Tech's Glennon wants one more chance for redemption

MIAMI — Sean Glennon doesn’t have much time.

Virginia Tech’s senior quarterback has a few games left to reclaim his college football career, so he’s not taking any playing time for granted.

He could be the Hokies starter tonight at Miami (6-3, 3-2), depending on how Tyrod Taylor’s injured left ankle feels, but after this game, there’s no telling when or if Glennon will see the field again.

Glennon, who lost his starting job to Taylor twice in the last two seasons, revived his career once last year when Taylor went down with an ankle injury.

And while he wishes no ill will towards Taylor, Glennon hasn’t lost hope that he could again become a major contributor in Tech’s offense.

“I only have, at most, five games left in my college career, so I’m trying to enjoy them, play the best I can and take advantage of every opportunity I get,” Glennon said after quarterbacking the Hokies (6-3, 3-2) to a 23-13 win over Maryland last Thursday.

That’s a positive outlook for a player who has experienced devastating demotions in each of the last two seasons.

It happened in 2007 after Glennon struggled in a 48-7 loss at LSU, and it happened this season after subpar performances in Tech’s first two games.

But he redeemed himself last season, providing steady production during a five-game winning streak that culminated with an MVP performance in the ACC championship game.

By the end of the season, he was a part of a time-share system with Taylor. There are no indications that would happen again, but after his last two games, it might not be a bad idea for the Hokies to give Glennon another chance.

He completed 9 of 16 passes for 133 yards in relief of Taylor on Oct. 25 at Florida State. He kept the Hokies in the game before leaving late in the third quarter with a significant ankle injury of his own.

And last Thursday against the Terrapins, Glennon was an efficient 14 for 20 for 127 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. He helped Tech roll up a season-high 400 yards.

Glennon, who improved to 16-7 as a starter, spoke at length after the game about his demotion and the difficult time he had watching the team from the sideline.

He also talked about the possibility of retribution.

“Everybody was saying, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance,’ and I’m like, ‘There’s no way this happens two years in a row,’” said Glennon, who has been off limits to reporters for most of the season. “Sure enough, very similar circumstances (to last year). Now I’m hoping to repeat last year and get hot towards the end of the year. Hopefully it leads down to Florida again and another ACC championship.”

Tech’s coaches had their reasons for benching Glennon. Part of it was his ineffectiveness. Part of it was Taylor’s expected impact on a running game that struggled at the start of each of the last two years.

Taylor is fleet-footed and adds a dimension to the Hokies’ run game that Glennon can’t provide.

“I’ve always kept the confidence that I could play at a very high level, at this level,” Glennon said. “I just wasn’t the right fit, in the coaches’ minds, for this team.”

Glennon didn’t come to that conclusion right away, though. He was stung by both demotions, especially this season. He thought he proved himself last season with his performance down the stretch.

He passed for 296 yards and two touchdowns at Georgia Tech and had 260 yards and a touchdown at Virginia. His defining moment came in the ACC championship game, where he threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns in the Hokies’ 30-16 win over Boston College.

When Glennon out-performed Taylor during preseason practice this year, naturally he expected to be the No. 1 quarterback. And he was . for two games.

Then Tech’s coaches pulled Taylor’s redshirt and gave him Glennon’s starting job.

Glennon had no control over Tech’s pass protection issues or their inexperience at wide receiver and running back. But those factors made it harder for him to do his job efficiently.

The Hokies needed a quick fix, and Taylor was the guy. So, like last season, Glennon watched from the sideline and played mop-up snaps at the end of a couple of games.

The disappointing experience just thickened his skin even more.

“I don’t brag much, but I will say, not too many people in the country are mentally tougher than me. I promise you that,” he said. “My skin is thicker than it’s ever been before, and to be honest with you, it may not be a bad thing in the long run.

“Anything life throws my way, I’ll probably have already experienced it.”

Glennon has remained prepared, even with limited playing time this season. He treats every practice like he’s the starter, and he spends extra time every day perfecting routes with redshirt freshman wide receiver Danny Coale.

So when he was called into duty against FSU, he didn’t miss a beat.

And when he was faced with the added adversity of a high ankle sprain, a tough injury to overcome, he worked extra hard to get back in time to start the Hokies’ next game against the Terrapins.

“I know how much it means to him (to play), how tough he is, how competitive he is. So yeah, that says a good deal about him,” Tech coach Frank Beamer said.

Glennon could get another chance tonight to show Tech’s coaches and fans that he’s worthy of playing during this final stretch of games.

The Hokies’ offensive line is finally playing well. Those young skill players are savvier now.

An experienced veteran like Glennon could be a valuable contributor to a Tech team that, despite some struggles this season, still has aspirations of returning here in January for the Orange Bowl.

He’s been through plenty of battles on and off the field.

“Sean is the toughest kid I know. I’m dead serious,” Hokies redshirt freshman running back Darren Evans said.

“Of all the people I know — and I don’t really know Sean that well, I just know the type of things he’s been through mentally — he’s the toughest kid that I know.”