The 2004 Gators
History & Tradition Divider
“I think the University of Florida made a great choice with Ron Zook as its head coach. He has big goals, big dreams and he’s going to be fine. I think he’s a heck of a motivator. He can get the best out of guys.” “The guys at Florida are going to enjoy playing for him. He will be able to get them to play their hardest and put them in situations where they will play well. He has been a success at both the pro and college levels.” — Steve Spurrier Alphabetical Roster
# NAME POS HT WT CL EXP HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL 98 Brandon Abbaspour K 6-0 216 FR SQ Seminole/Boca Ciega 32 Zephrin Augustine FS 5-10 188 SR 2L Lake Placid/Lake Placid 7 Cory Bailey DB 5-11 190 SR 3L Miami/American 81 Dallas Baker WR 6-3 194 JR 1L New Smyrna Beach/New Smyrna Beach HS Marcus Baker WR 6-0 181 FR HS Hawthorne/Hawthorne 36 Nick Brooks CB 6-0 207 SO SQ Warner Robins, Ga./Northside 45 Michael Brown DT 6-5 284 FR HS Atlanta, Ga./Westlake 28 Richard Brown LB 5-11 220 SO SQ Ft. Lauderdale/Nova 16 Vernell Brown DB 5-8 155 JR 2L Gainesville/Gainesville 66 Todd Bunce OL 6-3 284 SO SQ Bradenton/Southeast 52 Alvin Butler LB 6-0 207 FR SQ Sumter, S.C./Wilson Hall 72 Lance Butler OL 6-7 311 JR 1L Lexington, N.C./West Davidson 85 Hunter Cain TE 6-0 230 JR SQ Dallas, Texas/Jesuit College Prep 5 Andre Caldwell WR 6-1 190 SO 1L Tampa/Jefferson 83 Darrell Carpenter TE 6-2 221 SR 1L Orlando/Edgewater 24 Deshawn Carter CB 6-0 210 JR 1L Hammond, La./Ponchatoula 84 Tate Casey TE 6-6 214 FR HS Longview, Texas/Longview 92 Taurean Charles LB 6-1 234 SO 1L Miami/Northwestern 49 Shane Cimock LB 5-10 215 JR SQ Orlando/Bishop Moore 20 Joe Cohen DE 6-2 266 SO 1L Melbourne/Palm Bay 78 Jonathan Colon OL 6-7 316 SR 3L Miami/Miami Central/Bridgton Academy (ME) 6 Jemalle Cornelius WR 5-11 177 SO 1L Fort Meade/Fort Meade 55 Channing Crowder LB 6-2 241 SO 1L Atlanta, Ga./North Springs 13 Brian Crum TE 6-2 225 SO SQ Woodbine, Ga./Camden County 50 Branden Daniel DT 6-3 300 FR HS Pompano Beach./Blanche Ely 68 Mike Degory C 6-5 314 JR 2L Palm Bay/Palm Bay 17 Gavin Dickey QB 5-10 195 SO SQ Tallahassee/Lincoln 62 Ronald Dowdy OL 6-4 288 SR 1L Fayetteville, N.C./Pine Forest 39 Stephen English DB 5-8 192 FR SQ Jacksonville/ The Bolles School 48 Javier Estopinan LB 6-2 242 FR HS Miami/South Miami 30 Earl Everett LB 6-2 223 SO 1L Webster/South Sumter 4 Ciatrick Fason RB 6-0 212 JR 2L Neptune Beach/Fletcher 97 Nick Fleming P 6-0 201 JR SQ Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood 23 Dawayne Grace DB 6-1 177 FR HS Jacksonville/Ed White 82 Otto Graham TE 6-3 240 JR SQ St. Petersburg/Admiral Farragut Academy 65 Billy Griffin OL 6-3 290 SR 1L Ventura, Calif./Ventura JC 69 Casey Griffith LS 6-1 223 SR 2L Vero Beach/Vero Beach 64 Anthony Guerrero OL 6-1 334 SR SQ Lakewood, Calif./Cerritos JC 48 Tyler Guettler RB 6-0 233 SO SQ Ft. Pierce/John Carroll 86 Dane Guthrie TE 6-3 257 FR HS Miami/Killian 54 Doug Guziec LB 6-1 234 SO SQ Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest 74 Randy Hand OG 6-6 305 JR 2L Fort Myers/Estero 93 Steven Harris DE 6-4 267 SO 1L Miami/Coral Gables 27 Travis Harris LB 6-2 251 SR 3L Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb 91 Derrick Harvey DL 6-5 235 FR HS Greenbelt, Md./Roosevelt 45 Eddie Hatch FB 5-11 210 JR SQ Branford/Branford 46 Jarvis Herring FS 5-11 198 JR 2L Live Oak/Suwannee 39 Chris Hetland K 6-0 185 SO SQ Leesburg, Ga./Lee County 37 Tim Higgins WR 5-7 163 FR SQ Northville, Mich/Northville 90 Michael Hill DT 6-2 286 FR SQ Smiths, Ala./Smiths Station 35 Reynaldo Hill DB 5-11 187 SR 1L Ft. Lauderdale/Stranahan/Dodge City CC 56 Eric Holcombe DT 6-2 304 SR 1L Mobile, Ala./NE Mississippi CC 49 Terrence Holmes DB 5-11 195 SO 1L Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro 18 Jason Hunter P 5-9 179 SR SQ Tampa/Tampa Catholic/Tennessee 7 Cornelius Ingram QB 6-4 206 FR HS Hawthorne/Hawthorne 8 Chad Jackson WR 6-1 206 SO 1L Hoover, Ala./Hoover 3 Kyle Jackson DB 6-0 199 FR HS Neptune Beach/Fletcher 19 Tony Joiner DB 6-0 190 FR HS Haines City/Haines City Andrew Jones LS 5-11 185 SO HS Clewiston/Clewiston 88 David Kenner TE 6-3 246 SR SQ Philadelphia, Pa./Lackawanna JC 60 Zach King OL 6-5 331 SO SQ Tampa/Woodberry 9 Matt Kynes QB 6-2 197 SO SQ Annandale, Va./Thomas Jefferson 42 Billy Latsko FB 5-11 223 SO 1L Gainesville/Buchholz 56 # NAME POS HT WT CL EXP HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL 27 DaJuan Lawrence RB 5-6 167 SO SQ Miami/Carol City 14 Matt Leach K 6-1 197 SR 3L Sarasota/Booker 12 Chris Leak QB 6-0 200 SO 1L Charlotte, N.C./Independence 22 Reggie Lewis WR 5-10 193 SO 1L Jacksonville/First Coast 73 Jonathan Lively LS 6-1 222 SR 1L Belle Glade/Glades Day 41 Michael Mangold DE 6-2 217 FR HS Merritt Island/ Merritt Island 2 Markus Manson RB 6-0 189 FR HS Tuscaloosa, Ala./ Hillcrest 63 Jonathan Marvin OL 6-3 330 JR SQ Hendersonville, N.C./West Henderson 26 Jermaine McCollum CB 5-8 184 SO 1L Miami/Southridge 18 Tremaine McCollum CB 5-8 170 SO SQ Miami/Southridge 47 Todd McCullough LB 6-5 229 JR 2L Macclenny/The Bolles School 95 Ray McDonald DT 6-3 280 SO 1L Belle Glade/Glades Central 1 Michael McIntosh WR 6-0 174 FR HS Jacksonville/First Coast 98 Clint McMillan DT 6-1 275 FR SQ Oviedo/Oviedo 73 Carlton Medder OL 6-5 330 FR SQ Clermont/Southlake 14 Justin Midgett QB 6-3 199 FR SQ Punta Gorda/Charlotte 67 Drew Miller OL 6-5 308 FR HS Sarasota/ Riverview 57 Jeremy Mincey DE 6-3 258 JR TR Statesboro, Ga./ Butler CC 61 Mo Mitchell OL 6-7 367 SR 3L Albany, Ga./Dougherty/Fork Union Military 97 Tranell Morant DE 6-5 256 FR SQ Miami/Braddock 28 Kyle Morgan WR 6-2 221 JR SQ Melbourne/Melbourne Central Catholic 94 Jarvis Moss DE 6-6 221 FR SQ Denton, Texas/Ryan 12 Eric Nappy K 5-10 168 SO SQ Gainesville/Buchholz 37 Matt Neddeff DB 6-1 198 SR SQ Boca Raton/Pope John Paul/Air Force Academy 87 Jimmy Newmeyer WR 6-0 194 JR SQ Miami/Belen Jesuit 96 Dwayne Norris DT 6-1 285 SR SQ Brooklyn, N.Y./W.E. Grady 70 Chris Parker OL 6-2 269 FR SQ St. Petersburg/Lakewood 58 Kenny Parker DT 6-2 306 JR 2L Warner Robins, Ga./Northside 50 Jay Patella LS 6-1 239 SO SQ Sarasota/Sarasota 85 MacKenzie Pierre DE 6-3 258 SO SQ Miami/Booker T. Washington 38 Matt Piotrowicz K 5-10 204 SR 3L Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel 71 Doug Pokorny OL 6-4 324 SO SQ Gainesville/Sickles 59 Julian Riley DE 6-3 276 FR SQ St. Petersburg/Lakewood 79 Steve Rissler OL 6-3 302 SO 1L Sarasota/Riverview 51 Bryan Royal LB 6-0 217 JR SQ Winter Park/Winter Park 29 Eric Rutledge RB 6-0 237 FR HS Gainesville/P.K. Yonge 53 Alik Scott LB 6-0 218 JR SQ Gainesville/P.K. Yonge 40 Brandon Siler LB 6-2 226 FR HS Orlando/Orlando Evans 11 O.J. Small WR 6-1 232 SR 3L Jacksonville/Forrest 62 James Stone OL 6-3 276 FR SQ Ocala/Vanguard 63 Jim Tartt OL 6-3 309 FR HS Crawfordville/Wakulla 44 