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Spurrier: Nothing definitive, but we'll look into it. Bowden: Don't know if it happened, but can't tell from replay.
By ANTONYA ENGLISH
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 19, 2001
GAINESVILLE -- Florida State could not ruin Florida's season with an upset Saturday night, but a tackle by a Seminoles defensive tackle might.
Florida tailback Earnest Graham sustained a sprained right knee during the 37-13 victory and will miss 3-5 weeks.
Now the question is being asked: Did FSU's Darnell Dockett intentionally try to injure Graham?
Florida coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday that Graham told him the Seminoles defensive tackle purposely tried to hurt him.
"Earnest came off the field and said the guy twisted his leg after he was down," Spurrier said. "We'll look into it. I'm not accusing anybody of anything, but if that did occur, something certainly needs to be done.
"We can't watch guys twist guys' legs after they are on the ground and so forth. But we'll let the proper people take review of how he got hurt."
Graham was hurt with 11:57 left in the third quarter. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said Sunday that he doesn't know how Dockett could have purposely hurt Graham.
"In the history of college football, I've heard of people twisting ankles, but I don't know how you could twist a knee," Bowden said. "I heard the same thing on (Spurrier's) radio show, and I'm not mad at him saying it, if that's what (Graham) thinks. Whether it happened or not, I don't know. I saw the replay, and I couldn't tell."
Dockett was overheard in the locker room Saturday night asking teammates, "Did you all see what I did to Earnest Graham?" It was unclear whether he was describing the tackle, or something more.
With Graham out, Robert Gillespie moves in as the starter. But Graham's loss is critical as No. 3 Florida prepares to host No. 7 Tennessee on Dec.1.
The Vols are ranked ninth nationally against the run, holding opponents to 88.1 yards a game. UF is 80th nationally in rushing (131 yards a game). In nine games, Graham rushed for 650 yards, a 72.2 average, and scored nine of UF's 11 rushing touchdowns.
Without Graham, Florida averages 58.8 yards a game. The other three tailbacks have combined for 576 yards. Spurrier said he might ask representatives from Florida and FSU to review the play in which Graham was hurt.
"I watched the tape, and it didn't clearly show the guy, but the guy was sort of doing something down there," Spurrier said. "I hate to bring it up, but still, I've got to say something on behalf of Earnest Graham. If this happened, we'll let the proper people ... look at the thing because I know Bobby Bowden would never have a player intentionally try to twist a guy's leg in the bottom of a pileup."
Bowden agreed. "We would definitely talk to him (if administrators call). I'd do something. I'd have a good talk with him. But again, how do you twist a knee? How?"
-- Staff writer Brian Landman and correspondent Debi Jones contributed to this report.