Ron Zook replacement candidates

[DallasDiehard]

Names already are being thrown around as replacements for canned Florida coach Ron Zook.

Steve Spurrier:
No way he should take it. He might, of course (dude's ego is rather .... large, to say the least), but he shouldn't. His success before was so great that he'd be hard-pressed to match it, especially with two Zook-recruited classes in between his last class and the next. Plus, the SEC has more balance. He'd have a hard time living up to the legend when he headed north to coach the Redskins.

Urban Meyer:
Very possible. The Florida AD came from Utah, where Meyer is coaching. If he can get the Utes to #6 in the BCS rankings, imagine what he could do at Florida, where the talent pool of recruits is nearly unending.

Bob Stoops:
More sizzle than substance. He was the defensive coordinator at Florida before he headed to Norman to become the Sooners' head coach. But he is king in Oklahoma, and Sooner Nation will cough up whatever cash is needed to keep him happy and keep him in Norman.

Mike Leach:
Don't laugh -- his name is being thrown around. I wouldn't think he's a likely option, but he puts up the points necessary to make Gator fans take notice. Don't look for him to be a finalist, though.

In the long run, if Spurrier doesn't get the job, or if Meyer doesn't make the move east (he's the guy I'd put my money on), then it wouldn't surprise me to see an NFL coach (head coach or assistant) make the move to one of the most high-profile (and lucrative) jobs in the college game.

[ponygrad90]

I'm shocked Phil Bennett is being tossed in as a replacement. Imagaine what a coach like that could do with talented Players!

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

I'm shocked Phil Bennett is being tossed in as a replacement. Imagaine what a coach like that could do with talented Players!

Bennett took SMU thinking that he would someday get a Big 12 gig. It is now clear that he will be lucky to return to his duties as a linebacker coach for K-State (they could probably find better).