Weis says Brantley is better than some NFL backups, discusses UF departure on 'Tim Brando Show'
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
Former Gators offensive coordinator Charlie Weis appeared on “The Tim Brando Show” late Wednesday morning to talk about his new job as head coach at Kansas.
He talked nearly as much about his one-year stint on Will Muschamp's staff with the Gators.
Brando opened the interview by telling Weis that he was stunned by the news, especially after a chat with Weis during the week of the Florida-South Carolina game. Brando had the impression that Weis planned to be at UF for a while.
As for his surprising departure, Weis had this to say:
“First of all, this is probably the most peaceful breakup in the history of college football,'' Weis said. “Will and I couldn't have gotten along any better, and I can't say any nicer things about him. The same thing with [athletic director] Jeremy [Foley] and the same thing with the University of Florida.
“I had a wonderful experience. Granted, we'd like to have won more football games, but the players, coaches, fans – I don't have anything derogatory to say. And I said that walking out the door.''
Weis reiterated that the Kansas job happened fast and furious.
“This was kind of like a blitzkrieg. They just made it too easy for it to work out for the Weis family. We couldn't say no to them.''
Weis also had some interesting comments about Florida senior quarterback John Brantley after Brando informed him that John Brantley III, Brantley's father and a former Gators quarterback in the late 1970s, told Brando how much Weis had helped with his son's development this season.
He told me “your stop in Gainesville was a Godsend,'' Brando said. “He just felt like you really helped him immeasurably.''
Weis praised Brantley's growth as a passer and sees getting an opportunity in the NFL.
“I think that John is going to have an opportunity to play on Sunday. I think he would be a good, reliable back-up quarterback at this point,'' Weis said. “I think he is better than some of the back-up quarterbacks that are in the NFL right now.
“If I had a couple of more years with the kid, he'd even be that much better, but I do believe that at least we put him in the position to be competitive on the next level where he'll get himself and opportunity. And then it's going to be what he does with it when he gets there.''
