After fending off formidable challengers to win the starting quarterback job at their respective schools, seniors Jordan Steffy at Maryland and Sean Glennon at Virginia Tech entered the season with confidence-building opportunities against inferior teams.
Oops.
In Maryland’s 14-7 win over 2007 Football Championship Subdivision runner-up Delaware, Steffy threw two interceptions, was booed on several occasions, and heard College Park fans chant the name of backup Chris Turner.
In Tech’s 27-22 loss to East Carolina at neutral site Charlotte, Glennon suffered déjà vu as he threw two interceptions and guided a sputtering offense that produced only 243 yards. The Pirates picked off Glennon’s first pass attempt of the game and season – exactly like they had done last year.
Glennon’s struggles fueled speculation that Tech will scrap plans to redshirt ballyhooed sophomore speedster Tyrod Taylor.
The question now: Will coaches Ralph Friedgen (Maryland) and Frank Beamer (Tech) stand by their men?
Friedgen shielded Steffy from the press Saturday. But there was no shelter from the boos.
“It was best for him not to [face the press],” Friedgen told The Examiner’s Kevin Dunleavy on Sunday. “I didn’t know the extent of his injury and I just really tried to help the kid out.”
Friedgen may have no choice. Steffy suffered a jammed right thumb Saturday, according to the coach, and could not grip a football on Sunday. Maryland plays at Middle Tennessee on Saturday night.
Judging from the Byrd Stadium atmosphere, Turner is the people’s choice. The junior came in when Steffy was injured last year and guided the Terps to upsets of top-10 teams Rutgers and Boston College. When Turner was demoted, many were surprised.
Beamer raised just as many eyebrows in Blacksburg when Tech announced it was set to redshirt Taylor.
Elevating Turner and Taylor would alleviate some of the external pressure at both schools. But do their coaches have enough confidence in them?
