In 1990, Spurrier won his first game as Florida's coach 50-7 over Oklahoma State, and Zook's debut was equally successful. After the game, Zook got the inevitable shower from a water-filled Gatorade bucket. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley also was a happy man. He's the guy who took heat when he hired Zook, who had never been a head coach. Watching the new coach on the sideline wasn't as entertaining as watching Spurrier rant and rave, but Zook did have his moments. At one point, after one of his players took a late hit out of bounds that wasn't called, Zook sprinted toward the official, got right in his face and looked like he was poised to attack. He calmed down quickly, however, and within seconds the new coach was patting the ref on the back.

And really, there wasn't much to get upset about on this day. Other than a different coach, everything about this Florida offense, and this Florida team, looked pretty much the same -- maybe even better. Besides the game-opening play, Grossman's nicest throw came when he hit Jacobs in stride for a 45-yard score and a 27-0 lead in the second quarter. After the play, Grossman calmly walked off the field and looked toward the scoreboard, admiring the replay on the big screen. Graham broke a 50-yard run late in the first quarter, and a 63-yarder in the third. He averaged a 14 yards a carry, and became the first runner to break 100 against UAB in 26 games.

The defense, revamped under new coordinator John Thompson, gave up a couple big runs, but the Blazers were no real threat. Nick Hayes made a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter to keep the Blazers, who lost 12 starters from last year's 6-5 team, from enduring the shutout.