Tragic is defined as “mournful or pitiful”, meaning if something is tragic it should elicit feelings of sadness from a bystander.
It’s natural for a human in any situation — this one being sports — to find it difficult mustering some kind of sympathy or even empathy for someone who they believe has wronged them. Even if this person was in a difficult position to do right from the get-go because of inflated expectations, a bad support system, etc.
The Florida football program has experienced this phenomenon twice in the last 20 years with not only Ron Zook but someone Gamecock fans know all too well in Will Muschamp.