Earnest Graham Alleges 'Disconnect' With Florida After Coaching Change

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 wrote on Thursday. "No calls, no communication and the dryest experience imaginable. I’m just going to START there." 

While Graham did not offer further comment by press time, he 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.