Glennon Just Wants To Have Fun
Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon is improving after winning his job back while Kansas linebacker Joe Mortensen eats bugs.
December 30, 2007
By Case Keefer
MIAMI-Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon smiled and confidently answered question after question today at the first official Orange Bowl press conference.
But exactly a year ago, glee and confidence were about as distant as the North Pole for the Hokie’s junior quarterback. On December 30, 2006, Glennon threw three interceptions and was sacked repeatedly in a 31-24 loss to Georgia in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. His poor performance enabled the Bulldogs to rally back from an 18-point deficit in the second half of the bowl game.
“The Chick-fil-A Bowl wasn’t all his fault,” senior wide receiver Eddie Royal said. “Somebody looking in on it could think that, but those plays weren’t all his fault.”
But the fact remains that Glennon threw for only 94 yards in the game and his inconsistency froze the Virginia Tech offense.
The start of the 2007 season wasn’t much easier for Glennon. He lost his starting job to hot-shot freshman recruit Tyrod Taylor after a 48-7 loss to Louisiana State. Glennon was devastated, confused and irritated. He even considered transferring away from Blacksburg, Va.
“It got taken away from me pretty early on and obviously, I was pretty upset about it and frustrated,” Glennon said. “I remembered ‘Why me?’, ‘Why is this going on?’”
It was going on because Glennon threw three interceptions in the first two games and was just 2-for-10 in the game in Baton Rogue, La. Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer decided it was time to see what Taylor’s scrambling quarterback style could bring to the Hokie offense.
Taylor excelled in the next three games while Glennon watched. Then, Taylor was injured and Glennon was forced into the game against Duke. Glennon threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns in the 43-14 victory.
Beamer and offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring implemented the two quarterback system two weeks later with Glennon manning most of the pass plays. The Hokies haven’t lost a game since.
Glennon hasn’t thrown an interception in that span and garnered player of the game accolades in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. Royal, one of Glennon’s favorite targets, has noticed a new attitude in his quarterback.
“It says a lot about his character, his motivation that he’s not giving up,” Royal said. “He’s not going to get down on himself. That’s a guy you want back there at quarterback for you.”
Stinespring thinks it’s something even simpler than not giving up, though. He said he thought Glennon’s turnaround came because he started having fun on the football field again.
“Sometimes, I think we all forget to go out and enjoy playing the game,” Stinespring said. “That’s what it’s intended to do and I think Sean Glennon taught us that.”
BOWLING RESULTS
The Jayhawks went to Lucky Strike Lanes Friday night for an Orange Bowl sponsored team bowling outing.
Junior middle linebacker Joe Mortensen said that as a whole, the football players were poor bowlers. He reported that most of his teammates finished with a score of 80 or 90.
Mortensen said that sophomore safety Darrell Stuckey dominated the rest of the team by bowling somewhere in the 260-280 range. Virginia Tech had a team bowling outing the next night and senior running back Kenny Lewis, Jr., posted the highest score.
NO FEELING SORRY FOR MISSOURI
Like Vinny Testaverde’s NFL career or a wild cat after you feed it, it just won’t go away. Media members continue to ask Kansas players why they think they were picked over Missouri for the FedEx Orange Bowl bid.
For the most part, Kansas players have been disciplined in bottling their emotions. But junior cornerback Aqib Talib may have slipped a little today. When asked about Missouri’s controversial snub from the BCS, Talib responded vigilantly.
“Last thing I seen, Missouri had two losses and we had one loss,” Talib said. “That’s all I know.”
TRAINING FOR FEAR FACTOR
The Kansas football media guide lists Joe Mortensen’s favorite food as meat. But apparently, Mortensen’s diet includes more exotic choices as well.
Mortensen said that he ate bugs. He said he has done it occasionally when dared by a teammate or friend but would draw the line at a Black Widow spider.
“I’ve eaten bugs before,” Mortensen said. “I was getting ready for Fear Factor. I want to be on that show, I’d dominate.”
In related news, Mortensen has an all new look for the Orange Bowl. As if his 6-foot-1, 235 pound frame wasn’t intimidating enough, Mortensen has grown out a full beard and is sporting a Mohawk. Talib said he suspected Mortensen to get more T.V. time because of his new look. Not that he’ll need it as Mortensen leads the team this season with eight tackles per game.
SUNDAY ITENIRARY
The Jayhawks press conference lasted until 10:00 a.m. They then departed for a practice at Barry University.
After the practice, the Jayhawks will visit Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital in an Orange Bowl sponsored event. The Hokies will take part in a team beach party this afternoon.
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