| | | |
 Friday, December 13, 2002
Notebook: Graham doesn't lose
By Marc Connolly
ABC Sports Online
MIAMI -- For the Florida Gators running game, it's simple: When Earnest Graham plays, they win. When he doesn't, they lose.
After falling to Tennessee in their regular season finale behind a Graham-less running attack that could only muster 36 yards, the 5-foot-10, 215-pound junior's presence in the Gators' lineup helped set up a record passing night for Florida's two quarterbacks. He powered his way for 149 yards and two touchdowns in Florida's 56-23 victory over Maryland in the FedEx Orange Bowl on Wednesday night.
"I don't think we can play much better," said Graham, talking about his offensive line as well as running mate Rob Gillespie, who ran for 63 yards and a TD. "Everything just clicked for us tonight."
In a year when he ran for 650 yards and nine TDs, Graham knew that he'd be a major factor against the Terps, even when people were speculating about how his injured ankle would hold up.
|  | | Earnest Graham ran for two touchdowns against Maryland on Wednesday. |
"I got with my trainers and did a lot of rehab," he said. "It wasn't a question that I wouldn't be back. I've been feeling great and was ready to play."
Graham gave the Gators a power aspect to their game that just wasn't present with the more fleet-footed Gillespie carrying the load in his absence against the Vols. That was apparent on both of his TD runs -- from 1 yard and 6 yards -- against a defense that had to worry about the stable of receivers spread wide.
"I just seemed to get the ball in the right situations tonight," said the Fort Myers native. "Fortunately, I had room to maneuver."
It was his second consecutive bowl game topping the century mark, to go along with the 136 he ran for against Miami in the Sugar Bowl last year. His 149 yards on the night also ranks as the fifth-best effort in Florida bowl history.
No frowns amongst Terps
The Maryland players weren't happy, obviously, but it was not a painful experience to talk with them after the disappointing loss. For the most part, the Terps were reflective on what they accomplished this season at 10-2 as the ACC champions in Ralph Friedgen's first year at the reins of the program.
"We didn't play out best tonight, but I am not going to let this put a damper on our season," said quarterback Shaun Hill, who threw for 257 yards and a TD in the loss. "We accomplished a lot this season and I'll remember this for the rest of my life.
As a junior, linebacker E. J. Henderson took pride in what this team did for the reputation of Maryland football.
"This is why I came to Maryland -- to turn this program around," he said. "We didn't accomplish what we set out to do tonight, but we had a great season."
At the same time, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year gave a good indication of where he'll be next year in talking about the poor play exhibited against a much faster and experienced Gators squad.
"Nobody would like to end their career with a game like this," Henderson said, when asked if he'd opt to forego his senior year for the NFL. "I definitely don't want to go out like this."
Sticking around Gainesville?
With several future NFL draft picks all over Florida's roster, several players have options to consider in the offseason. It's too early to forecast which standout underclassmen will be back, but a few players did say they'll talk about it together.
"If everybody sticks around, there's no telling how good we'll be," said receiver Jabar Gaffney, who may be the most attractive of the bunch. "If everyone else is sticking around, I'd love to be a part of it."
Said junior running WR Reche Caldwell, "I'm not worrying about it now. There's time to think about it later."
If both receivers do leave, Orange Bowl MVP Taylor Jacobs would officially be main receiver. Grossman said he'd catch so many balls and end up being a top-10 pick.
Speaking of Grossman, the sophomore QB said he'll be a Gator in the fall of 2002.
"Oh yeah, I'll be back," he said. "Trust me."
At the same time, cornerback Lito Sheppard and Graham sounded less likely to stick around.
"I don't know," said the junior. "It's a big decision. I have to talk to my coaches and then see what'll happen.
Said Graham: "I have no idea. I can't know right now."
No love lost
Graham said that despite finishing in such an impressive manner, he'll be pulling for Miami to beat Nebraska in the Rose Bowl.
"One of my best friends, (starting cornerback) Phil Buchanon, plays for them," said the junior running back. "So I definitely am pulling for Miami."
Quote of the night
"I'm not ready to go to a party," said Friedgen when asked about his mood after the game.
DBs galore
Florida opened the night in a dime package with six defensive backs for the first time this season. The 4-1-6 alignment had defensive backs Bennie Alexander, Todd Johnson, Marquand Manuel, Keiwan Ratliff, Guss Scott and Lito Sheppard all in the game at the same time, along with Travis Carroll as the only linebacker. It's the third time Carroll has been in such a position this fall, as the Gators used a "penny" formation with seven DBs against both Marshall and LSU this year.
The Florida Raiders?
Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen was so impressed with the Gators athletic talent, that he made the following comparison after the game:
"I was in the NFL for five years and the only team that was better was the Oakland Raiders," said the one-time coach on the San Diego Chargers staff and former offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech. "They've got great team speed and an overall great (offensive) unit. On offense we just tried to hang in and battle the whole way but they just have more players."
Maryland's celebrities hit the Sunshine State
One way that showed how much more this game meant to a Maryland program that hasn't had a lot to cheer about for the past decade as opposed to perennial national championship contender Florida, was how many of the prominent alums and people from their home state were in attendance.
In addition to a senator, a congressman and Governor Parris Glendering, former Terp QB Boomer Esiason, state legend Sugar Ray Leonard, Hall of Fame hurdler Renaldo Nehemiah and CNN Political analyst Bob Novak all took in the game at Pro Player.
As for Florida, the school's most famous alum happened to be busy coaching the Gators.
Marc Connolly is a senior writer for ABC Sports Online. He can be reached at marc.connolly@abc.com.
| | | |
|
|
