A year ago, former Bucs and Gators linebacker Scot Brantley's world changed drastically. He had a series of ministrokes, caused when a blood clot temporarily clogs an artery and part of the brain doesn't get the blood it needs.

He learned that he has lived his life with a hole in his heart. His condition is called patent foramen ovale. The Mayo Clinic's Web site says at least one of four people has it and most don't know because it usually doesn't have symptoms.

Brantley, 51, is on the mend, spending most of his time at his home in Tampa. He still works on the Gators radio network and speaks at Gators club functions. Thursday, St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones spoke with Brantley by telephone.