Florida Doesn’t Wait to Fire Zook

Florida Coach Ron Zook was fired Monday after two-plus years and a stack of embarrassments on and off the field, satisfying a growing groundswell for his ouster that began the day he replaced Steve Spurrier.

Zook will finish out the season while Athletic Director Jeremy Foley and school President Bernie Machen search for another coach.

“In the final analysis, it was apparent to me that something’s not working here,” Foley said. “I know that’s kind of nebulous, but it’s the truth. It’s hard to put a finger on it exactly, but it certainly just didn’t appear to be working as we all envisioned.”

The Gators are 20-13 under Zook with four games left -- that’s only 14 losses fewer than Spurrier had in 12 seasons.

Zook’s latest debacle, a 38-31 loss to Mississippi State, sealed his fate and brought jubilation among those in Gator Nation who turned www.FireRonZook.com into their Internet home page. The site posted this message Monday: “It’s happening! It’s happening! Oh my God it’s happening!”

Spurrier’s return would be welcomed in Gainesville.

“I’ll cross that bridge if it comes to that,” Spurrier told the Orlando Sentinel. “The thing I’ve tried to do all this year is not be lingering around, acting like I’m waiting for another guy’s job. I don’t believe that’s the right way to do it. But now that he doesn’t have a job, I guess there will be some discussion.”

Foley planned to talk with Spurrier soon, but said he wouldn’t discuss the opening with coaches with jobs until after the season.

Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops and Utah Coach Urban Meyer also could be possibilities. Stoops was Spurrier’s defensive coordinator for three seasons at Florida, and Machen hired Meyer at Utah after the 2002 season.

Machen and Foley decided Sunday morning that Zook’s tenure was over. They informed the coach Monday morning at Machen’s home.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate and respect these players,” Zook read from a statement, making little eye contact and pausing several times.

“They work hard, and they do what we ask. I take a lot of pride in the fact that we leave this program in very good shape, with a lot of good young talent and good people. The future of Gator football is very, very bright.”

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Northwestern Coach Randy Walker checked himself into the hospital after becoming ill before a news conference.

School spokesman Mike Wolf could not comment on Walker’s illness, but said Northwestern would release more information today.

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Florida State tailback Leon Washington, the team’s leading rusher, will sit out at least one game because of a separated right shoulder.... Miami defensive tackle Santonio Thomas and guard Tyler McMeans may return this season after tests revealed that their knee injuries weren’t as severe as first thought.

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Short Stay

Ron Zook is 20-13 over two-plus seasons, including the Gators’ 4-3 record this season. A look at Zook’s first two seasons:

*--* Year Overall, SEC Bowl Final AP Poll 2002 8-5, 6-2 Outback NR 2003 8-5, 6-2 Outback T24

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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

* Is one of only three coaches in the 70-year history of the Southeastern Conference to lead teams to a January bowl game in his first two years.

* Zook’s first season produced wins over Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia and a perfect record in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division.

* Came to Florida after serving as defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. Before that he was defensive backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and special teams coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.