Jubilation echoed throughout Gainesville and the rest of Gator Nation after Florida fired head coach Ron Zook on Monday even as many players were outraged.
“It’s happening! It’s happening! Oh my God, it’s happening!” screamed a posting on the now-infamous www.fireronzook.com.
But not everyone affiliated with Florida celebrated Zook’s firing. Many players were utterly displeased with athletic director Jeremy Foley’s decision.
“He basically just ripped the heart out of the team,” safety Jarvis Herring said. “He kept saying it was all about the team, all about the team.
“No, it’s not about the team. It’s really about the damn boosters and the fans or whatever. That’s all it’s about. It’s nothing about us. We’re just in the middle. We’re just trapped.”
The players’ emotion climaxed at a team meeting called by Zook, during which Foley showed up to answer questions.
“It got very heated,” Herring said. “The questions only lasted 10 minutes. If it would’ve lasted any longer, there’s no telling what might’ve happened.”
Some questioning came from linebacker Travis Harris, one of the few who stayed and refrained from yelling at Foley.
“I just let him know that it wasn’t well thought out,” the senior said. “If a decision needs to be made, that’s cool. But if the coach is going to remain the whole season, why put a damper on this year like that? Why not wait?
“I just don’t understand that. It just felt like he was saying: ‘Forget the rest of the season. I don’t care what you guys think.'”
Some players indicated there could be some consequences to the firing of Zook, to whom his players were always close.
“Some of the guys are really thinking about leaving,” Herring said. “They’re tired of some of the decisions being made upstairs by you-know-who.”
“You-know-who” offered comments of his own.
“I understand their disappointment and anger, and they are entitled to their opinion,” Foley said. “They’re close to their head coach, and I respect that.”
The disgruntled players must regroup for Saturday’s Cocktail Party against Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla. Ironically, Zook is 2-0 in the rivalry game.
But it’s true Zook’s 20-13 record at the helm of this prestigious program doesn’t inspire much confidence — nor do his losses against some poor teams from Mississippi, including Saturday’s straw-that-broke-the-camel’s-back 38-31 defeat to then-last-place Mississippi State.
Zook’s departure might not even be enough to satisfy the Gators and their fans.
But Steve Spurrier might be.
A source reportedly told ESPN.com that university officials contacted the former Florida coach Tuesday. But Foley denied offering him a contact.
However, Foley did indicate an interest in Spurrier.
“We will discuss this job with a number of coaches, and obviously if Coach Spurrier is interested, we will sit down with him,” Foley said.
Spurrier himself speculated about the possibility.
“I’ll cross that bridge if it comes to that,” Spurrier told the Orlando Sentinel.
Spurrier resigned as head coach of the Washington Redskins following last season’s 5-11 record. He was 12-20 during his two years in the nation’s capital.
The Ol’ Ball Coach amassed a 122-27-1 record during his 12 years at Florida and coached the Gators to a national championship in 1996.
Rumors also have circulated about the possible hiring of Utah coach Urban Meyer, who has connections to Florida’s president. The No. 10 Utes are 7-0 and sixth in the BCS rankings.
Meyer, however, would not talk about Florida.
“I have a team to coach here, and we’re in the middle of a championship run,” he said.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, mentioned as a candidate for the Gators’ job before the school hired Zook three years ago, denied interest this time as well.
“I’m the head coach at Oklahoma, and that’s enough said,” Stoops said. “I’ve got a great job.”
Foley said he will not speak with any currently employed coaches until after the season.
The Associated Press and ESPN News Services contributed to this report.
Body 2 ———————————————————————–
Things sticky in swamp after Zook firing
