Zook will be fine in no time! :D
'Lucky' Zook back at work despite pain
By MIC HUBER
NYT Regional Newspapers
Ron Zook had missed two days of recruiting and Gator Club meetings.
SARASOTA - Ron Zook knew he would have to take some abuse so he wasn't surprised that when he hobbled onto the football practice field at Riverview High that the jokes began to flow.
A serious accident while water skiing had left Zook, a man of perpetual motion, with a walking boot on his right foot and crutches as his main means of transportation. Riverview coaches gave him no slack.
Skiing accident jokes abounded and Riverview assistant coach Jim Anderson pulled out a "No Wake Zone" sign.
"I feel really lucky," Zook said. "It could have been much worse."
It was certainly bad enough. The accident, which occurred Friday on Lake Wauburg, left Zook's right foot mangled. The collision with the propeller on the back of the boat caused a loss of blood and left Zook in danger of passing out. He underwent one and a half hours of reconstructive surgery Friday night and was not released from the Shands Hospital until Monday morning.
There were four fractures, tendons cut and more than 100 stitches required. The fourth fracture was discovered Tuesday when Zook had a revisit with Dr. Pete Indelicato, the Gators' team physician.
Zook missed two days of recruiting and Gator Club meetings but he was back in action Wednesday.
Zook visited Riverview High, his first stop since the accident, and spoke at the Sarasota Gator Club meeting Wednesday night at the Sahib Shrine facility.
"You can't let (the accident) affect your job," Zook said. "I am already behind. I have missed some schools. But I will make most of it up."
Zook's two passions are water skiing and recruiting and the one almost affected the other at a critical time.
Today Zook will see Indelicato again, then recruit at some Gainesville area schools. He will speak at the Fort Myers Gator Club then spend the night in Sarasota. It is the start of non-stop recruiting and Gator Club functions for the next couple weeks.
Wednesday Zook sat in a chair and patiently signed posters for anybody who asked in the crowd of more than 200 people at the Gator Club meeting. He then struggled up the stairs to a chair on the stage, where he sat and launched into a non-stop talk about Gator football.
On a night where Todd Johnson, the former Riverview High star, was honored by the Sarasota Gator Club for his contributions over the past four years, Zook gave the crowd a look into the future.
He admitted that he has no idea who will be the quarterback, but said he came away from spring practice impressed with the job Ingle Martin did. He mentioned Gavin Dickey and said he is also eager to get a look at incoming freshmen Justin Midgett of Charlotte High and heralded recruit Chris Leak.
"There is going to be a lot of competition," Zook said. "I can assure you that come August 30th, someone is going to take the snap in the season opener."
Zook also said that he believes running back to be a strength of the team, with Ran Carthon and DeShawn Wynn leading a group that also includes Ciatrick Fason and Jimtavis Walker.
Zook promised that the offensive line would be much improved and that there is a lot of talent at wide receiver.
"I think we have a chance to be awfully good on offense," he said.
What happens on defense will depend on how the new players fill in on a unit depleted by graduation and players leaving early for the NFL.
"You can't buy experience," Zook said.
In fact, several freshmen will be counted upon to contribute throughout the team. Zook said there will be 47 players on the roster who have never played a down at Florida.
Zook is just thankful Friday's accident wasn't bad enough to prevent him from coaching all those new players.
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