Sports: Graham ruins Tuberville's plans

Graham ruins Tuberville's plans

By DEBI JONES and JOANNE KORTH

ATLANTA -- Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville came to the Southeastern Conference title game wanting to force Florida to run the ball.

The plan seemed simple, as the Gators rushed for only 37 yards in 20 attempts in their loss to Florida State. However, tailback Earnest Graham didn't follow Tuberville's plan.

"Saying that they wanted to make us run the ball makes it sound like the running game is the weak link," Graham said. "They were dropping back to keep us from going deep, so coach (Steve Spurrier) would just hand the ball off."

The ground game was led by Graham, whose career-best 169 yards on 19 attempts was the most by a running back during an SEC Championship game.

While the Gators came into the game frustrated by the loss to FSU, they put together their best rushing game of the season with 191 yards.

"We were going to try to make them run the ball," Tuberville said. "It sounds crazy, but we wanted to see if they would run the ball."

GAFFNEY ADDS RECORD: Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney's reception on Florida's first offensive play broke the NCAA record for receiving yards for a freshman, surpassing 1,121 by Brandon Stokley of Southwestern Louisiana.

Gaffney also holds the NCAA record for touchdown receptions for a freshman with 13.

Gaffney had five catches for 84 yards against Auburn.

LEGENDARY GATOR: Former UF quarterback John Reaves (1969-71) was named an SEC Legend before the game. Reaves, who led the league in total offense at the end of his career, was selected along with one player from each other conference school.

DOUBLE DIGITS: Florida won 10 games for the eighth time in Spurrier's 11 seasons. Before his arrival in 1990, the Gators had never won more than nine games.

EXTRA POINTS: Florida's seven consecutive victories against Auburn is the Gators' longest streak of the 77-game series. ... UF is 81-12 in SEC games since 1990. ... UF linebacker Mike Nattiel recovered two fumbles, and cornerback Lito Sheppard had two interceptions.

INJURY UPDATE: Offensive lineman Tommy Moody injured his knee in the first quarter, and defensive tackle Gerard Warren suffered a pulled groin muscle. Defensive end Alex Brown left the game with a sprained ankle in the second quarter and did not return.

Auburn quarterback Ben Leard suffered a sprained foot in the third quarter and did not return.