Earnest Graham Alleges 'Disconnect' With Florida After Coaching Change

Legendary former Gators running back Earnest Graham, whose son Myles signed with Florida on Wednesday, expressed frustration following a UF coaching change on Thursday.

Photo: Former Florida assistant Jay Bateman; Credit: Alex Shepherd

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Legendary Florida running back and father of one of the team's newest players, Earnest Graham made his frustration with the Gators known on Thursday morning in the wake of UF inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman's surprise move to Texas A&M. 

Although Graham did not directly name his son, class of 2024 Gators linebacker signee Myles Graham, he referenced the future Florida linebacker and alleged a lack of communication from UF in a social media post fewer than two hours after Bateman's departure from the program was reported. 

"My son was raised to understand the business as it exists but there has been new levels of disconnect with this program that I have NEVER ever experienced," the elder Graham, who attended UF from 1998-2002, wrote on Thursday. "No calls, no communication and the dryest [sic] experience imaginable. I’m just going to START there." 

While Graham did not offer further comment by press time, he previously expressed satisfaction with the level of communication between the Graham family, Bateman and Florida head coach Billy Napier in an exclusive interview with All Gators on Tuesday during his son's high school signing day ceremony, striking a different tone from his Thursday remark. 

"They've both been phenomenal. I mean, they've communicated well," Graham said. "They made it very evident not only that they, you know, value Myles, but they were in tune with what he wanted to accomplish here and what it meant to him to play here at the University of Florida. 

"So, they've been great through the process. As parents, when you turn them over to a program, those are the type of people that you want to turn them over to. They've been nothing short of awesome." 

Bateman was one of the original hires to Napier's Florida coaching staff, in Jan. 2022. The terms of his contract with the program were scheduled to expire on Jan. 31, 2024.

Bateman played an integral role in recruiting the younger Graham to Florida as his expected position coach. In fact, Bateman posted a picture of himself with the recruit to social media roughly an hour following Graham's signing with UF on Wednesday. The post has since been deleted. 

Following an Early Signing Period in which eight prospects who were committed to Florida in November signed with other schools, Earnest Graham's response to Bateman's departure and accusation of disconnect between the program and the family of a player is another public relations obstacle for Napier and Co. to overcome entering a crucial third offseason as UF's head coach.

Florida's fifth all-time leading rusher with 3,065 yards, fourth all-time rushing scorer with 33 touchdowns and 2023 Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame inductee alongside former Gators cornerback Joe Haden, Graham's voice resonated online with a UF fanbase that is coping with a third-consecutive losing season and well-acquainted with his legacy.

Relative to recruiting legacy, Myles Graham signed with UF as a consensus four-star prospect, the third-highest-ranked commitment in Florida's 2024 recruiting class according to the 247Sports composite. He finished his high school career in Gainesville, posting 82 tackles and 17 total touchdowns as a senior at Buchholz High School. 

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