There are a lot of questions yet to be answered for the Virginia Tech Hokies as they head into the 2006 college football season. Frank Beamer thought he answered one of those questions on Sunday, Aug. 13, when he named Sean Glennon his starting quarterback, but since his announcement, many Hokie fans have started to ask more questions.

Is Glennon ready? Is he better than Ike Whitaker or Cory Holt? What about Greg Boone? How long will Glennon be the starter? With Tyrod Taylor on the way, will Whitaker, Holt or Boone transfer? There seem to be more questions today than yesterday for the Hokie nation. Though I don’t have an answer for all these questions, I do have a suggestion for all the what-iffers out there—just chill out.

Other college football programs should be so lucky to have four young and talented quarterbacks on their roster. Glennon is solid and has earned his spot at the top. He’s in his third year with the program and if I remember correctly, when he came to Tech in 2004, people were high on him – he was the future of the program; prototype pocket passer with deceptive speed and a strong arm and great size. Two years later and suddenly we’re not sure if he’s ready? C’mon people, give the kid a chance.

Do you remember Glennon’s first game? Sure, it was mop-up duty, but he mopped the crap out of Western Michigan. Hell, he even threw and completed a pass to himself. His first college pass was a touchdown and in four games in ’04, he was 8-11 for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Many of the doubters and haters out there point to the fact that he didn’t look very good in the spring game. The fact is; no one on the offense looked good. Every QB Beamer put under center was running for his life.

Glennon is a third-year guy and since Whitaker, nor Holt, have proven they’re any better or more consistent, Glennon was the natural choice for Beamer. The kid has paid his dues and done everything the coaching staff and his teammates have asked of him. He’s not Grant Noel or Dave Meyer, so please stop the comparisons.

And there are those out there on Techsideline.com (TSL) who have suggested that the Hokie faithful aren’t comfortable with a white quarterback. STOP RIGHT NOW. Race isn’t an issue for Hokie fans. Sure, during the last 15 years or so, the black quarterbacks have outperformed the white quarterbacks at Tech, but let’s not forget Jim Druckenmiller and Will Furrer. We don’t care who is out there as long as they give us the best chance to win. Besides, Frank Beamer generally plays his best guy, though sometimes he’s let his loyalty get in the way (i.e. Grant Noel over Bryan Randall)? Additionally, in the eyes of the rich alumni who donate the money to the program, the only colors they see are Burnt Orange and Chicago Maroon.

As for Whitaker and Holt – these guys are young and will probably get their shot soon enough. New recruit Tyrod Taylor could enroll at Tech in January, which would give him a jump start on his career at Tech. He could easily redshirt in 2007 and depending on his progress, could compete for the starting job in ’08 if Whitaker, Glennon or Holt aren’t getting the job done.

The more likely scenario, however, barring injury, would be for Taylor to redshirt his first year (’07) and get some mop-up action in (’08) while Glennon, Whitaker or Holt starts. Glennon and Holt will be reshirt seniors in ’08 and Whitaker will be a redshirt junior. I don’t envision having four (or five QBs if you count Boone) in the mix in ’08, so someone could easily transfer or change positions. Boone is working out at tight end and will probably stay there for the ’06 season, but if he’s given some time at QB next spring, he has the skills and size to compete. Holt could be the odd man out, depending on how Glennon does.

The bottom line is that Glennon has earned and deserves our support. He’s starting his first game against Northeastern, so he should be okay. It’ll be a good break-in game for him and allow everyone to see what he can do. Beamer trusts him and we trust Beamer, so let’s give our coach the benefit of the doubt.

My predictions for the future of our quarterbacks … it’ll be cool to see how wrong I am!

2006
No. 1 – Glennon
No. 2 – Whitaker/Holt (tied)
No. 4 – Boone (Playing TE)

2007
No. 1 – Whitaker
No. 2 – Glennon/Holt (tied)
No. 4 – Boone (Plays TE, but is emergency QB)
No. 5 – Tyrod Taylor (redshirt year)

2008
No. 1 – Whitaker
No. 2 – Glennon/Taylor
No. 4 – Holt