Marcus Thomas DT 6-3 274 SO 1L Jacksonville/Mandarin 89 Markell Thompson TE 6-7 310 JR TR Milwaukee, Wis./ Southwest Mississippi JC 25 Skyler Thornton RB 5-11 210 SO 1L LaGrange, Ga./LaGrange 3 Kenneth Tookes WR 6-2 202 SO SQ Jacksonville/First Coast 75 Phil Trautwein OL 6-6 273 FR HS Voorhees, N.J./Eastern 76 Tavares Washington OL 6-3 307 SR SQ Greenville, Miss./Mississippi Delta JC 77 Jason Watkins OL 6-6 283 FR HS Lakeland/Lake Gibson 15 Demetrice Webb DB 5-11 187 SO 1L Jacksonville/Ed White 95 Jeff Whitaker K 5-11 195 SR SQ Ponte Vedra Beach/Nease/Wake Forest 10 Eric Wilbur P 6-1 195 SO 1L Winter Park/Trinity Prep 21 DeShawn Wynn RB 5-11 224 SO 1L Cincinnati, Ohio/Reading Zephrin Augustine zef-rihn augus-teen New Smyrna Beach smir-nah Vernell Brown ver-nell Pronunciation Guide Punta Gorda pawn-ta gorda Taurean Charles TOUR-ee-ann Carlton Medder MED-er Voorhees voor-HEEZ Shane Cimock SEE-mock Tranell Morant MORE-ant Jonathan Colon ca-loan Matt Piotrowicz pah-TROH-vitch High Schools: Jemalle Cornelius ja-MALL Alik Scott ah-LEAK Mike Degory dah-GORE-ee Brandon Siler CY-ler Buchholz byu-holtz Javier Estopinan havee-air Kenneth Tookes TOOK-s Dematha da-MATH-a est-O-pea-non Phil Trautwein TROUT-wine Suwannee soo-wan-nee Ciatrick Fason see-at-rick face-in Tavares Washington ta-VAR-us Ponchatoula pawnch-ah-too-la Anthony Guerrero gurr-arrow Demetrice Webb D-meat-re-us Matoaca mah-toga Tyler Guettler GET-ler DeShawn Wynn win Bolles bowls Doug Guziec gu-z-ack Wakulla wa-COO-la Eric Holcombe hole-come Hometowns: David Kenner KEN-er Cordele cor-deal Lithonia lith-OWN-ee-ah 57 Numerical Roster
# NAME POS HT WT CL EXP HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL 1 Michael McIntosh WR 6-0 174 FR HS Jacksonville/First Coast 2 Markus Manson RB 6-0 189 FR HS Tuscaloosa, Ala./Hillcrest 3 Kyle Jackson DB 6-0 199 FR HS Neptune Beach/Fletcher 3 Kenneth Tookes WR 6-2 202 SO SQ Jacksonville/First Coast 4 Ciatrick Fason RB 6-0 212 JR 2L Neptune Beach/Fletcher 5 Andre Caldwell WR 6-1 190 SO 1L Tampa/Jefferson 6 Jemalle Cornelius WR 5-11 177 SO 1L Fort Meade/Fort Meade 7 Cory Bailey DB 5-11 190 SR 3L Miami/American 7 Cornelius Ingram QB 6-4 206 FR HS Hawthorne/Hawthorne 8 Chad Jackson WR 6-1 206 SO 1L Hoover, Ala./Hoover 9 Matt Kynes QB 6-2 197 SO SQ Annandale, Va./Thomas Jefferson 10 Eric Wilbur P 6-1 195 SO 1L Winter Park/Trinity Prep 11 O.J. Small WR 6-1 232 SR 3L Jacksonville/Forrest 12 Chris Leak QB 6-0 200 SO 1L Charlotte, N.C./Independence 12 Eric Nappy K 5-10 168 SO SQ Gainesville/Buchholz 13 Brian Crum TE 6-2 225 SO SQ Woodbine, Ga./Camden County 14 Matt Leach K 6-1 197 SR 3L Sarasota/Booker 14 Justin Midgett QB 6-3 199 FR SQ Punta Gorda/Charlotte 15 Demetrice Webb DB 5-11 187 SO 1L Jacksonville/Ed White 16 Vernell Brown DB 5-8 155 JR 2L Gainesville/Gainesville 17 Gavin Dickey QB 5-10 195 SO SQ Tallahassee/Lincoln 18 Tremaine McCollum CB 5-8 170 SO SQ Miami/Southridge 18 Jason Hunter P 5-9 179 SR SQ Tampa/Tampa Catholic/Tennessee 19 Tony Joiner DB 6-0 190 FR HS Haines City/Haines City 20 Joe Cohen DE 6-2 266 SO 1L Melbourne/Palm Bay 21 DeShawn Wynn RB 5-11 224 SO 1L Cincinnati, Ohio/Reading 22 Reggie Lewis WR 5-10 193 SO 1L Jacksonville/First Coast 23 Dawayne Grace DB 6-1 177 FR HS Jacksonville/Ed White 24 Deshawn Carter CB 6-0 210 JR 1L Hammond, La./Ponchatoula 25 Skyler Thornton RB 5-11 210 SO 1L LaGrange, Ga./LaGrange 26 Jermaine McCollum CB 5-8 184 SO 1L Miami/Southridge 27 Travis Harris LB 6-2 251 SR 3L Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb 27 DaJuan Lawrence RB 5-6 167 SO SQ Miami/Carol City 28 Richard Brown LB 5-11 220 SO SQ Ft. Lauderdale/Nova 28 Kyle Morgan WR 6-2 221 JR SQ Melbourne/Melbourne Central Catholic 29 Eric Rutledge RB 6-0 237 FR HS Gainesville/P.K. Yonge 30 Earl Everett LB 6-2 223 SO 1L Webster/South Sumter 32 Zephrin Augustine FS 5-10 188 SR 2L Lake Placid/Lake Placid 35 Reynaldo Hill DB 5-11 187 SR 1L Ft. Lauderdale/Stranahan/Dodge City CC 36 Nick Brooks CB 6-0 207 SO SQ Warner Robins, Ga./Northside 37 Matt Neddeff DB 6-1 198 SR SQ Boca Raton/Pope John Paul/Air Force Academy 37 Tim Higgins WR 5-7 163 FR SQ Northville, Mich./Northville 38 Matt Piotrowicz K 5-10 204 SR 3L Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel 39 Stephen English DB 5-8 192 FR SQ Jacksonville/ The Bolles School 39 Chris Hetland K 6-0 185 SO SQ Leesburg, Ga./Lee County 40 Brandon Siler LB 6-2 226 FR HS Orlando/Orlando Evans 41 Michael Mangold DE 6-2 217 FR HS Merritt Island/Merritt Island 42 Billy Latsko FB 5-11 223 SO 1L Gainesville/Buchholz 44 Marcus Thomas DT 6-3 274 SO 1L Jacksonville/Mandarin 45 Eddie Hatch FB 5-11 210 JR SQ Branford/Branford 45 Michael Brown DT 6-5 284 FR HS Atlanta, Ga./Westlake 46 Jarvis Herring FS 5-11 198 JR 2L Live Oak/Suwannee 47 Todd McCullough LB 6-5 229 JR 2L Macclenny/The Bolles School 48 Tyler Guettler RB 6-0 233 SO SQ Ft. Pierce/John Carroll 48 Javier Estopinan LB 6-2 242 FR HS Miami/South Miami
58 # NAME POS HT WT CL EXP HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL 49 Terrence Holmes DB 5-11 195 SO 1L Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro 49 Shane Cimock LB 5-10 215 JR SQ Orlando/Bishop Moore 50 Branden Daniel DT 6-3 300 FR HS Pompano Beach/Blanche Ely 50 Jay Patella LS 6-1 239 SO SQ Sarasota/Sarasota 51 Bryan Royal LB 6-0 217 JR SQ Winter Park/Winter Park 52 Alvin Butler LB 6-0 207 FR SQ Sumter, S.C./Wilson Hall 53 Alik Scott LB 6-0 218 JR SQ Gainesville/P.K. Yonge 54 Doug Guziec LB 6-1 234 SO SQ Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest 55 Channing Crowder LB 6-2 241 SO 1L Atlanta, Ga./North Springs 56 Eric Holcombe DT 6-2 304 SR 1L Mobile, Ala./NE Mississippi CC 57 Jeremy Mincey DE 6-3 258 JR TR Statesboro, Ga./Butler CC 58 Kenny Parker DT 6-2 306 JR 2L Warner Robins, Ga./Northside 59 Julian Riley DE 6-3 276 FR SQ St. Petersburg/Lakewood 60 Zach King OL 6-5 331 SO SQ Tampa/Woodberry 61 Mo Mitchell OG 6-7 367 SR 3L Albany, Ga./Dougherty/Fork Union Military 62 Ronald Dowdy OL 6-4 288 SR 1L Fayetteville, N.C./Pine Forest 62 James Stone OL 6-3 276 FR SQ Ocala/Vanguard 63 Jonathan Marvin OG 6-3 330 JR SQ Hendersonville, N.C./West Henderson 63 Jim Tartt OL 6-4 309 FR HS Crawfordville/Wakulla 64 Anthony Guerrero OL 6-1 334 SR SQ Lakewood, Calif./Cerritos JC 65 Billy Griffin OL 6-3 290 SR 1L Ventura, Calif./Ventura JC 66 Todd Bunce OL 6-3 284 SO SQ Bradenton/Southeast 67 Drew Miller OL 6-5 307 FR HS Sarasota/Riverview 68 Mike Degory C 6-5 314 JR 2L Palm Bay/Palm Bay 69 Casey Griffith LS 6-1 223 SR 2L Vero Beach/Vero Beach 70 Chris Parker OL 6-2 269 FR SQ St. Petersburg/Lakewood 71 Doug Pokorny OL 6-4 324 SO SQ Gainesville/Sickles 72 Lance Butler OL 6-7 311 JR 1L Lexington, NC/West Davidson 73 Jonathan Lively LS 6-1 222 SR 1L Belle Glade/Glades Day 73 Carlton Medder OL 6-5 330 FR SQ Clermont/Southlake 74 Randy Hand OG 6-6 305 JR 2L Fort