Tech notebook: Reduced role irks Glennon

BLACKSBURG – Fifth-year senior quarterback Sean Glennon didn’t feel he was being phased out of Virginia Tech’s offense until the second half of Saturday’s 24-7 win over Furman.

He noticed he was on the bench an awful lot more than sophomore Tyrod Taylor.

“(Saturday), the second half was the first time a red flag went off in my mind,” said Glennon, who started Saturday’s game but was in for only 22 plays, 17 fewer than Taylor.

“Like I said before, I was told this game was going to work like last year (when we split snaps), so I had no reason to believe something like that was going to happen. Now that it did, I’m a little concerned.”

Tech’s offense accounted for 91 yards and a touchdown when Glennon was in the game. It gained 238 yards and scored twice when Taylor was under center.

Taylor played 17 snaps in the second half to Glennon’s eight.

“That first half, it seemed like we were splitting the reps pretty evenly,” Glennon said. “In the second half, for whatever reason, I didn’t get so many reps, and I wasn’t really told why or anything like that.

“All I can say is I’m disappointed, and hopefully I can contribute more and be in there more next week, but as to why and who, what and where, you know who to ask for that.”

Tech coach Frank Beamer said the circumstances in the second half called for Taylor to play more.

“We kind of went with the idea of using them both, and I thought it got into some of the things Tyrod can do to help us out, and he did help us out,” Beamer said. “He had a couple of runs that put us in a scoring situation and helped us win the football game.”

Glennon said he was disappointed when he was told earlier this week that Taylor would play. He was under the impression that when Beamer announced almost two weeks ago that Taylor was redshirting, he’d be the starting quarterback with no exceptions.

He was wrong.

“I though I was going to be the guy unless I got hurt,” Glennon said. “The coaches didn’t feel that way anymore.”

Taylor, who indicated he was not in favor of sharing snaps with Glennon when the team decided to redshirt him, softened his opinion Saturday.

“As of right now, I’m just going out there and playing,” Taylor said. “If they decide to do two quarterbacks, I’ll just go out there and try to help the team.”

Rare repeat
Tech defensive tackle John Graves blocked Matthew Cesari’s 33-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.

It was the second block in as many games for Graves, who swatted an extra point attempt last week against East Carolina that Stephan Virgil returned the length of the field for two points.

The last player to block kicks in back-to-back games was John Engelberger against Pittsburgh (extra point) and Virginia (field goal) in 1997.

Duane Brown blocked a field goal and extra point in last season’s ACC championship game against Boston College.

Graves’ block was the 119th overall kick and 37th blocked field goal in the Beamer era.

Extra points
Defensive end Jason Worilds (sprained left shoulder) and whip linebacker Cam Martin (sprained left groin) both left Saturday’s game and did not return. Both players will be re-evaluated today. … The Hokies started the game with a three-wide receiver set, giving junior wideout Ike Whitaker his first collegiate start at any position. … Junior Richard Graham started at right tackle in place of Blake DeChristopher, who is expected to miss at least two games with a bruised kidney. … Dustin Keys made his first career field goal in the second quarter. He missed a 44-yarder last week against East Carolina. … Redshirt freshman right guard Jaymes Brooks saw his first collegiate action in the second quarter. He spelled Sergio Render, who missed one play because of a minor injury. … Kickoff specialist Justin Myers became the ninth true freshman to play for the Hokies. … Tech’s three first-half points were the fewest for the Hokies since being shut out in the first half at LSU last season. … Kenny Lewis scored his first collegiate touchdown reception in the third quarter.