Sean Glennon is used to being recognized in the halls. The former Westfield High standout got plenty of attention in Northern Virginia while leading the Bulldogs to a state championship in 2003 and a 6-foot-4, blond-haired quarterback has a way of standing out in a crowd.
But for the past two seasons, Glennon was more name than face in Blacksburg. Now six weeks into his first season as the Virginia Tech starter, anonymity is long gone.
“If I meet someone or see someone, I don’t really have to introduce myself,” said Glennon. “They kind of already know.”
If he hadn’t quite done so in the first four games this season, Glennon firmly distinguished himself in the Hokies’ 38-27 loss to Georgia Tech on Sept. 30, fearlessly completing 27 of 53 passes for 339 yards.
The redshirt sophomore’s play began to erase doubts about his on-field ability as a quarterback. But for a guy following in the footsteps of Hokies quarterbacks Bryan Randall and brothers Marcus and Michael Vick, there is also pressure to behave properly off the field under constant scrutiny.
“I don’t think it’s any shock to him, and he’s been around Marcus and Bryan, those quarterbacks, so he knows how to carry himself,” said Hokies wide receiver Eddie Royal, one of Glennon’s roommates and former high school teammate.
Glennon has never been one for creating headlines off the field. But he admits the scrutiny is there.
“Sometimes it’s hard being in the spotlight, but that comes with the territory,” said Glennon. “If you don’t want to be in that spotlight or you’re scared of getting criticized, then playing football at a place like Virginia Tech’s not the thing for you, for a quarterback, especially.”
“Just a lot more people recognize him when he’s out. He gets a lot more attention,” said Royal. “He’s just been laid back, real calm, and he’s had to make sure he knows what he’s doing when he’s out and doesn’t do anything stupid because everybody’s watching all the time.”
“Good luck” and “Nice job last weekend” are the usual comments Glennon hears walking across campus. But the finger-pointing, introductions and requests for autographs wherever he goes also come with being “The Guy.”
“Your time in the spotlight may not be long-lived and I know that when I was a kid, I would want a player that I looked up to, to talk to me and spend time and give me autograph,” said Glennon. “I always try to keep that in mind regardless of what mood I’m in, whether we’ve won or lost. It feels good knowing that kids look up to you because I used to look up to the same type of people when I was young.”
