Alot has been written about how Urban Meyer is a great coach. Hard to deny, but if you look at the make-up of this year's Florida team, you will see Ron Zook recruited nearly all of the starters. Granted Meyer has brought in some outstanding freshman and sophomores, but the bulk of the playing is by Zook's recruits. And by the way, Zook was the only Big Ten coach to vote for Florida at number 2 and Michigan at number 3.
I see your point Fish, but we'll never know if Zook could have produced with those kids, like Meyer. One of the main reasons I bring this up, is you never, or at least very seldom, hear any credit to Zook for his recruits. But in the city of Tampa, fans continually credit Tony Dungy for the Super Bowl won while Jon Gruden was coach. And of course now, with the Bucs 3-9, Gruden is being blasted on a daily basis. I know the college and pro game are two different animals, but it's interesting in living in the Tampa area, how two similar situations, are treated very differently. Also Zook's 2006 recruiting class at Illinois, was ranked 28th in the nation. I believe that's somewhat higher, than our beloved Hawkeyes class.
Zook is a great recruiter. That was always true. The majority of starters including Reggie Nelson, Dallas Baker, Brandon Siler, Chris Leak are all Zook recruits.
But one vote from Zook doesn't change the whole complexion about the polls.
He recruited those kids and were in their family's living rooms. I'm not surprised he still voted the Gators #2.
But one vote from Zook doesn't change the whole complexion about the polls.
He recruited those kids and were in their family's living rooms. I'm not surprised he still voted the Gators #2.
It just shows how flawed the system is when coaches voting in polls has a chance how to affect who plays in the championship game. There can be too many conflict of interests involved. Personally I would have voted Florida No. 2 also but that might be a little because of my anti Big 10 bias. Our old genius of a coach at Iowa State still has a vote in one of the polls and he voted Florida #1. How sick is that?
Doesn't Jim Walden still have a T.V. program in Iowa? And as long as the BCS system has come up, I would say the members of the RX have a better idea of the best teams in the nation, as compared to coaches, because we watch, with a great deal of interest, as many games as we can. Maybe Marty, Edgar or Wil should at least contact the Harris poll folks, and request a few posters be added to the poll's members.
