The Roller Coaster Career Of Sean Glennon

STAFF PHOTO BY BRIAN SEWELL

Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech was deafening right before the Hokies were about to take on Ohio University on Sept. 15. A video began to play to highlight specific Hokie football players talking about the game of football. When number seven’s face appeared on the screen, the deafening sound heard in the stadium before was now all boos.

The once praised Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon has had a whirlwind of an experience while on the Virginia Tech football team. The past two years have been filled with highs and lows. Some of his lows, though, are ones no one else has ever experienced.

“I don’t let it bother me…it’s the nature of the beast to kick you when you’re down and love you when you’re on top,” said Glennon.

Glennon grew up in Centreville, Va., where he lead Westfield High School’s football team to victory in the Virginia AAA group six state championship his senior year.

“It was amazing to do what Sean did in just four years,” said Nick Sposa, a current Virginia Tech senior, graduate of Westfield High School and friend of Glennon’s. “Something clicked during Sean’s junior year and we [Westfield High School football team] ended up not losing another regular season game the last two years. It obviously led up to the 14- to 0- state championship game Sean’s senior year. It was like something out of a movie.”

Just one year later, Glennon became backup quarterback to Bryan Randall and the Virginia Tech football team. During his first ever collegiate game against Western Michigan, he threw two touchdown passes.

“Obviously it was a rush. …Throwing two touchdown passes really was exciting because I had expected to red shirt,” said Glennon.

“It was great to see Sean have some success right off the bat in the second game of the 2004 football season,” Sposa said. “It gave me and his family a lot of optimism about his future.”

Glennon did end up being red-shirted his second year at Virginia Tech while Marcus Vick took on the role of being first-string quarterback. Glennon was backup quarterback, but he was never put into a game during the 2005 season.

When it was announced that Marcus Vick would be suspended for the 2006 football season, Glennon began to prepare himself to be a leader for the Hokie football team.

“I knew I had a good chance but that I would have to earn it,” Glennon said when asked if he knew whether he would be start for the 2006 season.

That fall, Glennon led the Hokie football team to a 10- to 2- season and the Chick-fil-A Bowl. “We had a very good team, so to be a part of it was all a dream come true,” said Glennon.
“I think last season went great for Sean,” said Kenny Younger, Virginia Tech sophomore and special teams player for Virginia Tech. “For his first year starting he lead the offense and our team to 10 wins and a reputable bowl game. …Sean was able to sit in the pocket and pick defenses apart, which was impressive for his first year starting.”

The Chick-fil-A Bowl ended up being a devastating loss to all Hokies, but especially to Glennon. He struggled against the University of Georgia, threw three interceptions and lost a fumble during the fourth quarter.

Glennon said his all time worst interception had to be any one of the three in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

“I was very upset because I felt like I let my team down in the fourth quarter,” he said, “but it just motivated me to work harder than ever.”

Although many negative things were said about Glennon after the Chick-fil-A Bowl, he tried to not let it bother him, and to not let it affect his game. It was hard for him to hear his own colleagues talk negatively about him, but it motivated him to work harder than ever.

“Nobody on the team wanted the bowl game to go the way it did, including Sean,” Younger said. “…The easiest person to blame is always the quarterback. The morale [of the team] was low because nobody likes a loss, but everyone likes to have someone to blame.”

Glennon said coming into this season he felt “very confident and anxious to get back out there.” With a disappointing loss to Louisiana State University, though, his career looked as if it was going to be stopped short.

True freshman Tyrod Taylor from Hampton, Va., was put in at the end of the LSU game and scored the only touchdown for the Hokies.

Taylor proceeded to start against Ohio University, University of William and Mary, University of North Carolina, Clemson University and Duke University; Glennon became backup quarterback.

“The team [Virginia Tech football team] wants to be successful, so whether it [the quarterback] is Sean or Tyrod, the team is supportive,” said Younger.

When asked how he felt about losing his starting position Glennon said, “I was really disappointed because I envisioned it being a big year for me, and to get pulled so early in the year hurt.”

Not only was he pulled from his starting position, but he was ridiculed and booed excessively during a couple of Hokie football games by the same fans that once cheered him on.

When asked how he felt about the entire situation, Glennon had no comment.

“Nobody on the team wishes that [being ridiculed] upon any teammate,” said Younger. “So when it occurs it’s an awkward thing. I can say that this second half of the season I haven’t heard anything but cheering for Sean due to his great performances.”

Glennon eventually regained his starting position after Taylor became injured during the game against Duke University. Glennon played most of that game and proceeded to start the following game against Boston College.

Glennon said the Boston College loss was the hardest one he has ever had. He said he felt as though he really needed the win to prove to his colleagues and teammates that he deserved the starting position.

Even though the game did not work out for the Hokies, Glennon still secured the starting position for the Georgia Tech game.

Glennon threw two touchdown passes and ran in for a third touchdown in leading the Hokies to a 27- to 3- victory in Atlanta.

Glennon was named player of the game, according to CollegeFootballNews.com.

When asked about how it felt to start and play once again for the Hokies, he replied, “It feels good. I missed the game and the competition and being out there while I was out. It just felt great to be back out there playing the game I love.”

Glennon was knocked out of the Florida State game by a hard hit, which led Taylor to lead the Hokies to another victory.

Glennon led the Hokies to a 44- to 14- victory against the University of Miami on Saturday, Nov. 17, but the real story is behind the upcoming game against the University of Virginia.

A win will give the Hokies a chance to play Boston College in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. As of right now, it is unsure whether or not Glennon will start in the game, or what his future holds with Hokie football.

He does know, however, that the one thing he wants out of the sport is, “to hopefully play in the National Football League.”