Okay, I have to admit this is the only blog post I have read from Tailgatefever.com, but it has to be one of the funniest. It is long, but man, is it worth reading! Check it out at http://www.tailgatefever.com/Handler.cfm?action=index.

I read a Washington Post article (’Shocked’ Glennon Heads to the Bench) about Sean Glennon being benched in favor of true freshman Tyrod Taylor and I was “shocked” at just how disillusioned Glennon really is.

In the article, Glennon is quoted as saying, “I feel like, not to say I’d make it, but that I have a shot at the next level.” I can only assume Glennon is referring to the NFL as the next level. If my assumtion is correct, I think someone needs to be up front with Sean and explain to him that he was never slated to be a starter at Virginia Tech. If everything had gone according to plan, he would have been a 2nd stringer at best during his entire career.

Glennon, a redshirt junior, is in his fourth year at Virginia Tech. He played in a couple of games in 2004, redshirted in 2005, started the entire 2006 season and played six quarters in 2007. Marcus Vick, had he not gotten into trouble, would have started the 2003 through 2005 seasons, and possibly the 2006 season (depending on his NFL draft potential) after redshirting in 2002. That left Ike Whitaker as the transition quarterback for the 2006 season (assuming Marcus left early), with Glennon and Cory Holt backing him up until Tyrod arrived for the 2007 season.

Unfortunately, Ike developed a crippling addiction to alcohol and despite head coach Frank Beamer’s repeated insistance that we would see more of Ike as the 2006 season wore on, we never saw Whitaker get into a game late in the season. After the regular season was over, Ike went public with his addiction and entered rehab voluntarily. He missed the bowl game and just before the 2007 season, he was moved permanently to split end.

I like Glennon and I firmly believe that he gave everything he had to the Tech football program. I also think it is admirable that he believes he can make it at the next level and if there is a team out there that is willing to give him a shot as a free agent, more power to him and best of luck.

But facts are facts and stats are stats. He couldn’t move the ball against East Carolina and his timing and progressions just haven’t improved enough to keep him as the starting quarterback of a major college football team. Not to mention the fact that he isn’t mobile, which is very important for a team with a poorly-performing offensive line.

One thing I have always said about Frank Beamer is that he is loyal to a fault. I think he gave Glennon more than a fair shake. In the eyes of most Hokie fans, I would venture a guess that they feel this change is long overdue. If Frank thinks it is time to pull you, then that should be enough to let you know that you were given every opportunity.

E-mail me at gary@vthokiefans.com.

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

Jan. 6, 2006 - I do not envy Jim Weaver. He is mulling over, probably the most defining decision of his administration as athletics director at Virginia Tech - What will become of Marcus Vick.

By now you’ve probably seen the infamous “stomp” video in which Vick intentionally stomps on the knee of prone Louisville defensive lineman Elvis Dumervil. It was one of those rare, incredibly overt acts of stupidity and aggression that the sports world only sees once in a blue moon.

It was so obvious, I just kind of stared at the television and thought, “Oh dear Lord, did he really do that on national TV?” I realized after seeing the replay a couple of times that it was going to cost Virginia Tech dearly, well after the game was over. Unfortunately, I was right.

Since the Gator Bowl ended with Virginia Tech coming from behind to win 35-24, the talk has not focused around the great play in the fourth quarter, but instead about how Virginia Tech has sold its soul for football glory and that Tech players are all thugs.

Like many Tech alums, I am outraged, but not because of Vick’s actual transgression, but for the long-term damage he’s caused to the image of my alma mater and its football program. Tech is getting hammered in the press with sports reporters across the dial in both radio and television ripping on Frank Beamer, Vick, Weaver and the entire Tech athletic department. I can’t tell you how many times people have asked me what I thought about Vick’s actions simply because they know I’m a graduate and diehard fan.

If you haven’t read Will Stewart’s column, you should. It speaks to the incident on many levels, most of which I agree with. However, I respectfully disagree with him on one issue; that players like Vick, Jim Druckenmiller, George DelRicco and other past Hokies who have run afoul of the law and brought shame on our school’s good name will always be there. That may be true, but they don’t have to play for Virginia Tech. Is winning really that important? I seem to recall Penn State having a great year with a bunch of quality players and people. Notre Dame has a pretty impressive year too. You don’t hear about their players pulling crap like this and when they do, the schools have always put the university’s and program’s reputations ahead of the individuals and dealt with them quickly and decisively. Tech should take notes.

