College Football: Zook, Gators not ready to let up on the gas yet

Not anymore.

Not after he's delivered the best performance of any college coach in the state.

Florida has won five straight games -- including three consecutive victories away from home against nationally ranked foes LSU, Arkansas and Georgia -- to clinch a share of the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division title.

The Gators have done it with 45 players seeing their first game action this season, including freshman starting quarterback Chris Leak.

So why isn't Zook saying, "I told you so," to everyone who wrote him off less than two months ago? He doesn't have time, with Florida State heading into The Swamp at 3:30 today.

Zook knows how quickly a team's fortunes can change -- for better or worse.

"I've told a lot of people this: We're still 60 minutes away from being right there," Zook said.

"Our players understand that, and that's why they've been able to stay focused and continue to improve."

That's what Zook was saying even after that Mississippi game, the low point of his two-year tenure as Florida's head coach.

Zook was ridiculed by many in the media after saying Florida could still win the division title.

His players apparently took his words to heart.

"They've done a marvelous job down there," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. "A lot of the skepticism was because of the coaching change, with (Steve) Spurrier out and Zook coming in.

Zook is showing them, 'I'm a football coach, too. I can win, too, and I can lead these kids.' That's exactly what he's done. He's recruited well, and they look like they've gotten better every game."

Zook actually wasn't even present for the moment that may have turned Florida's season around. After the Mississippi game, the Gators aired out their differences during a players-only meeting.

"We all came together," Florida defensive end Darrell Lee said.

"We got together and decided that we couldn't lose anymore.

We said we needed to get out there, give it our all and win."

Uniting as a team meant standing behind the coaching staff.

"We just had to believe in the system," tailback Ciatrick Fason said. "There were too many people who didn't believe the system. There were people who'd been in Coach Spurrier's system for a while and didn't really want to get used to (Zook's system) or understand it. We just started playing like we did in the past when Coach Spurrier was there."

During the second half of this season, the Gators have started winning again the way they did under Spurrier. But Zook is leaving his own imprint on the program.

After alternating quarterbacks early in the season the way Spurrier often did, Zook decided to stick with Leak. The highly- touted freshman made some rookie mistakes when he threw three fourth-quarter interceptions against Mississippi, but he's resembled a calm veteran ever since.

The Gators also are running the ball more than they ever did under Spurrier.

Florida's 465 rushing attempts last season were the most since 1989, the year before Spurrier's arrival. This year's team is on pace to become the first Florida team since 1996 to run more often than it passes.

Zook knows the people toasting him now could start roasting him again if he loses tonight to drop his record to 0-4 against Florida State and Miami. He also realizes that fans probably won't be as happy if the Gators lose at least three games again next year.

"We know we have a long way to go," Zook said. "I know what the expectations are here and where we're supposed to be. Our football team and our coaches understand that's where we've got to get."

At the very least, this season has bought Zook more time to get there.