Myers/Estero 75 Phil Trautwein OL 6-6 273 FR HS Voorhees, NJ/Eastern 76 Tavares Washington OL 6-3 307 SR SQ Greenville, Miss./Mississippi Delta JC 77 Jason Watkins OL 6-6 283 FR HS Lakeland/Lake Gibson 78 Jonathan Colon OL 6-7 316 SR 3L Miami/Miami Central/Bridgton Academy (ME) 79 Steve Rissler OL 6-3 302 SO 1L Sarasota/Riverview 81 Dallas Baker WR 6-3 194 JR 1L New Smyrna Beach/New Smyrna Beach HS 82 Otto Graham TE 6-3 240 JR SQ St. Petersburg/Admiral Farragut Academy 83 Darrell Carpenter TE 6-2 221 SR 1L Orlando/Edgewater 84 Tate Casey TE 6-6 214 FR HS Longview, Texas/Longview 85 Hunter Cain TE 6-0 230 JR SQ Dallas, Texas/Jesuit College Prep 85 MacKenzie Pierre DE 6-3 258 SO SQ Miami/Booker T. Washington 86 Dane Guthrie TE 6-3 257 FR HS Miami/Killian 87 Jimmy Newmeyer WR 6-0 194 JR SQ Miami/Belen Jesuit 88 David Kenner TE 6-3 246 SR SQ Philadelphia, Pa./Lackawanna Junior College 89 Markell Thompson TE 6-7 310 JR TR Milwaukee, Wis./Southwest Mississippi JC 90 Michael Hill DT 6-2 286 FR SQ Smiths, Ala./Smiths Station 91 Derrick Harvey DL 6-5 235 FR HS Greenbelt, Md./Roosevelt 92 Taurean Charles LB 6-1 234 SO 1L Miami/Northwestern 93 Steven Harris DE 6-4 267 SO 1L Miami/Coral Gables 94 Jarvis Moss DE 6-6 221 FR SQ Denton, Texas/Ryan 95 Jeff Whitaker K 5-11 195 SR SQ Ponte Vedra Beach/Nease/Wake Forest 95 Ray McDonald DT 6-3 280 SO 1L Belle Glade/Glades Central 96 Dwayne Norris DT 6-1 285 SR SQ Brooklyn, N.Y./W.E. Grady 97 Tranell Morant DE 6-5 256 FR SQ Miami/Braddock 97 Nick Fleming P 6-0 201 JR SQ Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood 98 Brandon Abbaspour K 6-0 216 FR HS Seminole/Boca Ciega 98 Clint McMillan DT 6-1 275 FR SQ Oviedo/Oviedo Marcus Baker WR 6-0 181 FR HS Hawthorne/Hawthorne Andrew Jones LS 5-11 185 SO HS Clewiston/Clewiston
59 Geographical Roster
FLORIDA — 76 Ciatrick Fason Neptune Beach/Fletcher Jonathan Lively Belle Glade/Glades Day Kyle Jackson Neptune Beach/Fletcher Ray McDonald Belle Glade/Glades Central Dallas Baker New Smyrna Beach/Northfield Mt. Hermon (MA) Matt Neddeff Boca Raton/Pope John Paul/ Air Force Academy James Stone Ocala/Vanguard Todd Bunce Bradenton/Southeast Darrell Carpenter Orlando/Edgewater Eddie Hatch Branford/Branford Shane Cimock Orlando/Bishop Moore Carlton Medder Clermont/Southlake Brandon Siler Orlando/Evans Andrew Jones Clewiston/Clewiston Clint McMillan Oviedo/Oviedo Jim Tartt Crawfordville/Wakulla Mike Degory Palm Bay/Palm Bay Reynaldo Hill Fort Lauderdale/Stranahan/Dodge City CC Branden Daniel Pompano Beach/Blanche Ely Richard Brown Ft. Lauderdale/Nova Justin Midgett Punta Gorda/Charlotte Jemalle Cornelius Fort Meade/Fort Meade Jeff Whitaker Ponte Vedra Beach/Nease/Wake Forest Randy Hand Fort Myers/Estero Matt Leach Sarasota/Booker Tyler Guettler Fort Pierce/John Carroll Drew Miller Sarasota/Riverview Vernell Brown Gainesville/Gainesville Jay Patella Sarasota/Sarasota Billy Latsko Gainesville/Buchholz Steve Rissler Sarasota/Riverview Eric Nappy Gainesville/Buchholz Otto Graham St. Petersburg/Admiral Farragut Academy Eric Rutledge Gainesville/P.K. Yonge Julian Riley St. Petersburg/Lakewood Alik Scott Gainesville/P.K. Yonge Chris Parker St. Petersburg/Lakewood Doug Pokorny Gainesville/Sickles Brandon Abbaspour Seminole/Boca Ciega Tony Joiner Haines City/Haines City Gavin Dickey Tallahassee/Lincoln Marcus Baker Hawthorne/Hawthorne Andre Caldwell Tampa/Jefferson Cornelius Ingram Hawthorne/Hawthorne Jason Hunter Tampa/Tampa Catholic Dawayne Grace Jacksonville/Ed White Zach King Tampa/Woodberry Reggie Lewis Jacksonville/First Coast Casey Griffith Vero Beach/Vero Beach O.J. Small Jacksonville/Forrest Earl Everett Webster/South Sumter Michael McIntosh Jacksonville/First Coast Bryan Royal Winter Park/Winter Park Marcus Thomas Jacksonville/Mandarin Eric Wilbur Winter Park/Trinity Prep Kenneth Tookes Jacksonville/First Coast ALABAMA — 4 Demetrice Webb Jacksonville/Ed White Chad Jackson Hoover, Ala./Hoover Jason Watkins Lakeland/Lake Gibson Eric Holcombe Mobile, Ala./NE Mississippi CC Jarvis Herring Live Oak/Suwannee Michael Hill Smiths, Ala./Smiths Station Zephrin Augustine Lake Placid/Lake Placid Markus Manson Tuscaloosa, Ala/Hillcrest Todd McCullough Macclenny/The Bolles School Joe Cohen Melbourne/Palm Bay CALIFORNIA — 2 Kyle Morgan Melbourne/Melbourne Central Catholic Anthony Guerrero Lakewood, Calif./Cerritos JC Michael Mangold Merritt Island/Merritt Island Billy Griffin Ventura, Cali./Ventura JC Cory Bailey Miami/American GEORGIA — 10 Taurean Charles Miami/Northwestern Mo Mitchell Albany, Ga./Dougherty/Fork Union Military Jonathan Colon Miami/Miami Central/ Michael Brown Atlanta, Ga/Westlake Bridgton Academy (ME) Channing Crowder Atlanta, Ga./North Springs Javier Estopinan Miami/South Miami Travis Harris Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb Dane Guthrie Miami/Killian Skyler Thornton LaGrange, Ga./LaGrange Steven Harris Miami/Coral Gables Chris Hetland Leesburg, Ga./Lee County DaJuan Lawrence Miami/Carol City Jeremy Mincey Statesboro, Ga./ Butler CC Jermaine McCollum Miami/Southridge Nick Brooks Warner Robins, Ga./Northside Tremaine McCollum Miami/Southridge Kenny Parker Warner Robins, Ga./Northside Tranell Morant Miami/Braddock Brian Crum Woodbine, Ga./Camden County Jimmy Newmeyer Miami/Belen Jesuit MacKenzie Pierre Miami/Booker T. Washington
60 ILLINOIS — 2 Ronald Dowdy Fayetteville, N.C./Pine Forest Matt Piotrowicz Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel Jonathan Marvin Hendersonville, N.C./West Henderson Doug Guziec Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest Lance Butler Lexington, N.C./West Davidson LOUISIANA — 1 OHIO — 1 Deshawn Carter Hammond, La./Ponchatoula DeShawn Wynn Cincinnati, Ohio/Reading MARYLAND — 1 PENNSYLVANIA — 1 Derrick Harvey Greenbelt, Md./Roosevelt David Kenner Philadelphia, Pa./Lackawanna JC MICHIGAN — 1 SOUTH CAROLINA — 1 Tim Higgins Northville, Mich./Northville Alvin Butler Sumter, S.C./Wilson Hall MISSOURI — 1 TEXAS — 3 Nick Fleming Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood Tate Casey Longview, Texas/Longview Hunter Cain Dallas, Texas/Jesuit College Prep MISSISSIPPI — 1 Jarvis Moss Denton, Texas/Ryan Tavares Washington Greenville, Miss./Mississippi Delta JC WISCONSIN — 1 NEW JERSEY — 2 Markell Thompson Milwaukee, Wis./Southwest Mississippi JC Terrence Holmes Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro VIRGINIA — 1 Phillip Trautwein Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Matt Kynes Annandale, Va./Thomas Jefferson NEW YORK — 1 Dwayne Norris Brooklyn, N.Y./W.E. Grady NORTH CAROLINA — 4 Chris Leak Charlotte, N.C./Independence
1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 4 1
1 4 10 3 1 76 Gators By State
