Bowden, Spurrier exchange words after suspicious injury

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Florida-Florida State rivalry has again grown into more than just a football game. A soap opera is more like it. Call it The Battle of Twisted Knee.

Gators tailback Earnest Graham said Wednesday he is considering a lawsuit against Seminoles defender Darnell Dockett, the player Graham believes intentionally caused the knee injury that will keep him out 3-to-5 weeks.

Graham accused Dockett of twisting his knee in the pile during the third quarter of Florida's 37-13 Saturday.

Meanwhile, the coaches, Steve Spurrier and Bobby Bowden, each weighed in with another round of accusations and harsh words.

"I wonder if he instructs this type of action," Spurrier said. "I've had enough, and sometimes someone has to speak out. Everyone in college football knows this kind of crap should not happen. And it happens over and over when we play these guys."

Bowden was visibly shaken when informed of Spurrier's latest comments. The Florida State coach stood by his initial response, which was that he didn't think Dockett did anything wrong.

"I've never in my 47 years had a coach accuse my players of dirty play," Bowden said. "But now this is twice he's done it. Sad, really. Usually my response on something like that is to say nothing. I don't like to inflame it. But it keeps coming up. He keeps saying it, so I'll answer some of your questions. I don't like to even give it credence."

A different feud

This is reminiscent of the 1996 feud between the teams, when Spurrier accused the Seminoles of a number of late hits against quarterback Danny Wuerffel during the game in Tallahassee.

The biggest difference was that the teams met again that season, in the Sugar Bowl for the national title, a 52-20 Florida victory.

This time, the Seminoles are struggling, meaning their next meeting won't come for another 51 weeks.

Of course, there could be something decided before that -- in court if Graham goes ahead with the lawsuit he's considering.

In a statement Wednesday, Graham said, "I got tackled on the play. That was perfectly OK. There were two guys on top of me and I felt them against my body. And then I felt someone tugging on my leg. He kept twisting harder, harder and harder until I felt it rip and then pop. I heard some moaning and groaning from the guy doing it.

"They need to learn you can't play dirty and get away with it."

Spurrier seconded that notion. The coach said he also saw tape of Dockett, in which he appears to try to stomp on quarterback Rex Grossman's hand as Grossman was tackled out of bounds.

"I have to speak up on behalf of Rex," Spurrier said. "His dad called me. He saw the clip. He could have ruined his career. We've got video on it. I'm not making this stuff up."

Inconclusive video

Indeed, each day, new video of these plays pops up, and every replay leads to a different conclusion. Of course, regardless of the angle, Florida State coaches can't seem to find anything wrong, while Florida coaches say it's obvious.

"Look at the film. Look at the film," Bowden said. "The kid said he didn't do it. I looked at the film. I can't see anything that even indicates it. What am I going to do, punish him?"

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said he is asking Southeastern Conference officials to look at the tape, although it's unclear what good that will do. Florida State plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

"You look at the tape and there seems to be something going on," Foley said. "But I'll let the pros analyze it."

Earlier this week, Dockett denied trying to intentionally hurt Graham.

"I didn't try to hurt the guy," Dockett said. "I wouldn't want anybody to hurt me. I hope the guy gets well."

Of course, that was before the latest round of rhetoric.

"I'm kind of surprised. Disappointed, too," Bowden said. "I thought the officials were standing right over it. I'd expect them to eject the player from the game and throw a penalty out there. And then I'd have to take action, too."