FLORIDA GATORS NOW APPROVED THE SCHEDURE TO
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DJ Lagway, the Elite QB, signs with the Gators Earnest Graham Claims ‘Disconnect’ With Florida Following Coaching Change
Earnest Graham, a legendary former Gators running back whose son Myles signed with Florida on Wednesday, expressed frustration on Thursday in response to a change in the UF coaching staff.
Florida’s Gainsville — Earnest Graham, a legendary running back from Florida and the father of one of the team’s newest players, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Gators on Thursday morning following the unexpected departure of UF inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman to Texas A&M.
In an exclusive interview with All Gators on Tuesday during his son’s high school signing day ceremony, Graham expressed his satisfaction with the level of communication between the Graham family, Bateman, and Florida head coach Billy Napier. This was a different tone from his statement on Thursday. Graham did not provide any additional comments by press time.
Both of them have been outstanding. They’ve really communicated well,” Graham remarked. They clearly demonstrated their appreciation for Myles and understood what it meant to him to play at the University of Florida as well as what he wanted to achieve here.
They’ve been excellent throughout the procedure, so. Those are the kinds of people you want to hand your children over to when you, as their parents, give them over to a program. They have been amazing beyond measure.”
In January 2022, Bateman was one of the first coaches Napier hired for Florida. His agreement with the program was set to expire on January 31, 2024.
As Graham’s anticipated position coach, Bateman was crucial in luring the younger Graham to Florida. Indeed, about an hour after Graham signed with UF on Wednesday, Bateman shared a photo of himself with the recruit on social media. Since then, the post has been removed.
Another public relations challenge for Napier and Co. as they head into a pivotal third offseason as UF’s head coach is Earnest Graham’s response to Bateman’s departure and his accusation of a disconnect between the program and a player’s family. This comes after an Early Signing Period during which eight prospects who were committed to Florida in November signed with other schools.
The voice of Florida’s fifth-best rusher in history, with 3,065 yards, its fourth-best rush scorer with 33 touchdowns, and a 2023 inductee into the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame alongside former Gators cornerback Joe Haden, reverberated online among a UF fanbase reeling from its third straight losing season and well-versed in the legacy of their hero.
