Metro Pulse/Sports/The Zook Look

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Lose to him twice, and you've lost your cred

by Tony Basilio

You are one of the winningest active coaches in major Division 1 college football. You've won a National Championship and three SEC Eastern Division Championships in the past six years. Yet, you are facing a must-win game for the immediate credibility and future of your football program.

Read it loud and proud. Tennessee can't afford to lose to Florida this Saturday in the Swamp. Yes, Florida is perhaps better than most pundits expected. But the Gators have the great equalizer. Meet Ron Zook.

When Steve Spurrier left for future embarrassment and the NFL payday, most UT fans assumed that Saint Steve would pass the mantle in the SEC East to the Big Orange. One year ago, the script was right on time as Florida limped into Neyland Stadium. The Gators came to Knoxville on the heels of a humiliating home loss to Miami at the Vaunted Swamp, hammered by a final count of 41-16. How did Tennessee manage to lose to this guy by a count of 30-13? The Vols were never in the game. It was typical Tennessee-Florida.

This time around, Tennessee faces a Gator team in turmoil from a mismanaged loss at the hands of those same Miami Hurricanes. You have to give it to Ron Zook. His coaching performance was emblematic of a leader who has been called (off the record of course) a joke by coaching brethren in locker rooms all over the league.

Zook, who once coached at Tennessee under Johnny Majors, is the same guy who was in the middle of the Jack Sells-playbook-faxing controversy back in '91. He's also the same guy who would make a perfect pitchman for a reprise of the fast talking Federal Express campaign. His slogan could be "Zook—when you absolutely, positively want to lose the game." The guy is, quite frankly, overmatched.

He's the same guy who last year led the Gators to two of the worst losses in Florida field history at the hands of the 'Canes and LSU. Yes, LSU. The team that went on to finish third in the West last year pounded Zook's Gators 36-7 on their home field.

Zook's best performance may have been this year's Miami game. They are calling it the Florida Fizzle in Gator Country. Leading 33-10 late in the third quarter, Zook systematically removed any chance the Gators had in winning in the Orange Bowl. The "coach" played not one, or two, but three quarterbacks in a championship-caliber football game. Want the kicker? Not one of his quarterbacks suffered an injury. He just did it to do it. How do you blow a 33-10 lead to a team that is dead in the water? Try playing musical quarterbacks. Gator starter Ingle Martin was masterful in leading them to a huge third quarter lead. And then, enter true freshman Chris Leak. First, 33-17, then 33-25, and then 33-32. So what's a coach to do? How about putting your third team quarterback, redshirt freshman Gavin Dickey, in the game. Zook later tried to claim that Gator starter Ingle Martin suffered a concussion in the game. Phillip Fulmer can't lose to this guy again. Ron Zook is a total embarrassment. It would be equally embarrassing to lose to this guy two years in a row.

Steve Spurrier was one thing. He was brash. He was a genius. Ron Zook is a boob, a buffoon, a laughable loser. Oh, and he owns a one-game winning streak over Fulmer and Tennessee. A three-game losing streak to Georgia is one thing. A two-game losing streak to Ron Zook is quite another. Perhaps Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal said it best back in July at SEC Media Days down in Birmingham. "Ron Zook is never going to make it at Florida. He has two years at the most. Look at that guy! Would you want him coaching your team? He will never make it."

How can Tennessee possibly lose to him two years in a row? It can't be possible, can it?

He's won a National Championship, two SEC Titles and three division championships, yet Phillip Fulmer is facing a must-win this Saturday in the once-imposing Swamp. A program losing two years in a row to Ron Zook and the Gators is one searching for credibility.