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Alabama coach DeBoer faces hurdles as Nick Saban's successor

RON ZOOK CAN laugh about it now, but it wasn't so funny two decades ago.

In 2002, Zook was faced with the task of replacing one of the more transcendent football coaches in SEC history. It's never easy to replace a legend, and Steve Spurrier was more than just a legend at Florida with his six SEC championships, one national title and the Fun 'n' Gun offense that electrified Gator Nation.

It didn't take long for Zook to realize what he was in for.

"Hell, it started before the plane landed in Gainesville for the press conference to introduce me.