GREAT Article Regarding Burning Taylor's Redshirt

[Deleted Account 5,203]

I found this in the Richmond Times-Dispatch this morning, and I think it's a painfully, deadly accurate article regarding Beamer's decision to burn Taylor's redshirt. Likely, many of you may not agree, but I figured it's worth posting.

 

Link: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-04-0130.html

[vthokies4life 10]

Here's the article:

 

 

 

Frank Beamer has forgotten more football than most of us ever will know, and that should be taken into consideration when evaluating his most recent decision regarding the quarter backs at Virginia Tech.

 

After Saturday's loss to East Carolina, Beamer has decided to pull the redshirt off Tyrod Taylor and, once again, go with a two-quarterback system. Taylor and Sean Glennon will share the workload.

 

This is a bad idea, a terrible idea. It does little to improve the team and jeopardizes the program three years from now.

 

This is not a decision Beamer had to or needed to make.

 

Neither Beamer's job nor his legacy are at stake. The Virginia Tech season is not even at stake. The ACC is so weak this season that Virginia, a 52-7 loser to Southern Cal, still has a chance to show well in the league, for goodness' sake.

 

Beamer never has been one to panic, but this move is practically embossed with "panic."

 

The Hokies did not lose to East Carolina because of Glennon.

 

Glennon was not on the field when that final Virginia Tech punt was fatally blocked, a breakdown in the patented "Beamer Ball."

 

Glennon was not on the field when East Carolina was piling up 158 yards rushing. He was not on the field when East Carolina was grinding out a distinct advantage in time of possession.

 

Glennon could have done more to help the Hokies' cause. So, too, could any number of other Virginia Tech players and coaches.

 

When Beamer announced that Glennon would start this season and Taylor would redshirt, he showed the foresight and insight that a successful coach must have.

 

When he announced that Taylor would dash into the nearest phone booth and emerge in his Superman cape, he displayed an impatience that a coach in his position never should have. And he left himself open to questions from players while giving competing recruiters words to use against him.

 

Beamer said Taylor would redshirt this season, unless Glennon suffered a serious injury. Glennon is healthy. Taylor is back. If Beamer says one thing one week and contradicts it the next, why should any player or recruit listen to him in the future?

 

This is not the NFL, where the most important thing is winning the next game. Beamer does not just coach a team, he directs a program. Taylor will be more valuable to the Virginia Tech program as a fifth-year senior than he will be as a second-year sophomore.

 

If Virginia Tech needs Tyrod Taylor to beat Furman on Saturday, Beamer's program is in more trouble than anyone realized. If Taylor is needed to energize the Virginia Tech running game, someone has done a poor job of recruiting offensive linemen and running backs.

 

That wasn't Glennon.

 

Equally befuddling was Beamer's declaration that he and his coaches hope to see Glennon play in the NFL. So, Glennon might be good enough to play with or against the New England Patriots, but he doesn't have what Virginia Tech needs to beat Furman in Blacksburg?

 

Wow, those Paladins must be one tough I-AA group.

 

Beamer put Glennon and Taylor off-limits to the media this week, and that, too, is disappointing. Glennon should be allowed to speak his mind. If he's unhappy, if he's outspoken and critical of the decision, as he has been in the past, Beamer and the coaching staff should be able to understand and accept that.

 

Glennon was the MVP of the ACC championship game last season. Now, he's job-sharing and being made to look like the scapegoat for a host of other problems.

 

Glennon deserves better, and Beamer knows better.