Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Gator forges own identity

By STEVE LEE
Published August 25, 2005

LAND O'LAKES - It took three games for Joe Weatherford to emerge as the Gators' starting quarterback last season.

Tonight, there is no question about his status. There hasn't been since he wrestled the job from Ryan Rigau, a 2005 Land O'Lakes graduate.

Weatherford replaced a Land O'Lakes - and county, for that matter - legend. His brother, Drew, became the county's only 7,000-yard passer, led the Gators to back-to-back state finals and is battling for the No. 1 job at Florida State.

There are similarities for the brothers who both have donned the No. 1 in Gator blue and gold. Their frames, long and lean, are almost identical. As are the rifle-armed deliveries.

But the younger Weatherford spent his freshman year as a junior varsity quarterback and has yet to put up Drew-like numbers. The older Weatherford thinks his brother's numbers will get better with each game.

"I really am just so proud of him," Drew said. "I think he's done a great job."

"They're different personalities," said senior Evan Keel, a running back/linebacker and teammate of both Weatherfords. "Joe's a lot more cocky than Drew was. Drew's more of a natural leader. Joe jokes around more, but he knows how to get the job done."

Joe Weatherford admits Drew "taught me pretty much everything I know," but feels he is just as talented. "I don't want to say he's better than me."

Coach John Benedetto likes Weatherford's confidence, but is not as enamored of the cockiness.

"I still wish he was a better leader," Benedetto said of his current quarterback. "He's still a junior, so maybe."

"I always try to put in some new plays and stuff, and (Benedetto) just tells me to shut up and let him run the team. I've come to realize that it's not all joking around."

Drew admits his sibling is more outspoken, saying: "He's just a funny kid and he has a great sense of humor. He doesn't mind saying what he thinks."

As one of four 1,000-yard passers in the county last season, Weatherford aims to improve on those numbers (1,125 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions). He worked out in the offseason throwing to tight end Caz Piurowski, both shining at Florida State's summer camp.

Weatherford offered a glimpse of things to come in last week's preseason game by passing for 164 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-6 win over Springstead.

Coaches and teammates agree Weatherford's skills are improving. But that's not all.

"I see he has a lot more confidence," Keel said. "He feels more comfortable in what he's doing, just in the way he talks to guys in the huddle. He's become a leader."

"I've got to show confidence for the whole team," Weatherford said. "You can't let them think that anyone's better than us."

[Last modified August 25, 2005, 01:23:19]