Florida, Florida State Trade Accusations

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.

Gator tailback Earnest Graham said Wednesday he is considering a lawsuit against Seminole defender Darnell Dockett, the player Graham believes intentionally caused the knee injury that will keep him out three to five weeks.

Graham accused Dockett of twisting his knee in the pile during the third quarter of Florida’s 37-13 victory 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 [stuff] 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.”

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 a game in Tallahassee.

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Georgia running back Jasper Sanks won’t get a chance to redeem himself for a disputed fumble against Georgia Tech two years ago.

Coach Mark Richt announced that Sanks had been kicked off the team for violating team rules, ending his college career with two games remaining.

“I’m very disappointed,” Richt said. “His teammates were counting on him, other people were counting on him. He’s done something that is keeping him from helping his teammates, this program and himself.”

Richt would not say why he dismissed Sanks from the team just three days before the No. 19 Bulldogs meet No. 21 Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Sanks, a 6-foot-1, 237-pound senior, was the team’s third-leading rusher with 338 yards and two touchdowns.

Sanks was not available for comment Wednesday, but he talked a day earlier about wanting to finish his career with a big game against the Yellow Jackets.

Even though he started just one game this season, Sanks said he had a good relationship with his first-year coach.

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Utah tackle Doug Kaufusi won’t play when the regular season ends Dec. 1 at Air Force after team officials learned he was charged with misdemeanor assault in February.

Kaufusi was involved in an altercation in front of his home in January.

Under athletic department rules, he must serve a one-game suspension. According to a Utah news release, a decision on his eligibility for a possible bowl game will come “when more information is made available.”