how much buyout cash he was getting after being sacked.

 

[soflagator]

Why would we want to relive that era?

Mine would be him getting carried off the field against FSU after finally getting past the tally curse. I remember late in the game there was a 4th and short on fsu side of the field and he went for it and got it that pretty much sealed the game. I thought at the time had he coached like it was his last game every game maybe he wouldn’t have failed as bad. Had he not been fired he punts and we blow the game for another disaster of a loss.

I'm almost positive if Bowden(Jeff) had put Rix in any earlier, we lose that game.

 

[-THE DUDE-]

I'm almost positive if Bowden(Jeff) had put Rix in any earlier, we lose that game.

I forgot about him not starting...he always tore us up and he had them coming back late. We were about the only team he could pass against oddly enough

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

Zook’s look of bewilderment wondering why the players didn’t follow him out of the tunnel...only to realize that he ran to the UGA side of the field in Jax while the rest of the team ran to the Florida side.

 

[soflagator]

Zook’s reaction after hearing how much buyout cash he was getting after being sacked.

I think that was actually after he'd received the news about this little invention.

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

Zook showing off his water skiing skills.

 

[SGG]

A little off topic, but....if anyone listens to Tate Casey’s podcast, he has Chris Leak on this past week and has had Percy, Ahmad Black, Spikes, and other members of Meyer’s UF teams on at different times this season.

This past week he really delved into the S&C program that Mickey Marotti brought with him when Meyer took the job. They basically alluded to Zook’s teams being soft like Butters’ teams, and that those initial “winter workouts” broke several players that weren’t used to busting their asses in the gym.

I know when ltraz reads this, he’ll probably have a stroke and say the opposite, since he was around during the Zook years and has a man crush on the guy, but it made sense when comparing the two eras.

They also both said that Savage has had a similar effect in weeding out the lazy, soft ass Butters specials from the past regime.

 

[CapitalGator02]

Discuss and/or share your definitive photo of the Zook era.

I went to the Salty Dog after that game and got absolutely loaded off of Jager Bombs. Come to think of it, being wasted was a common reoccurring theme for me during the Zook era.

 

[oxrageous]

Yeah, @jaywalker72 and I were sitting up in the empty stands as the time ticked away wondering how the hell we had gotten to that point. How could Grossman, screwed out of the Heisman just months earlier, be so ruined by a new staff so quickly?

 

[jaywalker72]

Yeah, @jaywalker72 and I were sitting up in the empty stands as the time ticked away wondering how the hell we had gotten to that point. How could Grossman, screwed out of the Heisman just months earlier, be so ruined by a new staff so quickly?

Really proved that Grossman needed Spurrier's foot up his bottom full time to make the most of his talent.

 

[SeabeeGator]

Yeah, @jaywalker72 and I were sitting up in the empty stands as the time ticked away wondering how the hell we had gotten to that point. How could Grossman, screwed out of the Heisman just months earlier, be so ruined by a new staff so quickly?

Conversely, I remember sitting in the stands at Joke wondering how this buffoon pulled off the upset when a significantly better coach in Spurrier never could. Life’s not fair.

 

[78]

Conversely, I remember sitting in the stands at Joke wondering how this buffoon pulled off the upset when a significantly better coach in Spurrier never could. Life’s not fair.

Let’s not confuse 2004 FSU with the teams from the ‘90s. Night and day difference.

 

[SeabeeGator]

Let’s not confuse 2004 FSU with the teams from the ‘90s. Night and day difference.

Completely agree but let’s also not confuse 04 UF with 90s UF either.