FLORIDA ...... 76 NEW JERSEY ...... 2 ALABAMA ...... 4 NEW YORK ...... 1 CALIFORNIA ...... 2 NORTH CAROLINA ...... 4 GEORGIA ...... 10 OHIO ...... 1 ILLINOIS ...... 2 PENNSYLVANIA ...... 1 LOUISIANA ...... 1 SOUTH CAROLINA ...... 1 MARYLAND ...... 1 TEXAS ...... 3 MICHIGAN ...... 1 WISCONSIN ...... 1 MISSOURI ...... 1 VIRGINIA ...... 1 MISSISSIPPI ...... 1 61 Offense Depth Chart (As listed at the conclusion of Spring Drills)
TE LT LG C RG RT 89 – Markell 61 – Mo Mitchell Thompson 78 – Jonathan Colon 72 – Lance Butler 68 – Mike Degory (Sr., 6-6, 367) 74 – Randy Hand (Sr., 6-7, 316) (Jr., 6-7, 311) (Jr, 6-5, 314) (Jr., 6-6, 305) (Jr., 6-7, 310) 64 – Anthony 88 – David Kenner 76 – Tavares 79 – Steve Rissler 65 – Billy Griffin Guerrero 73 – Carlton Medder (Sr., 6-3, 246) Washington (So., 6-3, 302) (Sr., 6-3, 290) (Sr., 6-1, 334) (Fr., 6-5, 330) (Sr., 6-3, 307)
WR FB QB TB WR 81 – Dallas Baker 12 – Chris Leak 5 – Andre Caldwell (Jr., 6-3, 194) 42 – Billy Latsko 4 – Ciatrick Fason (So., 6-1, 190) (So., 5-11, 223) (So., 6-0, 200) (Jr., 6-0, 212) 6 – Jemalle Cornelius 17 – Gavin Dickey 8 – Chad Jackson (So., 5-11, 177) 45 – Eddie Hatch 21 – DeShawn Wynn (So., 6-1, 206) (Jr., 5-11, 210) (So., 5-10, 195) (So., 5-11, 224) 14 – Justin Midgett 25 – Skyler Thornton (Fr., 6-3, 199) (So., 5-11, 210)
WR 11 – O.J. Small PK (Sr., 6-1, 232) 14 – Matt Leach 22 – Reggie Lewis (Sr., 6-1, 197) (So., 5-10, 193) 39 – Chris Hetland 3 – Kenneth Tookes (So., 6-0, 185) (So., 6-2, 202)
Starters Returning (5) OT Jonathan Colon (3L) Lettermen Lost (8) RB Ciatrick Fason 2/2 QB Chris Leak OT Lance Butler (1L) RB Ran Carthon (4L) WR Gavin Dickey 1/1 C Mike Degory OG Randy Hand (1L) WR Kelvin Kight (4L) WR Vernell Brown 1/0 WR O.J. Small WR Dallas Baker (1L) WR Carlos Perez (4L) OL Steve Rissler 1/1 OT Lance Butler RB Ciatrick Fason (2L) OG Shannon Snell (4L) FB Billy Latsko 1/1 OG Randy Hand WR Vernell Brown (2L) OT Max Starks (4L) OL Tavares Washington 2/2 Starters Lost (6) TE Darrell Carpenter (1L) TE Ben Troupe (4L) Starts Lost Career/2003 Starts WR Andre Caldwell (1L) RB Jimtavis Walker (1L) WR Kelvin Kight OG Shannon Snell 36/13 FB Joe Cohen (1L) QB Ingle Martin (2L) LT Max Starks OL Max Starks 35/11 WR Chad Jackson (1L) LG Shannon Snell Starts Returning Career/ WR Carlos Perez 25/12 FB Billy Latsko (1L) TE Ben Troupe 2003 Starts TE Ben Troupe 20/13 WR Reggie Lewis (1L) WR Carlos Perez QB Chris Leak 9/9 WR Kelvin Kight 20/13 OL Steve Rissler (1L) RB Ran Carthon C Mike Degory 26/13 RB Ran Carthon 11/10 RB Skyler Thornton (1L) OT Randy Hand 16/12 QB Ingle Martin 4/4 Lettermen Returning (20) RB DeShawn Wynn (1L) OT Jonathan Colon 13/3 WR Matt Jackson 1/0 QB Chris Leak (1L) OL Billy Griffin (1L) WR O.J. Small 14/13 C Mike Degory (2L) WR Jemalle Cornelius (1L) OL Lance Butler 10/10 WR O.J. Small (3L)
62 (As listed at the conclusion of Spring Drills) Defense Depth Chart DE DT DT DE 93 – Steven Harris 44 – Marcus Thomas 95 – Ray McDonald 57 – Jeremy Mincey (So., 6-4, 267) (So., 6-4, 274) (So., 6-3, 280) (Jr., 6-3, 258) 97 – Tranell Morant 58 – Kenny Parker 56 – Eric Holcombe 97 – Jarvis Moss (Fr., 6-5, 256) (Jr., 6-2, 305) (Sr., 6-2, 204) (Fr., 6-6, 221) 20 – Joe Cohen (So., 6-2, 266) WLB MLB SLB 27 – Travis Harris 55 – Channing Crowder 30 – Earl Everett (Sr., 6-2, 251) (So., 6-2, 241) (So., 6-2, 223) 47 – Todd McCullough 99 – Howard Lingard 92 – Taurean Charles (Jr., 6-5, 229) (So., 6-2, 210) (So., 6-1, 234)
SS CB 7 – Cory Bailey FS CB 15 – Demetrice Webb (Sr., 5-11, 190) 46 – Jarvis Herring 35 – Reynaldo Hill (So., 5-11, 187) 49 – Terrence Holmes (Jr., 5-11, 198) (Sr., 5-11, 187) 24 – Deshawn Carter (So., 5-10, 195) 32 – Zephrine Augustine 16 – Vernell Brown (Jr., 6-0, 210) 36 – Nick Brooks (Sr., 5-10, 188) (Jr., 5-8, 155) (So., 6-0, 207) P 10 – Eric Wilbur (So., 6-1, 195) OR 97 – Nick Fleming (Jr., 6-0, 201)
Starters Returning (3) FS Jarvis Herring (2L) LB Reid Fleming (4L) Starts Lost Career/2003 DT Mo Mitchell DT Kenny Parker (2L) CB Johnny Lamar (3L) CB Keiwan Ratliff 27/12 DT Ray McDonald FS Zephrin Augustine (2L) DE Darrell Lee (4L) SS Guss Scott 26/12 LB Channing Crowder DB Cory Bailey (3L) DE Bobby McCray (3L) SS/FS Daryl Dixon 25/13 DE Travis Harris (3L) DE Darrell Lee 15/12 CB Keiwan Ratliff (4L) Starters Lost (8) DB Reynaldo Hill (1L) DE Bobby McCray 15/8 SS Guss Scott (4L) DE Darrell Lee DT Eric Holcombe (1L) LB Matt Farrior 14/9 DE Bobby McCray LB Taurean Charles (1L) Starts Returning Career/2003 CB Johnny Lamar 13/13 LB Matt Farrior LB Earl Everett (1L) SS Cory Bailey 12/6 LB Reid Fleming 8/8 DE Steven Harris (1L) LB Reid Fleming DT Ray McDonald 12/12 LB Dwright Jackson 2/1 DB Terrence Holmes (1L) CB Keiwan Ratliff DT Mo Mitchell 10/6 CB Jermaine McCollum (1L) SS Guss Scott Special Teams DT Ray McDonald LB/DE Travis Harris 10/6 FS Daryl Dixon Lettermen Returning (4) DT Marcus Thomas LB Channing Crowder 9/9 CB Johnny Lamar LS Casey Griffith (2L) DB Demetrice Webb LB Todd McCullough 6/2 PK Matt Piotrowicz (3L) Lettermen Returning (18) Lettermen Lost (9) LB Earl Everett 5/5 PK Matt Leach (3L) DT Mo Mitchell FS Daryl Dixon (4L) DT Kenny Parker 6/6 P Eric Wilbur DT Ray McDonald LB Matt Farrior (4L) DT Marcus Thomas 2/2 Lettermen Lost (1) LB Channing Crowder CB Matt Jackson (4L) CB Reynaldo Hill 1/1 P Sean Morton (2L)
63 2004 University Florida 2004 Preview
it is possible to have experience Florida returns 43 letterwinners and eight starters from a squad that won a share of the Southeastern Conference East and youth in the same breath, Division for the eighth time in school history last season. The If offense features 21 letterwinners (up from 15 a season ago) and Florida football has it. Fourteen true the defense returns 18 (UF had 17 come back for the 2003 season). An additional four letterwinners return to the special teams. freshmen lined up last year, the second Entering the 2004 season, UF’s returning leaders in each of the following departments have better totals than did those highest total in school history. Overall, 52 who were departmental leaders heading into the 2003 season: passing, rushing, scoring, punting, kicking, tackles, and tackles freshmen (true or redshirt) played and 45 for a loss. For the first time since 1988 and only the fifth time in school players saw their first action in a Gator history, UF will play five of its first six games at home. Of course, that means four out of the last five are on the road, but uniform. There still are plenty of young UF’s 7-1 record against conference foes since Ron Zook arrived in Gainesville is the best of any team in the league. players, but they have some experience Florida will look to add to its current SEC record of 11 consec- utive January Bowl appearances and streak of 14 consecutive under their belt, facing the nation’s years in the final Coaches’ Poll in 2004. Closing out the close games will go a long way in extending those marks, as seven of second toughest schedule a year ago. UF’s 13 games were decided in the last two minutes in 2003.
