Gator To Be Kicked Off Team

Florida safety Rod Graddy will be kicked off the team for driving a car carrying two robbery suspects fleeing a crime scene, a source close to the investigation said Tuesday.

The source, who spoke on the condition he not be identified, told The Associated Press that Graddy was to meet with coach Steve Spurrier on Tuesday night.

Graddy, a junior from Cuthbert, Ga., had already been suspended for five games for violating university policy. He also had been suspended one other time for one game for the same reason.

Athletic director Jeremy Foley said Tuesday that Graddy's future is "still to be determined." Asked about Graddy's status, Spurrier said he was trying to determine what happened.

"He's going to miss at least five games, let's put it that way," Spurrier told The Florida Times-Union for Tuesday editions. "I don't know all the facts in the case yet, but with the problems he's had in the last year or so, his situation doesn't look too good now."

Police stopped Graddy's car shortly after a fight outside the Florida Theatre nightclub early last Friday. Two passengers in the car, Timothy Taylor, 27, and Kenneth James Welch, 19, were arrested.

Police say Taylor and Welch took advantage of a "mob scene" at the club by snatching a $1,200 bracelet off a man who had been involved in another fight. Taylor and Welch fled to Graddy's car, and then Taylor pointed a gun at two men who had chased him, police say.

Graddy said Taylor threw the gun out of the window before police pulled the car over. Police recovered the gun and arrested Taylor for strong-armed robbery and aggravated battery.

Welch was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor count of accessory after the fact for hiding the bracelet under his seat when the car was stopped by police. Graddy was not charged.

Graddy started 11 games last season and was third on the team in tackles with 75. He was listed as a co-starter at strong safety after spring drills, along with sophomore Marquand Manuel.

Graddy was the only returning starter from last year's defense, but Spurrier said he wasn't counting much on him because of the suspensions.

"He has made some bad choices," Spurrier said. "When you make bad choices, you suffer the consequences."

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