Listening to Sean Glennon come onto the field last weekend into the bellow of the boo-birds was a tough moment for the Hokie Nation.
Here was a fifth-year senior and an integral part of an ACC championship facing not only a surprisingly pesky Furman defense in his final home opener but his own perturbed fans.
In the twisted realm of Arena Ethics, the rules that govern what we consider acceptable at a sporting event, booing Glennon can be understood and even expected. When the quarterback of an upper-crust football program struggles against a team that last played a university that sounds like a high school (Mars Hill, anyone?), Arena Ethics asks the following question: How sympathetic is the player stinking up the place?
For whatever reason, Glennon always loses out on this question.
But Arena Ethics, the same rules that make it alright for a sweaty idiot dripped in paint to dump his beer down your back in mid-first down joy, aren't always the best indicators of fairness.
But is there something else? Why do we torment Sean Glennon?
Consider the following. In Virginia Tech football history, Glennon is now the sixth most prolific passer in terms of yardage in Tech history.
Barring an injury, Glennon will almost certainly become the fifth highest. If he comes anywhere near his 2007 production of 1,796 yards, he could be fourth, even third, eclipsing both Vicks (by a longshot) and Jim Druckenmiller.
So why can't we cut the kid some slack? Does an ACC Championship MVP award count for nothing?
While Hokie Nation loves success, we really love success in the Michael Vick mold. In the eyes of the Hokie faithful, if you can't run, you're done. We pine for Tyrod Taylor's athleticism the same way we lusted after the illustrious Vicks and Bryan Randall.
Their electrifying footwork was something to see, it's true.
But our shallow idea of who should run Stinespring's show is a rather sorry spectacle. Glennon is a kid who has battled for this program, who has stayed within himself, who has ducked his head and taken it on the chin game after game while opposing rushers carved up an offensive line that seems to push the self-destruct button sometime around the season's second week.
The guy who went through with a moment of Stinespringian genius against East Carolina and ran the option has got to have some guts. We defy anyone to find a better definition of a good soldier.
There's no reason to give him a standing ovation. He's no legend. But by any measure he's given what he can to Tech football. He deserves better than what we've given back.
The editorial board is composed of David Grant, Sharon Pritz, David Harries, Laurel Colella and David McIlroy.
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Glennon still sucks... hands down
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Everyone who is writing these stupid anti-boo 'bird' articles needs to listen up. We, the students and alumni, are customers. We pay for those seats and we can show our disapproval how we see fit. The fact that he is a 5th year senior should suggest that he is better and shouldnt make the mistakes he makes. Keep in mind that the boos are 50% for glennon and 50% for stinespring. It seems that the general football-intellect consensus wants Stinespring and Glennon gone. If Beamer keeps Stinespring around long enough it wont be long before people are booing him and requesting he retires. There is a very good reason why we get 'Beamer' ball thrown back in our faces in major games, why our Offense is consistently ranked as one of the countries worest, and there is a really good reason why our Defense is consistently ranked as one of the countries best.
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I agree with the previous comment. Compared to a stellar defence, our offence's weaknesses shine. If they're tired of the booing then perhaps they should pay real close attention to the sources of the problems.
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And another thing.. sorry for the multiple posts... but when Glennon starts respecting fans, our school and what he represents to us in the media, then I'll give him some credit. However, his whining, a-hole actions all over town and his arrogance will not win me over. Nor will his actions on the field...
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Rules 4-7
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Agreed. It's only a matter of time before the donors start (if they haven't) wreaking havoc on Beamer's world. Stinespring is the problem. Send all these anti-boo bird letters to Stinespring b/c he is the reason Glennon gets booed. If he would do the smart thing and step down, maybe we could actually get a competent OC. Oh, also Glennon walking around campus like he's hot $hit, whining to the media, and his overall arrogance does not help the situation.
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Booing Glennon for his performance on the field is like booing infantry troops for doing what their general told them to. Unfortunately, our current offense doesnt develop many plays, so the QB is forced to make them on his own. Glennon's talent seems to lie in pocket passing, so I think Tyrod is the QB who can best suit our current predicament. Instead of booing Glennon, write on message boards, mail to the CT, and call into radio shows expressing your dissatisfaction with our offensive coordinator, and our coach's unwillingness to deal with the reality of the situation.
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@Sheehan Please don't compare Sean Glennon playing football to a soldier serving in the military. The level of sacrifice and the stakes at hand are way higher for our troops then for a guy playing college football.
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Glennon is a great quarterback, just in the wrong environment. I'm sure he would excel at the special olympic level, possibly be one of the top 100 athletes to ever grace the stadium at the Special Olympics.
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“I think for right now this is where we are and this is the best way for our team to operate,†Beamer said. “Sean Glennon is a good, good quarterback and he’s been a great quarterback for us and a great team player for us. I feel for him. I really feel for him. “But Tyrod fits where we are as a football team and I’m all about team and how many wins we can get. You have to put those pieces together and Tyrod right now is one of those pieces. He’s a major piece.â€
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"There's no reason to give him a standing ovation. He's no legend. But by any measure he's given what he can to Tech football. He deserves better than what we've given back." ---You are right, he deserves a nice seat cushion on the end of the bench. Donations anyone?---
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He quit a long time ago when he threatened a transfer. Why is anyone surprised by his performance? Once a quitter, always a quitter.
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Please Sean would still be setting on the bench if Marcus hadn't messed up his career. He was good for the short term, but now we need to start thinking long term and that is Tyrod Taylor.
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Sean - You have my respect as an athelete and a student. All those hours you spend at the Empo studying. You're graduating with a degree in finance and you're a QB at a Division 1 school. Very impressive!! You've accomplished more than most young people would ever dream of. Read the book on Vince Lombardy - "When pride still mattered" Great footall story and biography. Best of luck!
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I just paid tuition for four years and some of it went to have this guy get a free ride and never improve over the course of his career. To constantly see him whine when things didn't go his way in the Roanoke Times and Washington Post. To hear him talk about the importance of his NFL stock over and over. I do not respect Sean Glennon. And yes, Sean, I am jealous. I am jealous to have never gotten the opportunity you got with this program. I am jealous that I never had a chance to take that job seriously and actually work hard to improve my game. I am jealous.
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If you know anything about football, you would understand what Glennon has contributed to our university and football program. Does anyone remember the ACC championship game? Beamer has basically tossed Glennon under the team bus. I don't think any of you Monday morning QBs have enough in the way of brainpower to graduate from VT like Glennon. Beamer should have never recruited the kid if he wasn't interested in a pro-style QB. Get you collective heads out of your collectives asses.
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