64 OFFENSE
the first time under third-year Coach Zook, the Quarterbacks ForFlorida Gators have a quarterback returning for a season that has played a season and then participated in the What a difference a year makes. following spring drills. Last year, UF entered the season with four quarterbacks who That experience will allow the offense to continue to grow had thrown just 10 career passes. Now, the Gators’ offense and and diversify. UF had 71 plays of 20-yards or more last year, passing game is in the hands of super sophomore Chris Leak, 11 more than they had the previous year and that number who set SEC true freshman records for passing yards (2,435) should continue to grow in 2004. The running game boasted the and touchdowns (16). Leak, who took over as the UF starter in best totals for a Gator team in seven seasons, but should also the fourth game of the season, posted the best winning be improved. percentage of any true freshman starting signal caller in the nation (6-3, .667) in 2003. As good as Leak was last year, he The Florida offense will continue to look for balance under became the first quarterback in school history to lead UF to new offensive coordinator Larry Fedora. The tempo at the line three consecutive wins in consecutive weeks against ranked of scrimmage will be the biggest change, giving UF the option to opponents away from home, he has continued to show speed up or slow down play calling to keep opposing defenses improvement. Leak, who threw six fourth-quarter intercep- off balance. Meanwhile, last year’s offensive coordinator tions in the first six games of his career, but just two fourth Ed Zaunbrecher will have the luxury of focusing on coaching quarter picks in the final seven games, showed an even greater Chris Leak on every play. Zaunbrecher has tutored seven NFL comfort level with the offense this past spring. quarterbacks in his 29 years of college coaching. Just as it is assuring to have an experienced starter behind The Gators also hope to continue to execute in the red zone in center, UF is also assured of having two very talented back ups the Zook era (scoring on 81 of 102 trips) and take care of the foot- behind Leak. Redshirt sophomore Gavin Dickey appeared in ball (last year they had 24 turnovers after committing 26 in 2002). four games last year and showed he is more than capable of running the UF offense with his eight- play drive in the third quarter of the Miami game that controlled 5:25 on the game clock. Dickey, who played for the Gator baseball team in 2004 and saw limited time in spring drills, will keep defenses off balance with his option of tucking the ball in and running. Redshirt freshman Justin Midgett showed great improvement during the last two weeks of spring drills, highlighted by a 286- yard passing performance in the Orange and Blue Game. Freshman Cornelius Ingram will learn the offen- sive system.
Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year Chris Leak enters his first full season as starting quarterback in 2004 looking to improve on his 16 touchdown passes a year ago, an SEC record for a true freshmen.
65 RETURNING LEADERS Running Backs Passing: Chris Leak, 190-320-2435-11 16 TDs Like a year ago, the running back corps will serve as one of Rushing: Ciatrick Fason, 84-583-3 the strengths of the team despite losing the leading rusher for a second consecutive season. The difference in losing last year’s Receiving: O.J. Small, 35-379-1 returning rusher (Ran Carthon, 595 yards) versus the leading Scoring: Matt Leach, 104 points rusher in 2002 (Earnest Graham, 1,085 yards) is what is coming Punting: Eric Wilbur, 66 punts, 44.8 avg. Kicking: Matt Leach, 41-41 XP, 21-27 FG Tackles: Channing Crowder, 106 tackles Tackles For Loss: Ray McDonald, 8 TFL Sacks: Ray McDonald, 4 sacks Interceptions: Cory Bailey, 2 INT Kickoff Returns: Andre Caldwell, 20.6 avg. Punt Returns: Vernell Brown, 13.6 avg. PERCENT RETURNING
OFFENSE Offensive Snaps ______58.7 Rushing Yards ______65.9 Passing Yards ______79.4 Receiving Yards ______38.7 Scoring ______62.5 Sophomore DEFENSE DeShawn Wynn Defensive Snaps______53.0 led a talented back- Tackles ______49.8 field last season Sacks ______46.2 with seven rushing Interceptions ______15.0 touchdowns and led Pass Break Ups ______36.2 all Gators with eight Forced Fumbles ______54.5 total touchdowns. Fumble Returns ______16.6
SPECIAL TEAMS Special Teams Snaps ______69.2 Punt Return Yards ______23.6 Kick Return Yards ______79.9 Field Goals ______100.0 Extra Points ______100.0 Punting ______100.0
POSITION CHANGES PLayer To From Vernell Brown WR DB Junior Ciatrick Fason, Joe Cohen DE RB who had 12 plays of Travis Harris LB DE 20 yards or more and Mo Mitchell OG DL averaged 7.6 average per touch last year, headlines one of the deepest backfields in the nation. 66 2004 Season Preview
Manson is a highly touted back from Tuscaloosa, Ala. Gainesville native Billy Latsko gives UF its first threat at fullback in more than a decade. Latsko, who saw 87 of his 102 plays on offense in the final six games of the season, averaged 4.7 yards per rush and averaged 15.5 yards per reception. Three of his five touches on the year resulted in a first down. The one-time walk-on was awarded a scholarship after an impressive freshman campaign that saw him finish with a team-high 10 special team tackles. Fellow local prod- uct and freshmen Eric Rutledge gives the Gators another option at fullback.
A big play receiver who can go up and get the ball, junior Dallas Baker will look to improve on back. When Graham departed he took his 13 catches and with him 49.6 percent of the team’s one touchdown from rushing total from that year, while a year ago. Carthon accounted for 31.3 percent. The Gators do return the running back with the best average yards per carry (Ciatrick Fason, 6.9 yards per carry) and return the running back with the most rushing touchdowns (DeShawn Wynn, 7). Fason averaged 89.2 yards per game during UF’s five- game win streak last season and ran for 190 yards - the 10th best effort in school history - at South Carolina. Fason finished the year with 12 plays of 20 yards or more and averaged 7.6 yards per touch. Wynn scored a team-high eight touchdowns last year. His seven rushing touchdowns was the third best UF freshman total in school history (only behind Emmitt Smith and Fred Taylor). Four of Wynn’s touchdowns came vs. FAMU, the most points scored by a freshman running back in the nation in Sophomore Andre a single game in 2003. Despite Wynn’s build (5-11, 224 pounds) Caldwell looks to he has shown deceptive speed and quickness - bursting for a build on a freshman 65-yard touchdown run vs. Miami to open the second half. campaign that saw Skyler Thorton completes the returning trio at tailback. Thorton him catch 19 balls, showed promise last year with his solid play on special teams the fourth best freshman total in and averaged 10 yards per carry on his limited rushing attempts UF history . last year (eight carries for 80 yards). Incoming freshman Markus
67 in the 2003 season opener. A trio of redshirt sophomores - Reggie Lewis, Jemalle Cornelius and Kenneth Tookes - have all made the similar strides, improving in routes and understand- ing of the offense. Lewis had seven catches for 109 yards in the Spring game. Incoming freshman Michael McIntosh will provide more youthful speed and athleticism. Tight Ends One of the most often asked questions in the off season was who will replace Ben Troupe. Well, there are not many tight ends who haul in a team-best 39 catches, hurdle would be tack- lers in a single bound and end up a second round NFL Draft pick. Like Troupe, O.J. Small will line up as the inside slot receiver in many UF offensive sets and should get several of the balls that went Troupe’s way last year. A pair of junior college transfers – David Kenner and Markell Thompson – will fill the more tradi- Sophomore Chad tional tight end role. Kenner, a second-year JC product, showed Jackson will be in signs of coming around in the spring game, grabbing four the mix at wide catches for 72 yards. Thompson, a 6-7, 310-pounder from receiver after seeing Milwaukee, Wis. via Southwest Mississippi Junior College, is a action in all 13 converted defensive lineman who learned his new position in games last season. spring drills. A pair of walk-ons – Darrell Carpenter and Hunter Cain – are also capable pass catchers and blockers. A pair of Wide Receiver walk-ons - Darrell Carpenter and Hunter Cain - also are capable Despite losing its top three receivers from a year ago in Ben pass catchers and blockers, while incoming Tate Casey and Troupe, Kelvin Kight and Carlos Perez, Florida still has experi- Dane Guthrie will have a chance to compete for playing time. ence and talent at the position. Senior O.J. Small is the leading returning receiver with 35 catches in 2003 and has a catch in 18 consecutive games. Eleven other play- ers on the roster who caught passes a year ago are back for the 2004 season. Dallas Baker, who averaged 16.1 yards per catch last year and had three catches for 36 yards in the Outback Bowl, showed more consistency in spring drills. Baker is among a group of young and talented wide receivers who have improved from the end of the season through the Orange and Blue game. Andre Caldwell caught 19 passes last year as a true freshman, the fourth-best single-season rookie total at Florida. Caldwell set a pair of kick return records for UF freshmen, averaging 20.6 yards per return. Classmate Chad Jackson became only the eighth freshman receiver in school history to score a touchdown as a true freshman after his 29-yard TD grab
Senior O.J. Small provides steady hands and leadership to a relatively young receiving corps. Small ranked third on the team in receptions last year with 35 and was one of three Gators with more than 30 catches.
68 2004 Season Preview
freshman to start on the offensive line in school history when he got the nod at right tackle vs. FAMU. Mo Mitchell has returned to the offensive line after a one- year stint on the defensive line. Mitchell played in 15 career games, including five starts on the offensive line before playing in 12 games last year on the defensive line. Another second-year junior college player, Anthony Guerrero can line up at guard. A pair of seniors – Ronald Dowdy and Billy Griffin along with sophomore Todd Bunce can come off the bench. The future of the offensive line is in the hands of incoming freshmen Jason Watkins, Drew Miller, Jim Tartt and Phil Trautwein.
