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.