Tech has reached the upper echelon of college football. We are contenders every year and it’s time for us to be more selective with the quality of players we recruit. Not just the quality of athlete, but the quality of the person. I hate to say it, but Tech’s team this year reminds me of Butch Davis’s Miami teams of the mid 90s - a bunch of thugs who will win games, but don’t represent the school in a positive light.

But that’s the sad part; Tech only has a few players who can’t seem to get right. Vick and Jimmy Williams are the top two offenders. Williams with his constant arm flapping and trash talking and Vick with his bird flipping and foot stomping. They also happen to be two of the team’s best players. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. They are two high profile athletes that get a ton of camera time and therefore, people associate and apply their behavior to all Tech football players. Unfair and unfortunate, but perception, my friends, is reality. And the perception today, is that Tech recruits classless thugs. Reality? No, not at all. But we’re not talking reality, we’re talking perception. And perception goes a long way in the realm of public image.

If you’ve ever played high school or college sports, you know that tempers can run pretty hot and sometimes, even the most sportsmanlike athletes can lose their cool. I’m guilty of it. I’ve taken a couple of cheap shots on the playing field and if you know me, the incidents were totally out of character. It’s inevitable. I don’t fault Vick for losing his cool, it happens. But when it happens on a national stage and you’re representing not only your teammates, but tens of thousands of alums and the image of the school, there are consequences that you need to prepared to accept.

Will mentioned that Beamer develops personal relationship with his players and therefore has a tough time disciplining them when the time calls for it. I understand and appreciate that. Weaver is going to have to be the bad cop in this situation and he’s walking a very fine line - does an on-the-field transgression count as a final straw for a rocky past that consists of off-the-field incidents? Good luck, Jim, you are in a lose-lose situation. If you don’t punish him, Tech will take a tougher beating. If you do, you set a dangerous precedent and you lose a star player for however long you suspend him.

So why did it even get to this point? One of Tech’s defensive leaders, Darryl Tapp, has been a model citizen for how a Tech football player should represent himself, his team and his school. Why didn’t the leaders on this squad pull these guys aside and say, “Listen, this is our team, our school, and I will not have you showboating and costing this team on or off the field. Get your head right or we’ll do it for you.” Sometimes being a good friend and teammate means doling out some tough love.

Bryan Randall. Remember him? He led Tech to an ACC title, won ACC player of the year honors and was about as nice a kid as you could have asked for on a team. He wasn’t as highly recruited as Vick, but he was unquestionably more successful and do you think it had something to do with his attitude? His teammates respected him. They killed themselves for him. I don’t get that same sense with Vick. To this day, I’d take a Bryan Randall over Vick any day of the week and twice on Saturday. Why? Because I’d rather go 8-4 and be considered a class program than go 11-2 and be called “Thug U.”

So now what? What will Jim Weaver do to Marcus Vick. I think if you’re Weaver you have to think long term. And while you may set a dangerous precedent by suspending, or even kicking Vick off the team for good, he has to consider the long term public relations factor. Weaver needs to be strong and decisive. He needs to send a message to the world and to future Hokie football players with a message that I hope will look something like this:

“Marcus Vick will not play for Virginia Tech next season. His career here is done. Marcus is a great athlete and did some great things for this program, including leading this team to an 11-2 season. But his off-the-field problems combined with his on-the-field incidents this past season have not represented this team or this University in the manner we require of our athletes. We thank Marcus for his contribution and wish him the best. We have no doubt that he will find success at the next level.

“Additionally, let me make it clear, to everyone, that Virginia Tech, myself and Head Coach Frank Beamer; will never put a single player above the integrity of this program or this great University. We owe that much to the players of the past who have helped put Virginia Tech on the map, and to the thousands of Tech fans who take pride in this program.”

As I said, Weaver is in a no-win situation. Either way, this program suffers. It’s just a matter of the greater good. There’s more at stake here than one player’s future. Weaver holds the future of this program in the palm of his hand. His decision will have a lasting and defining impact on the future of Tech football. Take a deep breath and hold on, it could be a bumpy ride.