Senior Mo Mitchell (left) returns to offense Offensive Line this season after play- ing 12 games on the Despite losing two three-year starters in Max defensive front a year Starks and Shannon Snell, the 2004 offensive ago. Mitchell brings line will feature seven players who have experience and depth started a collegiate game. Center Mike Degory at the guard position will anchor the unit for the third straight with 15 games and five season. The second-team All-SEC selection starts under his belt. has started all 26 games of his UF career at Junior Mike Degory center and is on the Rimington Watch list (right) finds his name (nation’s top offensive lineman) for the second on the Rimington consecutive year. Watch list (nation’s There will be more overall depth on the best offensive lineman) for the second consec- offensive line with Randy Hand and three utive season and will other capable tackles. Hand, a true junior, has anchor the offensive played in 23 games with 16 starts and has seen line with steady play most of his action at the right tackle spot. at the center position. Jonathan Colon, a true senior with 29 games and 12 starts and Taveres Washington, a second-year junior college transfer who started on opening day last year, are candidates for the left tackle spot. Redshirt freshman Carlton Medder, a 6-5, 330-pounder, will also see action at tackle. Like the tackle spots, there are at least four quality guards that can line up for the Gators. Junior Lance Butler started 10 games last season at right guard and has 16 career appear- ances under his belt. Steve Rissler became only the eighth true
69 DEFENSE
the first time in four seasons, UF will not have a Fornew defensive coordinator as Charlie Strong returns to lead the unit. A year ago the entire front seven had to be rebuilt, now the rebuilding job on defense falls in the hands of new defensive backs coach Dan Disch, who has to replace all four starters from the secondary. The good news is the experienced and talented group up front will be able to force pressure on oppo- nent quarterbacks. UF returns three of its top five tacklers up front after replacing all five a season before. The Florida defense will look to remain opportunistic after leading the SEC with 30 takeaways. The Gators set a school record with four interceptions returned for touchdowns and also tied a school record with six defensive scores overall.
Sophomore Marcus Thomas (above) became the first true freshman to start on the defensive line since 1992 and made 20 of his 40 tackles in the last three games. Sophomore Ray McDonald (left) returns for a second season on the defensive line after a stellar freshman campaign that saw him rack up 54 tackles, eight for a loss, four sacks, and a nod on several Freshmen All-American teams.
Defensive Line accolades a year ago. McDonald was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-America team and ranked tied for fifth in Like the quarterback position, the defensive line entered the the nation in tackles for a loss among freshmen and tied for 2003 season with no experience and a lot of question marks. sixth in the nation in sacks among freshmen. McDonald’s 12 The 2003 unit entered the season without an interior lineman starts at defensive tackle were the most ever by Florida fresh- who registered a tackle the year before and had to replace 80 man at that position. Thomas became the first true freshman to percent of its snaps on the defensive line. start on the defensive line since 1992 when he lined up for the Now, like the quarterback position, the 2004 defensive line Ole Miss game. Thomas made 20 of his 40 tackles in the last unit has some youthful talent. Sophomores Ray McDonald three games of the season, and he had a key stop on a South (redshirt) and Marcus Thomas (true) both received freshman Carolina two-point conversion to preserve UF’s victory over
70 2004 Season Preview
with a high level of energy and has a nose for the football. Redshirt freshman Jarvis Moss and sophomore Joe Cohen will share time at the other end position. Moss played in one-game last year before a pelvic injury ended his year, and he is beginning to grow into his 6-7, 220- pound frame. Cohen has made a smooth transition from running back to defensive end and has watched his body change as well, now carrying 266 pounds on his 6-2 frame with no drop-off in speed. Sophomore MacKenzie Pierre along with true freshmen Michael Mangold and Derrick Harvey will look to see action at the end spots. Linebacker The story is the same for the Gators at the line- backer spot. Young players stepped in 2003 for the departed seniors from 2002 who accounted for 25 percent of the team’s tackles (Bam Hardmon and Mike Nattiel).
Sophomore Earl Everett slides into a permanent spot at linebacker this season the Gamecocks. A pair of upper- after notching six starts classmen - Kenny Parker and Eric and being named to the Holcombe - are also in the mix. SEC All-Freshman team, Parker, is a redshirt junior who was as voted on by the coaches. relatively injury free for the first time in his career and started six Senior Cory Bailey brings games at one tackle spot. Holcombe experience to a young but is becoming more comfortable talented secondary. Bailey with the defensive system entering has played in 37 games in his second year after transferring his career with 12 starts. from Northeast Community College in Mississippi. Redshirt freshmen Clint McMillan and Julian Riley will join true freshmen Michael Mangold in the rotation. Branden Daniel is another incoming freshmen who enrolled at Florida early and went through spring drills at the middle of the defensive line. For the second consecutive year, Florida is replacing both of is starting defensive ends (Darrell Lee and Bobby McCray), but there is more depth, speed and athleticism at the position now. Redshirt sophomore Steven Harris saw increased action as the season progressed, averaging more than 20 plays per game during the final five games. Harris joins redshirt freshman Tranell Morant and junior college transfer Jeremy Mincey at the one end position. Morant, at 6-5, 256-pounds, is appropriately nicknamed “Tree”. Mincey, who joined the team in January, plays
71 Channing Crowder and Earl Everett became the first fresh- Award finalists, led the SEC with nine interceptions and ranked man duo to start at linebacker in the same game in school fifth nationally. The returnees to the secondary will enter the history. Crowder was named the SEC Defensive Freshman of 2004 season with just four career interceptions, tied for the the Year by The Sporting News after leading all freshmen lowest total by a UF secondary entering a season in 20 years. nationally with 8.2 tackles per game. Everett was named to Although all four starters are gone, UF does return safeties various league All-Freshman teams, recording 52 tackles and Cory Bailey and Jarvis Herring. Bailey has played in 37 career three sacks. The linebacking unit will receive a boost with the games with 12 starts, most coming in UF’s nickel package, and return of Travis Harris and Todd McCullough. Harris played Herring has played in 27 career games. Terrence Holmes moved linebacker for his first two years before moving to defensive from wide receiver to defensive back last year and developed end last year, and McCullough started the first two games last into a front line player there during spring drills. Holmes brings year before a shoulder injury ended his season after three an intelligent, hard-hitting attitude to the secondary. Zephrin games. Depth is a slight concern with only one other returning Augustine, who has been primarily a high-energy special scholarship player on the roster at the position, sophomore teams player for three years, is ready to see more time on the Taurean Charles. field in the safety spots. Redshirt sophomore Nick Brooks will Incoming freshmen Brandon Siler and Javier Estopinan also see some action there. should compete for immediate playing time and a host of walk- The corners will be manned by Dee Webb and Reynaldo Hill. ons - most notably Richard Brown, Brian Royal, Alik Soctt and Webb, a true sophomore, who was one of the most highly Alvin Butler will also provide depth. touted freshman defensive backs in the nation coming out of high school, is beginning to show a higher level of comfort and Defensive Backs performance in the secondary. Webb’s development last year was delayed after he missed the first two games of the season The Gator secondary has been hit hardest by graduation as with an ankle injury. Hill, a second-year junior college transfer, UF loses all four starters in this group. Seniors Kiewan Ratfliff, will add maturity to the corner spot. Battling Webb and Hill will Johnny Lamar, Guss Scott and Daryl Dixon spearheaded a be Vernell Brown and Deshawn Carter. Brown started his defensive unit that had 20 interceptions and returned a school- career at defensive back, moved to wide receiver last year, and record four for touchdowns. Ratliff, one of three Jim Thorpe moved back to cornerback this spring. The coaching staff raves
Demetrice “Dee” Webb looks to step into the secondary this Senior Reynaldo Hill looks to step into the secondary as season after some seasoning on special teams last year. needed after seeing action in all 13 games last year. 72 2004 Season Preview
Senior kicker Matt Leach (left) became literally automatic last year converting on all of 41 PAT attempts. The Lou Groza Award semifinalist from a year ago also converted on 17 of his last 20 field goals inside the 40.
Casey Griffith (center) returns for a final season at long snapper after being granted a sixth season of eligibility from the NCAA and will once again provide consistency on special teams.
Eric Wilbur (bottom right) averaged 44.8 yards a punt as a freshman, tops among all freshmen nationally and ranked eighth in the country overall.
about his competitive edge and athletic ability that more than make up for his 5-8 size. Carter is a redshirt junior who has seen action in 16 games during his Gator career. The McCollum twins - Jermaine and Tremaine will improve as sopho- mores and a trio of freshmen Dawayne Grace, Kyle Jackson and Tony Joiner will compete for playing time. Special Teams The Gators return most every key facet of their special teams unit from a year ago. Senior Matt Leach, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last year, made 62 of 68 kicks last season. Leach connected on all 41 PATs and was 21-of-27 on field goals, including hitting on 17 of his last 20 from inside the 40. He kicked the game-winning 33-yard field goal with 33 seconds left vs. Georgia. Sophomore Eric Wilbur was named a freshman All-American last year after averaging 44.8 yards per punt, second best in school history and second best in the league. Despite leading all freshmen nationally last year and ranking eighth overall, Wilbur was pushed by walk-on Nick Fleming in the spring for the start- ing job. Long snapper Casey Griffith was awarded an additional sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and will return for one more year. Wilbur and back-up kicker Jeff Whitaker are being looked at for hold- ing on place kicks.
73 2004 Season Preview 2004 SIGNEES
Name Position Height Weight School Michael Brown Line 6-5 265 Atlanta, GA (Westlake) Tate Casey Back 6-7 225 Longview, TX (Longview) Branden Daniel Line 6-4 250 Pompano Beach, FL (Blanche Ely) Javier Estopinan Back 6-3 235 Miami, FL (South Miami) Dawayne Grace Back 6-2 180 Jacksonville, FL (Ed White) Dane Guthrie Back 6-3 230 Miami, FL (Killian) Derrick Harvey Line 6-5 235 Greenbelt, MD (Roosevelt) Cornelius Ingram Quarterback 6-5 215 Hawthorne, FL (Hawthorne) Kyle Jackson Back 6-1 190 Neptune Beach, FL (Fletcher) Tony Joiner Back 6-2 190 Haines City, FL (Haines City) Michael Mangold Line 6-3 250 Merritt Island, FL (Merritt Island) Markus Manson Back 6-1 195 Tuscaloosa, AL (Hillcrest) Michael McIntosh Back 6-2 180 Jacksonville, FL (First Coast) Derrick McPhearson Back 6-1 185 Hyattsville, MD (Dematha) Drew Miller Line 6-6 305 Sarasota, FL (Riverview) Jeremy Mincey Line 6-3 255 Statesboro, GA (Butler CC) McIntosh Nicolas Back 6-2 190 Immokalee, FL (Immokalee) Eric Rutledge Back 6-1 230 Gainesville, FL (P.K. Yonge) Brandon Siler Line 6-2 215 Orlando, FL (Orlando Evans) Jim Tartt Line 6-4 320 Crawfordville, FL (Wakulla) Markell Thompson Back 6-7 280 Milwaukee, WI (Southwest Mississippi JC) Phil Trautwein Line 6-7 310 Voorhees, NJ (Eastern) Jason Watkins Line 6-9 300 Lakeland, FL (Lake Gibson)
74 Coaching
“If [Ron] Zook evolves into the coach athletic director Jeremy Foley expects, it will be because he has won the hearts of his players. It is his strength. It is the advantage he has over others. Players follow him, they listen to him, they are willing to sacrifice for him. Players respected Steve Spurrier because he made them look good. They respect Zook because they believe he truly cares about them.”
