BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - When he hit the podium Wednesday morning, Ron Zook didn't need any warm-up. His mind and his mouth went from zero-to-60 in the snap of a finger.
What his predecessor at the University of Florida, Steve Spurrier, was to passing yardage, Zook is to words. He set an SEC Football Media Days record in his first appearance.
His Gettysburg Address would have been over in a minute. He could sing the national anthem in 15 seconds.
Spurrier may have led the league in zingers, but they hit you from an aw, shucks, delivery. Zook the orator is an automatic weapon with a full clip.
This constitutes a dramatic change in style for the Gator Nation. But will there be a change in substance?
"Everyone does kind of think Coach Spurrier was University of Florida football," said All-SEC defensive lineman Ian Scott.
After 12 seasons that included six SEC championships, Spurrier leaves a hard act to follow for Zook, a first-time head coach plucked from the defensive staff of the NFL's New Orleans Saints.
However, the rest of the SEC would be foolish to assume Florida will struggle without the Great Visor. (Zook, by the way, says he won't wear a visor unless it's raining or the sun is in his eyes.)
With Heisman Trophy runner-up Rex Grossman returning at quarterback, the offensive transition will be minimized.
Zook, an assistant under Spurrier from 1991-95 specializing in defense and special teams, handed the offensive reins to Ed Zaunbrecher, who has put up big numbers running a wide-open offense at Marshall the past three seasons.
"My personality," said Zook, "is that we will be attacking in all three phases of the game.
"And I will be involved in all three phases of the game."
As for the defense, Zook hired an SEC veteran, John Thompson of Arkansas, to coordinate a unit that is, as usual, loaded with talent.
"I was talking to him about another coach for the Florida position," said Zook, "and the more we talked, I sensed here was a guy whose personality is a lot like mine."
Thompson has a well-deserved reputation for unorthodox alignments, but he's probably never had the overall caliber of athletes that he has at Florida.
Scott and Tron LaFavor anchor the defensive interior and are backed by a deep linebacking corps.
Six starters on defense must be replaced, including pass-rush specialist Alex Brown, huge middle linebacker Andra Davis and cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Bennie Alexander.
Scott and free safety Todd Johnson are the only returnees who garnered any type of All-SEC honors last year, but there are plenty of Gators who played extensively.
"We've got players who fit the mold of our defensive system," said Zook. "We're going to run wide open. We may not necessarily have the biggest guys, particularly on the edge, but they can run."
As for the offense, Grossman and Taylor Jacobs will be the featured passing combination, but other receivers must emerge. Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell, who combined for 132 catches last season, are gone.
However, Grossman won't have to carry the entire offense. Zook said one thing he took from spending the past six years in the NFL is the importance of a running game.
The Gators should be fine there with senior Earnest Graham, a 215-pound senior who can get the tough yards between the tackles. The only two games Florida lost last year (Auburn and Tennessee) were the two games Graham missed because of injuries.
The offensive line must incorporate three new starters alongside juniors Max Starks and Shannon Snell.
Snell is the shrimp of the front five at 6-foot-5, 301 pounds. Starks goes 6-8, 345 at left tackle and Mo Mitchell is 6-7, 350 at right tackle.
OUTLOOK: Zook insists the transition has gone better than he could have dreamed. His honeymoon will be a short one. The Gators play Miami in his second game and visit Tennessee in his fourth.
If Florida can win one of those two games it can remain in the hunt for the Fiesta Bowl into the November stretch run that includes Georgia and Florida State.
Mike Strange can be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
