FSU QB Drew Weatherford gets crash course in politics

	If a career in football doesn't work out for Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford, he could always run for office. Bob Rosato/SI
	More Interns of the Week Lauren Kobylarz (Duke) Willie Bodrick (Georgetown) Elizabeth Bohnsack (Rutgers) Kiley Harris (WVU) Drew Weatherford (FSU)

By Greg Beaton

Name: Drew Weatherford
School: Florida State
Year: Junior (redshirt)
Age: 22
Major: Finance and Real Estate
Internship: Working in Florida Governor Charlie Crist's Office of Legislative Affairs (unpaid)
Hours: 8-11:30 a.m. until practice starts in August

For two seasons, Florida State football fans have argued over who should be starting at quarterback, Drew Weatherford or Xavier Lee.

The buzz surrounding the ongoing quarterback controversy died down for at least one day in April, when first-year Florida Governor Charlie Crist dropped by practice during the spring. After Crist and Bobby Bowden chatted atop the coach's tower that overlooks the Seminoles' practice fields, the governor borrowed one of Weatherford and Lee's favorite targets, De'Cody Fagg, and impressed those in attendance with his arm strength and tight spiral.

"I thought he threw it pretty dog-gone good," Bowden said of Crist, who was a walk-on quarterback at Wake Forest for a season before transferring to Florida State.

While Crist's arm was the one creating waves at Florida State's practice in April, Weatherford is returning the favor this summer and making an impact on Crist's turf. The redshirt junior is taking an unusual step for a star college quarterback by spending his summer as an intern in the Florida Governor's Office of Legislative Affairs.

Weatherford works from 8 to 11:30 a.m. each day, fielding phone calls from Florida citizens who have questions about legislation in the state's Senate and House of Representatives. After work, Weatherford returns across town to Florida State's campus to take classes and work out with his teammates in preparation for two-a-days and training camp, which begin Aug. 7.

"It's a really unique opportunity to see the political process from the inside," said Weatherford, who like Crist describes himself as a Republican. "It's been very beneficial to get out in the real world, because I'm usually so engulfed with football and school. We don't get a sense of how it really is out there -- the things people have to do, the daily routines, wearing a suit."

Weatherford said this job has allowed him to appreciate public service. Weatherford's older brother, Will, is a member of the Florida House of Representatives and the one who encouraged his younger brother to apply to an open internship in the Governor's office. Like any other intern, Drew put together a resume, submitted an application -- and was lucky enough to find out there was an opening.

"I was a little bit hesitant at first," Weatherford said. "I've never been employed before. "I've mowed lawns and little stuff, but I never had time for a real job with [playing] football and basketball."

In the football hotbed of northern Florida, most of Weatherford's co-workers recognized him immediately, which has been a blessing and a curse as the office is "split down the middle between UF and FSU," Weatherford said.

"My boss graduated from UF, which doesn't help too much," Weatherford said. "We give each other a hard time."

Even after spending his summer answering the phone, filing signed bills and running errands for the governor, Weatherford is still hoping for a career in the NFL. Still, he believes this summer's experience will help him grow on and off the field.

"There are a lot of similarities between this and football because of the communication skills you need," Weatherford said. "It's dealing with people, taking phone calls and having to come up with answers really quickly, thinking on your feet. A quarterback has to do that as a leader. You have to be able to make crucial decisions and not hesitate."