— John Romano, St. Petersburg Times, on Ron Zook Ron Zook
Ron Zook, a fiery, high-energy coach with 26 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and professional level, was named head football coach at the University of Florida on January 9, 2002. With a reputation as a player’s coach with boundless energy and leader- ship, he has a proven track record and possesses a relentless work ethic.
Zook’s tireless efforts on the recruiting fronts are already paying dividends for the Gators. In just three years Zook has signed 10 Parade All- Americans after Florida had inked 20 in the previous 12 years. He signed six in the 2003 class, just one shy of the school record set by the 1987 class. The 2003 class ranked among the top three nationally. Zook’s 9-1 record vs. the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division during his first two years is the best in the league. He owns five wins against ranked teams away from Gainesville during the last two years, the top total in the nation, and he became only the third coach in the 70-year history of the Southeastern Conference to lead his teams to a January bowl game in his first two years. Zook’s 16 wins in his first two- years at Florida is the top total among active coaches completing their second year at the helm of a program. Zook’s 2003 squad captured a share of the Southeastern Conference East Division and defeated three ranked oppo-
When someone came up with the statement “he has the fire in his belly” to be a great coach, I think he was evaluating coaches that fit Ron Zook’s profile. I had the opportunity to get to know Ron as well as watch him coach while he was at Ohio State and Florida. I recognized a coach with tremendous passion for what he does and a real compassion for those he works with and coaches. He has all the talent, all the experience and the leadership skills to become very successful head football coach at the University of Florida.
— Dick Vermeil, Head Coach Kansas City Chiefs
said. “I told him it was going this leg if you want.’ He’s know the address, I don’t Zook The to be a five-year deal and it joking….he’s half-joking. But even know the name of the would pay him $1 million a let’s put it this way, if he had street, but I can get there,” Recruiter year and he said, ‘OK, I need a to, if both of his pilots became Zook said, “I don’t even know When Zook was on John cell phone so I can start incapacitated and he had to where the light switches Cooper’s Ohio State coaching recruiting.” do it, it wouldn’t surprise me are. But I know it’s a beau- tiful house and my wife is staff, they were on the road On the national recruiting at all that he’d be able to get happy and I look forward recruiting when Cooper scene, the UAA pilot Ross the airplane down.” to living there.” wanted to stop somewhere Dewitt logged many hours Zook spent so much time for seafood. Zook zipped flying Zook up to three cities a on the road recruiting during During the 2002 May through a Shoney’s drive-thru day. “There were several his first spring as the Gators’ recruiting period, Zook for clam chowder. times when he asked me if he head coach that he knew visited 71 high schools and When AD Jeremy Foley wanted me to take over and his way around the rest of drove more than 1,000 miles offered Zook the head coach- fly the plane. I wouldn’t do the state far better than he to personally meet coaches 76 ing job, Zook didn’t haggle that, letting a football coach did Gainesville. Near the end and gave 12 speeches at over his salary. “That literally fly me around. (But) he of May, he still didn’t know Gator Club gatherings. lasted five seconds,” Foley always offers: ‘I’ll sit up there his new address. “I don’t Soon after Zook was hired Head Coach Ron Zook nents in consecutive games for the first time in school history. with a win over fourth-ranked Tennessee and fifth-ranked Florida owned wins over two of the top 12 teams in the BCS Georgia. Against a schedule that ranked sixth toughest in the Championship, defeated both teams that played for the SEC nation, the Gators ranked 24th in the final ESPN/USA Today Championship and downed the eventual national champion Poll and extended their school record of consecutive January for just the second time in school history. Florida’s schedule, bowl appearances to 12. The 2002 Gator offense, which led which ranked second-toughest in the nation, included a the Southeastern Conference in total offense and passing, set school-record tying seven ranked opponents. With a squad school records for most offensive plays, passing attempts and featuring 45 players seeing action in their first collegiate completions. Florida’s pass defense ranked seventh-best in game and utilizing 14 true freshmen, Zook’s team played in a the nation, while just two quarterbacks totaled more than 200 January bowl game and finished the season ranked 24th in yards passing during the regular season. the final Associated Press Poll (25th in the ESPN/USA Today He came to the Gators from a position as defensive coordi- Coaches’ Poll). nator for the New Orleans Saints, where his units led the Zook’s first season in Gainesville produced wins NFL in quarterback sacks over the 2000-2001 period over Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia and a perfect with 119, and ranked third in the NFC in total record in the Southeastern Conference Eastern defense in 2000. He coached for three NFL fran- Division. Zook became the only first year chises (Pittsburgh, Kansas City and New Orleans), coach in Gator history to defeat two top-five including division championship teams with the teams in his first season in Gainesville Steelers in l996-l997 and the Saints in 2000. On the collegiate level, Zook coached I think Ron Zook is a very on five SEC championship teams (four high energy coach with a great at Florida and one at Tennessee), and at four schools that are members feel for the game. Through of college football’s premier conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Big the years he has developed 12, Big East). He has parti- strong rapport with his cipated in 15 bowl games (two as a player, 13 as players. He is an excel- a coach). lent football coach. He is no stranger to the Gators or the state — Bill Cowher, of Florida, having Pittsburgh Steelers spent five years (l991- Head Coach 95) as an assistant coach at UF during one of the most suc- cessful five-year peri- ods in school history.
by Florida Athletics Director When every detail was Defensive Coordinator John recruiting is already turning Jeremy Foley, he marched planned perfectly by Zook Thompson to inquire about heads in Florida. One long- into Foley’s office and told and his brand new coaching one of his assistants but hit it time high school coach says his new boss, “You need to staff, they waited eagerly at off with Thompson’s style and he has never seen anything get me a cell phone that the stadium to greet the asked him to come to UF for the like it when Zook spent an works in the shower. That recruits and their host play- coordinator position. Thompson, hour and a half chatting foot- would give me an extra 10 ers. However, there was one who worked 18 years to get ball with him in the morning minutes to recruit.” He was problem. When 30 athletes his dream position at before returning to the school only half-joking. arrived, Zook and his staff Arkansas, was persuaded by for practice that afternoon. Zook was hired on January weren’t sure who were being Zook to head to Gainesville. “I’ve been coaching in all 9, 2002 — a Wednesday. That recruited and who were “Ron is a good recruiter. areas of this state for more Friday some 15 recruits were already playing at Florida. When we got on the plane, it than 20 years, and I’ve never scheduled to arrive in Zook paused for a moment to was a done deal,” he said. seen anything like what Gainesville for official visits. think, and provided his staff Eight days later, Thompson, his Coach Zook is doing…that Zook, who refused to delay with one simple direction. wife and their two sons and makes an impression on an 77 any of the visits, rushed to “Recruit them all.” dog were living in Gainesville. old high school coach.” organize the perfect trips. Zook called upon Arkansas Zook’s intense style of Zook is a man that believes I’m not surprised Over this period the Gators recorded an overall record of that Ron has had 52-11-1, including a 38-5 SEC record, while winning four SEC championships (1991, ‘93,’94, ‘95). They played in five a successful bowl games, including three Sugar Bowls and one Fiesta coaching career. Bowl, ranked in the nation’s top 10 in final polls each year He was very and played in the l996 National Championship game in the intense, very feisty Fiesta Bowl. and he took a lot of Zook served as defensive coordinator and secondary coach from l991-93, special teams coordinator and nickel- pride in what he did. backs coach in l994. In l995 he was associate head coach, He played with great special teams coordinator and coached the nickelbacks and emotion and he loved strong safeties. the game. Who is Ron As the defensive coordinator from l991-93, Florida was the only school to rank among the SEC’s top four teams in Zook? You’ll find out. He’s rush defense all three seasons (first in l991, fourth in l992 going to be a yardstick and second in l993), and ranked among the nation’s top 10 down there, and they’ve teams in rush defense in l991 and l993. As special teams had some pretty good coordinator from l994-95, the Gators blocked 12 total kicks and the l994 unit blocked a school-record five punts. ones. Ron’s intensity and Zook’s college coaching career started in l978 at Murray his ability to stay in there State under head coach Mike Gottfried, who is now an will be a winning com- ESPN college football analyst. Gottfried has followed his bination for him. He’s career for over two decades. an extremely intense “I’ve known Ron for over 20 years and I’ve closely guy. I don’t think any- watched him since the very beginning of his college coach- ing career, when he was with me at Murray State,” said body will out-work Gottfried. “He has a strong desire and will to win, and to do him. People at things the right way. He is very passionate about coaching Florida will be and helping young people. very proud of “He has built outstanding relationships with players wherever he has coached. I feel he is unquestionably one Ron Zook. of the very best recruiters in all of college football. — Bill Mallory, “Ron would rank among the top three coaches of all the Coached Zook at assistant coaches I had the privilege of having on my staffs Miami University over the years because he is so well rounded and brings so much to the table in terms of what it takes to be a success- ful coach,” said Gottfried. “I believe he ranks with people like Frank Beamer, Bob Stoops, Larry Coker and Ralph Friedgen as long-time assistants who deserved a chance to be a head coach, and I think Ron will be just as success- ful as those coaches have proven to be.”
