In an age of “egomaniacal—outrageous” athletes---specialists in

“self-service”---John Brantley is “RARE CLASS”… For two seasons,

he waited behind Tim Tebow---with

patience---nary a whimper… Johnny is “the ultimate Gator”---did Dad played

quarterback for Florida---his Uncle Scot was an All-America linebacker…

then came “last summer”….Tebow was off to the NFL… UF quarterbacking job--

“RESERVED for Johnny Brantley”… BUILD-UP was excessive---media spotlight

“BLISTERING”---Expectations “enormous”… BUT 2010 has been BUMPY for the

Gator junior… His “protection” erratic---Brantley “often sacked”

by “enemies all but UN-blocked”… John is not blessed with “Tebow

escape-ability”… Might he

he a MISFIT for Urban Meyer's offense?...the Gators

got “chopped down”---“losing three straight”… tumbling from national

rankings---AND in “SEC stature”… Brantley kept “missing receivers”… so

NOW, the “QB

work” has evolved into a 3-man job… two freshmen---Trey Burton and

LATE-COMER Jordan Reed---have had spectacular moments… Florida went to

“Gator Giddy-Up”---an up-tempo offense---it NUDGED Georgia in OT---

“Stayin’ Alive”… then, Vandy was

“cremated”… So WHAT NOW??… In “poker terms,” it’s ALL-IN against South

Carolina… winner to SEC Championship Game…loser to a dark corner

to WEEP… Gamecocks were just “humiliated at HOME” by Arkansas… Do the

roles of Reed and Burton EXPAND?---meaning Brantley is “anything but

THE MAN?”… Reed’s possibilities seem “especially potent”… NOBODY

is “thinking 2011”---but, for John Brantley, it MAY NOT be the “senior

season” of his dreams….I’m Hubert Mizell, and that’s what I think.