Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
This is a story from a Bama paper
Author Message
Bookmark and Share
Rabid_BAMA_Fan Offline
Water Engineer
*

Posts: 86
Joined: Oct 2004
Reputation: 0
I Root For:
Location:
Post: #1
 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's latest loss has affected coach Ron Zook more than any other. Zook said Tuesday he has struggled to eat and sleep since Saturday's 24-21 home loss to LSU, which all but eliminated the 24th-ranked Gators (3-2) from the Southeastern Conference title chase.

The eternally optimistic coach said his reaction to the latest loss was worse than normal. It was Florida's fifth loss in the final two minutes over the last two years.

"Every loss affects you," he said. "It's our livelihood. It's what we do. That's what we're judged on. ... I know we're not winning. We've got to win. I'm not ducking that and I took responsibility."

The Gators led 21-17 with about two minutes to play Saturday, but the Tigers drove 50 yards for the go-ahead score with little resistance.

The collapse was nothing new for Zook. Florida also blew late leads against Tennessee last month and against Miami, Mississippi and Florida State last year. The team also had two near meltdowns against Arkansas, which rallied against the Gators the last two seasons but couldn't pull out victories.

"Obviously, the thing we've got to do is we've got to get over the hump," said Zook, who is 19-12 in three seasons. "People have a right to be upset. I'm upset. Why? You've got good players and you're in position to win the game. You have to win the game.

"It's just like that neighborhood bully who keeps taking your lunch money. Pretty soon, you're not going to eat and you're going to go hungry. You better stand up and fight back. I really believe our guys are going to do that."

The Gators probably won't have to worry about any bullies this week. Middle Tennessee State (2-3) is 0-7 against ranked teams since joining Division I-A in 1999. The Blue Raiders also are 2-12 against SEC opponents, with both wins coming against lowly Vanderbilt.

The game was supposed to be played as the season opener Sept. 4, but the threat of Hurricane Frances forced it to be postponed.

Probably the best thing Middle Tennessee State could hope for Saturday is to be close at the end. Anything could happen then, especially against the Gators.

"I've spent a lot of time thinking about it," Zook said. "I've spent a lot of hours since the end of that game not sleeping and not eating, thinking about it. I know how close we are, and if I didn't believe in these guys or see it in their eyes and know where they're going, I may be concerned. ... Are we capable of finishing like we're supposed to? Yes. Now we have to do it."

The Gators haven't done it lately.

So the Gators look like they'll be out of the SEC championship game for the third straight season under Zook. That may have added to his reaction after the latest loss.

"He's hurting," athletic director Jeremy Foley said. "It eats him up. Anybody's who's a competitor and anybody who's got pride, it eats them up. I honestly believe, like he's told you a thousand times, that he feels this team is close. But obviously they've got to bust the door down now. No excuses. Just go do it.

"He has a passion to do that, and obviously you're going to have confidence that he can get that done."
10-12-2004 08:50 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


Swampus Offline
Water Engineer
*

Posts: 1
Joined: Aug 2016
Reputation: 3
I Root For: Gators
Location:
Post: #2
RE: This is a story from a Bama paper
Ron Zook still on the front page. Sad.
04-18-2019 12:27 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.