Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó Sean Glennon ranks seventh in Virginia Tech history with more than 4,000 yards passing. He had a streak of 149 passes without an interception last season and was MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
Yet coach Frank Beamer’s decision to start Glennon this season and redshirt Tyrod Taylor set off a flurry of fan unrest, putting the spotlight squarely on the fifth-year senior as he leads the 17th-ranked Hokies into today’s opener against East Carolina.
“He’s solid, he’s smart, he’s experienced,” Beamer said. “He’s made some great plays.”
East Carolina gave the Hokies a scare before succumbing 17-7. It was a sign of things to come, as the improving Pirates finished 8-5 and upset Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl.
Today’s matchup, officially a home game for East Carolina even though it’ll be played 250 miles from campus at Bank of America Stadium, is part of an ambitious schedule for the Pirates. East Carolina hosts No. 8 West Virginia next week.
“It brings a focus to your players,” said coach Skip Holtz, who agreed to a new six-year contract this week. “They understand where they need to be.”
East Carolina had its own quarterback competition in the preseason, with Holtz deciding on Patrick Pinckney over Rob Kass after they split snaps last year.
“At this point, I don’t know if you’ll see two quarterbacks,” Holtz said. “It is nice to have two quarterbacks with the experience that we have.”
The problem is neither QB will be able to give the ball to Chris Johnson. The first-round pick by Tennessee scored 17 touchdowns last season and set an NCAA bowl record with 408 all-purpose yards against Boise State.