GAINESVILLE — When you Florida fans make your Christmas card lists this year, don’t forget to send one to the unsung hero of the Gators’ run to the national title game.

The Zooker.

Ron Zook never won more than eight games in his three seasons as Florida’s coach, but make no mistake, he helped the 2006 Gators. The current Illinois coach recruited their starting quarterback, their tailback, all of their starting offensive linemen, most of their receivers and all but one starting defender. That fact isn’t lost on current Gators coach Urban Meyer, who replaced Zook two years ago this week.
“That’s a tribute to the previous staff. This coaching gig is overrated,” Meyer said. “It’s players. It’s a great tribute to coach Zook and his staff that there’s Ray McDonalds and Jarvis Mosses, Chris Leaks, Dallas Bakers and Jemalle Corneliuses running around here.”
Zook helped Florida as recently as Sunday. He was the only Big Ten coach to break ranks Sunday and vote the Gators at No. 2 ahead of Michigan. Sunday, Zook told USA Today that he believed playing an extra game put Florida over the top.

“That 13th game is hard,” Zook told USA Today. “Twelve games is hard enough, but with a conference title game, coming off Florida’s emotional game last week with Florida State, the 13th game makes for an extra-long year.
“I think if both teams would have played 13 games and been 12-1, I probably would have gone with (Michigan).”
Of course, Zook also is the only Big Ten coach currently being paid by Florida. According to the terms of his buyout, the Gators still owe him $900,000 over the next two years.

Still, that probably wouldn’t be enough to buy Zook’s vote. He left Gainesville deeply hurt that he only got two and a half years to build the Gators. Of course, Meyer’s success has proven Florida officials made the correct decision. He won the SEC title and led the Gators to the national title game in only his second season.

But he couldn’t have done it without a little help from the Zooker.