The troubled LB says the outgoing coach has been a father figure.
By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published November 18, 2004
GAINESVILLE - Channing Crowder was a senior in high school the first time he met Ron Zook, a visit that left an indelible impression.
"It was during recruiting, he came walking through the school and the kids were running behind him trying to keep up because he walks faster than anybody I've ever met in my life," Crowder said. "He walked up and started talking. Now I think I talk fast, but he started and I was concentrating and it was like, "What is this man saying?' "
But Crowder heard Zook's message. The Atlanta native, already committed to Georgia, agreed to visit Gainesville the last week before signing day. He agreed to become a Gator.
"I sat down and talked to him," Crowder said, "and when we were done I said, "I'll be here.' "
Crowder and Zook are different people. The linebacker is loose and fun-loving, sometimes finding his way into trouble. The coach is tightly wound and uptight, sometimes losing control of his emotions.
But that visit to Gainesville started a special bond that has survived injuries, off-the-field problems and personality clashes. As Zook prepares for what might be his - and perhaps Crowder's - final game with the Gators Saturday at Florida State, coach and player share their passion for the game.
"I love the guy," Crowder said. "We always talk and sit around and mess with each other. We're real good friends. I know his family and I feel like I'm almost like his son. I love the guy. I always will."
"What I know is that Channing is a good person," Zook said. "People see him, the tattoos, they read about him and they think a lot of things about him, but they don't know him. We're not that different. We're both competitive, we both care about this team and we both want to win."
Crowder may choose to follow Zook out of Gainesville. Although only a sophomore, he is three years removed from high school, meaning he's eligible to make the leap to the NFL. He's angered that Zook is being replaced but said he hasn't made a decision about his future.
"You don't know what will happen," Crowder said. "You love the coach and you play as hard as you can for him. I love Zook and I look up to him and really respect him. But you can't say anything about the coaches you'd like to play for; you don't stay at a school for a coach and you don't come to a school for a coach."
But Crowder did come for Zook, following a hunch he had that the two shared more than he did with any other coach who recruited him. There are times when the only thing that distinguishes the two are the clothes they wear.
Crowder is the epitome of the hip-hop generation - the baggy pants, oversized shirt, earring, braided hair, stylish athletic shoes and cell phone on his waist. And oh, don't forget the tattoos that cover seemingly every visible space on his body.
Zook, when he's not wearing his coaching shorts and Gator shirt, is most often in khaki, blue or black casual pants, matching shirt and soft loafers. There are no visible tattoos. No earrings. His hair is short and cropped, compliments of his wife Denise's cutting skills.
But while their differences are obvious, they have more similarities than you'd think.
"Channing is a character. He's a spontaneous dude. You never know what to expect from him," senior linebacker Travis Harris said. "And that's kind of how coach Zook is. Sometimes when you think he's mad or he's about to get after you, he might bring you up. Or if you think you're doing good, he just might tell you you're not. So they both have those kinds of personalities. They are spontaneous. But both of them have good hearts, and they are both real competitive."
For the past three weeks, Crowder has watched from the sideline, nursing torn ligaments in his right foot. But his presence, according to his teammates, was as strong as ever. He watched film with freshman linebacker Brandon Siler, critiquing his performance. When the players came to the sideline after a defensive series, Crowder was often the first to meet them, waving his white towel and offering a pat on the head.
"He's a leader on the defense, hurt or not hurt," senior Kenny Parker said. "You've got to support your team and that's what he does. We look to him for advice or getting us up or whatever. We look to him because he's our leader."
Crowder's tenure has been marked by outstanding accomplishments (last season's SEC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year) and marred by trouble, including two arrests for incidents involving altercations at a local nightclub.
"People think maybe he's a little bit of a thug, a bad guy," Zook said. "But Channing is not a bad guy, I know that. He's competitive, he wants to win, he cares about the University of Florida and he cares about his teammates. Has he done some things that are wrong? Absolutely. And most of it he's brought on himself and he knows that. But he's a good person."
As they come to the end of their time together, Crowder said Zook may leave, but the bond will never be broken. Crowder, who grew up with his single mother, said he regards Zook as a father figure, a relationship that is flawed, yet special.
"Me and coach Zook had a little conflict last year, but a lot of it was because we're so much alike," he said. "Sometimes you might have some conflict because you think you know the better way. They say opposites attract. But when it's positive, positive, the magnets push away from each other. If you realize that, switch the magnets around and they find a way to come together."
