GAINESVILLE - His critics are many, and they are multiplying. They care little about his explanations and less about his promises.
There is no place in their world for patience and no room in their hearts for mercy. They want him gone today only because it's too late for yesterday.
So where does that leave those devoted to Ron Zook?
Mostly crowded in the Florida locker room.
This is the oddity of the debate. The surprise in the controversy. Not that there are those who are angry with Florida's slick and sudden slide, but that none of the insurgents are wearing face masks.
Think about that for a moment:
The people offering the most support of Zook these days are those with absolutely the most to lose.
If they are upset about a drop in the program's prestige, the players are not blaming Zook. If they are worried about their potential stock in the NFL, they are not holding Zook responsible. If they are grumbling behind the scenes, they are doing a fine job of keeping it from being heard.
This, more than anything else, gives reason for hope. For all his supposed faults as a coach - and it was not difficult spotting some last season after UF went 8-5 and finished out of the Top 25 for the first time in 13 years - Zook already has won the confidence of his players.
It is not as easy as it sounds. The players understand the stakes. They realize the brevity of their college days. Many came expecting to challenge for the national title and now may struggle to reach a bowl game. And, still, they have pledged their loyalty to the man most responsible.
"I know what people are thinking. They think this guy doesn't know how to win, this guy doesn't know what he's doing," defensive end Bobby McCray said. "They see us last year, losing this game, losing that game. But it's the same way for a lot of first-year coaches.
"We know Coach Zook. We know what he's like. He's a great guy with us. He motivates on and off the field. He cares about what we're doing. We love having him around. I hope he's here a long, long time."
If he is to become a success as a coach, it will not be due to his innovations. It will not be because of his game plans. He will never be a master of X's and O's and he will not steal many games with shrewdness.
If Zook evolves into the coach athletic director Jeremy Foley expects, it will be because he has won the hearts of his players.
It is his strength. It is the advantage he has over others. Players follow him, they listen to him, they are willing to sacrifice for him.
Players respected Steve Spurrier because he made them look good. They respect Zook because they believe he truly cares about them.
"He makes you want to play for him," safety Daryl Dixon said. "You can talk to him about anything."
Is it the same as talking to Spurrier?
"It's a little different," Dixon said with a slight snicker. "Coach Zook is easy to talk to."
There were jokes early on. There were those who wondered if his rah-rah act was for real. Coach Caffeine, they called him.
Zook was always around. He was always peppy. Skip too many classes and Zook would threaten to follow you around campus. Have a bawdy conversation with the guy at the next locker and Zook might be grinning behind you.
"We joke that he's like God. He's omnipotent, omnipresent," tackle Max Starks said. "He's everywhere and he knows everything. There's nothing you can hide from him. But that's a good thing to have in a coach. He's always there for you, and you can always reach him if you need help.
"He's an upbeat coach and, therefore, you'll be upbeat as a result. Your players are just like your coaching staff. We emulate what they show us, just like a child with a parent. And he's always enthusiastic, always positive."
Zook is honest. He is sincere. He is affable and accountable. All of which would make him an ideal scout leader. But is it enough to cut it as a football coach at one of the nation's premier programs?
It was not last year. There was too much confusion, too little cohesion. The offense was a mess and the special teams were worse. And that was a team with talent. With an NFL-high eight players drafted in April.
The Gators will have fewer weapons and more doubt this season. The possibility of Florida's first losing season in 24 years is real.
Even so, Zook had a remarkable offseason. He assembled one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. He lost some underclassmen to the NFL, but he convinced others to stick around.
By force of personality, he has given Florida an argument for better days ahead. Armed with little more than charisma, he has convinced a new generation of prep players to join him and Spurrier's holdovers to follow him.
The players trust Zook. They like him. They want to succeed, if not for him, at least alongside of him.