Now a few words from an old school college football fan and long-time Hokie supporter … my old man, retired U.S. Air Force Major Bill Cope:

“Agree … Vick’s actions were inexcusable, but probably more disgusting to the Hokie faithful than the country as a whole. Consider: I live in Tennessee and read in the paper everyday about the GREAT Big Orange football program (a.k.a. Tennessee). This happens to be a program that usually has more felons than graduates. And the same sports writers around the nation only talk about their talent, not their arrests records. After all, if Vick had been playing for Tennessee, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, Miami (in past years), he wouldn’t have even been sent home last season. As for the media frenzy, I figure it’s the same old agenda: 1) Big “name”, so make a big deal out of it; 2) Beamer and VT are a “class act” compared to 98 percent of the rest, and the media is always looking to take down the “good guys.” So, sit Vick down for a game next year (or suspend him RETROACTIVELY as Tennessee did with a couple guys this year) and tell the media to “get over it” because we’re not playing their game!

VT has built a quality program and at this point, I don’t think a couple of incidents by a couple of ‘mental midgets’ every four or five years qualifies them for the “Thug U” label. Keep the faith  Hokie Nation; there are a lot of universities, college presidents,  ADs, and fans that would love to have the Hokie football program!”

Well said, pop!

Nov. 7, 2005 - This isn’t the column I had hoped to write following Saturday’s game, but Tech’s disappointing and humiliating loss to Miami left me no choice.

I was hoping to write a cautionary column warming Tech fans not to get too exuberant because we still had dangerous Virginia and North Carolina teams to face and then an ACC title game. Instead, I’m forced to write an “it ain’t so bad� column to remind people that we’re still No. 6 in the BCS standings and an ACC title is still a possibility.

I’m not an overly optimistic person when it comes to Virginia Tech football. Like all Hokie fans, I’ve endured far too many late season collapses to simply shake this loss off and think that we’ll roll to a 10-1 finish and a shot at a BCS game. However, for my own sanity – and that of my family and coworkers – I have to convince myself that all is not lost.

Miami still has to play Wake Forest , George Tech and Virginia . If the Hokies can manage to avoid another stumble to the finish and win against the Cavaliers and Tar Heels, we’ll finish 7-1 in the ACC. Miami should win their three remaining games, but now they’re not being overlooked (poor babies). They’re the team with the target on their back, so let’s see how Kyle Wright does now, especially without their starting tailback for the rest of the season. If the “Uâ€� loses one of their remaining three games – Hello! – we’re right back at the top of the standings. So have faith and cheer on the Deacons, Jackets and (shuddering) even the Cavs, to knock off the Canes.

That’s the ideal scenario. But, if you’ve lived through a season like 2003 in which Tech lost four of their last six games, you know that our two remaining games are going to be rough. Why? Because Virginia and Carolina are aware of our past failures and they’re aware that we’re aware. Suddenly, the pressure is on Tech to be able to prove they’re not paper lions. I think that pressure is probably greater than trying to go undefeated.

On that same note, there are plenty of players on this team that remember what happened two years ago when the Hokies imploded down the stretch. I know it’s on their minds and I know the seniors, especially, don’t want to go out like that.

Fans everywhere are now wondering if this is a repeat of ’03, or if the Miami loss was just a bad night against a great team. Without question it was the worst performance of Vick’s short career and his first loss as a starter. The key to the rest of the season is how they’ll respond in two weeks, particularly after a week off to think about things.

One of two things will happen, in my opinion: Tech will either come out on Nov. 19 against the Cavaliers and play some friggin’ BeamerBall en route to a convincing win, or they’ll come out flat and lay an egg and we’ll never hear the end of the slobbering on TheSabre.

There are just too many psychological variables to really get a feel for what’s going to happen with this team. One final optimistic way to look at our final two games is that everyone thinks we’re going to fail, again. They think we’re done and that we have nothing left. If Beamer can convince his players that everyone is against them again (like he did in 2004), he might just be able to strike a nerve with this team that’ll make them play out of their minds and just punish the Wahoos and Heels.

Tech lost to better team Saturday night. Plain and simple. Just like Miami lost to a better Tech team in ’03 and ’04, and seven of the last 10 games prior to this season. Our national title hopes are gone, but Tech still has something to prove to the college football world, to the ACC, to their fans and more importantly to themselves.

They’re not playing for a bowl game or ACC title; they’re playing for pride. And when you take away the bright lights, packed houses and national attention, all these players will ever have left of this season is how they finished. That will be the mark of this team. How they choose to be remembered is up to them.

Stay strong and stay united Hokie nation…