that no time should be wasted. amazement at the fire of his collared shirt and slacks got pinball. According to former Once when the fire alarm new head coach. “He just got under the bar and began to Steeler running back Fred went off in the football offices, everybody fired up,” Grossman throw up the bar. “Got you,” McAfee, Zook didn’t always everybody but Zook evacu- said. “I thought it was a Zook said. “That’s the first emerge unscathed. “A couple ated. “If there really had been pre-game speech. I was about time I realized that he’s got of times, Zook got black eyes a fire, I could have escaped, to get up and run out the something special. This guy’s in there,” McAfee said. “I It’s not that far of a jump.” tunnel.” got another thing going, and don’t even come to the kick- Not long after Zook arrived I was like ‘OK, he’s crazy.’ I off huddle unless I have my Zook with on campus he was walking like that.” chinstrap buckled up.” through the weightroom as As the Pittsburgh Steelers’ While an assistant at Taylor Jacobs was working on Special Teams Coach from Tennessee from 1984-86, his Players his last set of a 330-pound 1996-98, Zook and his unit Zook once called a defensive Following a Monday after- bench press. “You think had an interesting pregame backs meeting in the hotel noon meeting during Florida’s you’re good, don’t you?” ritual. Before each game, the room of one of his players, 78 first week of spring drills, Zook asked. “I’m not all that, players would surround Zook, Charles Davis. When he real- Gator quarterback Rex but I’m OK,” Jacobs replied. work themselves into a frenzy ized he had forgotten to bring Grossman expressed his Zook, wearing dress shoes, a and push him around like a a pad of paper, Zook ripped Head Coach Ron Zook Zook is a graduate of Miami of Ohio (1976 B.S. in Comprehensive Science). He played as a defensive back there from l972-75 and was captain of the l975 team. Miami posted a 32-1-1 record during that period and beat the Gators in the l973 Tangerine Bowl. They won the Mid-American Conference each year. He is married to the former Denise Baugh and they have two daughters, Jacquelyn and Casey. He was born on April 28, l954 in Loudonville, Ohio. YEAR-BY-YEAR RESULTS Overall Final Year School Record SEC Bowl Polls 2002 Florida 8-5 6-2 Outback NR/24th 2003 Florida 8-5 6-2 (T1st E) Outback 24th/25th Total 2 years 16-10 12-4 2 Bowls
Ron brings intensity, energy and a keen understanding of football from all aspects. He has coached on both the professional and collegiate level and knows what it takes to get players to perform. Nobody’s ever going to outwork him. He’s obviously got a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and the kids there are going to love playing for him.
— Jim Haslett, New Orleans Saints Head Coach
off Davis’ bedsheet and Zook as a players’ coach. He’s seasons Zook played, Miami scrawled plays on them. “I active, available and pays In the lost only one game. went to bed with two- and attention to what they’re Though everyone who three-deep coverages under- doing. “He expects a lot from “Cradle” meets Zook today marvels at neath me,” Davis said. us and he gives a lot of his intensity, he was just as How does Zook describe himself,” RB Ran Carthon of Coaching intense when he played for his style of coaching? “Wide says. Zook has given his cell When he didn’t receive any Miami from 1972-75, accord- open, puff o’ smoke come out phone number to all the play- scholarship offers out of high ing to Tennessee Titans’ of your tail and go, man, go. ers—and he has all of theirs. school, Zook decided to running backs coach Sherman We’re gonna play all them He lifts weights with them, walk-on to the team at Miami Smith, who played with Zook games, play them hard and spends time in the locker- University of Ohio after a at Miami. “He would play so have a good time doing it. room with them, eats in the local dentist, Dave Mallory, hard he would hit guys and When (fans) leave the dining hall with them. During introduced him to his brother get knocked out,” Smith says. two-a-days he stayed in the Swamp, I want them turning Bill Mallory, the coach at Judging by the school’s around and saying, ‘Damn, hotel with them. Miami. When he walked off prestigious alumni, attending 79 those guys are having fun.’” three years later, he was the Miami may have been the The UF players describe team’s captain. In the three first step toward coaching COACHING EXPERIENCE He has a strong desire and will to win, and to 2002- Florida (Head Coach) do things the right way. He is very passionate 2000-01 New Orleans Saints (Defensive Coordinator) about coaching and helping young people. 1999 Kansas City Chiefs (Defensive Backs Coach) He has built outstanding relationships with 1996-98 Pittsburgh Steelers (Special Teams Coach) players wherever he has coached. Ron would 1995 Florida (Associate Head Coach/ Special Teams rank among the top three coaches of all the Coordinator/ Nickelbackers and Strong Safeties assistant coaches I had the privilege of having Coach) on my staffs over the years, because he was 1994 Florida (Special Teams Coordinator/ Nickelbackers) so well-rounded and brought so much to the 1991-93 Florida (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs) table in terms of what it takes to be a success- 1988-90 Ohio State (Defensive Backs) ful coach. He is a very loyal person in 1987 Virginia Tech (Defensive every sense of the word. I believe he Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach) ranks with people like Frank Beamer, 1984-86 Tennessee (Defensive Backs) Bob Stoops, Larry Coker and Ralph 1983 Kansas (Defensive Coordinator) Fridgen as long-time assistants who 1981-82 University of Cincinnati (Defensive deserved a chance to be a head coach, Coordinator) and I think Ron will be just as suc- 1978-80 Murray State (Defensive Backs) cessful as those other four 1976-77 Orrville High School coaches have proven to be. CAREER COACHING NOTES — Mike Gottfried, 26 years of coaching experience ESPN College Football Analyst (20 collegiate, six profes- sional) Coached on five SEC Championship teams (four at Florida, one at Tennessee) and three NFL NFL COACHING CAREER Divisional Championship (1996-2001) teams Participated in 15 bowl Six years coaching experience games (two as a player and 13 Coached for three NFL franchises as a coach) (Pittsburgh, Kansas City and New Coached at four schools that are Orleans) members of college football’s premier Coached on three NFL Division conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big Champions (1996 and 1997 Steelers - East) AFC Central, 2000 Saints - NFC West)
greatness for Zook. Known Tangerine Bowl victories. On western football coach Randy their childhood home and roll as the “Cradle of Coaches,” the game’s opening kickoff, Walker, former Ohio State an old tire down to Ron, who Miami has produced such Zook tackled Gator great and basketball coach and one-time was standing at the bottom of greats as Paul Brown, Weeb current Sunshine Network 76ers head coach Randy Ayers, the hill in shoulder pads and a Ewbank, Woody Hayes, Ara commentator Nat Moore former Reds first base coach helmet. Zook was small grow- Parseghian, Bo Schembechler to set the game’s tone. Billy Doran, current Georgia ing up but the drill taught him and Sid Gilman. According to ex-teammate Tech baseball coach Danny toughness. He either made a Hall, former NFL running backs great stop or got knocked to In perhaps the highlight of John McVay, Zook had a great game and “must’ve made Rob Carpenter and Sherman the ground and afterwards he his college playing career, Smith and former Braves every tackle on the punt would get up and push the tire Zook’s Miami team took on pitcher Charlie Leibrandt. coverage and kick coverage. back up the hill and prepare Florida in the 1973 Tangerine for another shot. “It was a Bowl. The game was played While at Miami, Zook lived Zook as toughness drill, teaching me in Gainesville due to renova- in Hepburn Hall with a group of to run through things when I tions to the stadium in men that went on to very a Player tackled. You had to hit it hard, 80 Orlando, and Miami upset the successful athletic careers. because it was a moving Gators 16-7 in what was the Zook’s fellow residents of Zook’s brother Bob would object and it’d roll right first of three consecutive Hepburn Hall included North- stand at the top of a hill behind over you.” Head Coach Ron Zook
Pittsburgh Steelers (1996-98) I’ve never met anybody so excited. Served as special teams coach during his entire tenure… During his three seasons Zook’s squad did not allow a Every morning at 6 am he’s alive. He never blocked punt and finished 1998 as the NFL’s third best kickoff drags his feet. You can tell he’s enthusiastic coverage group, permitting just 8.9 yards per return…Helped about being alive and at the University the Steelers to AFC Central Division Championships in both 1996 and 1997 under Bill Cowher. of Florida.” I don’t think you can possibly see him more would up than he already is. Kansas City Chiefs (1999) He’s just an emotional guy. Every day at Coached defensive backs…Kansas City posted 25 intercep- tions which included a stretch of 11 consecutive games with practice, he is so enthusiastic, so passionate at least one interceptions, the Chiefs’ first such streak in over and just involved. Even when the times were a decade. ..Kansas City led the NFL in defensive TDs with as tough as they were, Coach Zook actually nine, six of which were registered by Zook’s defensive backs …The Chiefs tied for the best record in the AFC West with got stronger in his optimism. He was like, Seattle but lost the tiebreaker and did not qualify for the playoffs. ‘Hey, it can’t get any worse than this. He’s very devoted and passionate, an intense individual. Coach is very up-front and cares about everybody.
— Max Starks, Florida offensive lineman
New Orleans Saints (2000-01) Served as defensive coordinator both seasons...Zook’s defense led the NFL in 2000 in quarterback sacks (66) and ranked third in the NFC in total defense and fourth against both the rush and the pass in the NFC…Four members of Zook’s defense (Mark Fields, La’Roi Glover, Joe Johnson and Keith Mitchell) were selected to the 2001 Pro Bowl...The Saints won the NFC West Championship in 2000 and defeated the defending Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams in the first round of the playoffs for the Saints’ first ever playoff victory in the franchise’s 35 year history…The 2001 Saints ranked second in the NFL in quarterback sacks (53)…Two of his Saints players (La’Roi Glover and Sammy Knight) were chosen for the 2002 Pro Bowl.