Hokies pull away from Furman
Saturday, September 6, 2008; 8:42 PM
The Virginia Tech Hokies started off sluggishly in their eventual win over the Furman Paladins on Saturday afternoon, 24-7

Neither team scored in the first quarter, despite Tech driving down the field to the three yard line on their first drive.  The Hokies' progress was stopped short on a fourth-and-one run by running back Kenny Lewis Jr.

Redshirt senior Sean Glennon started the game for the Hokies, but true sophomore Tyrod Taylor made his first appearance of the season on the first drive and took most of the snaps, dazzling the crowd early with his ability to run out of the pocket, picking up 132 rushing yards.

"I'm obviously disappointed.  That first half it seemed like we were splitting the reps pretty evenly.  And that second half for whatever reason I didn't get so many reps," Glennon said. "I wasn't really told why or anything like that, so all I can say is I'm disappointed and hope that I can contribute more and be in there more next week. 

Despite Taylor splitting time with Glennon, the Tech offense struggled to put points on the board in the first half.  The Hokies were able to accumulate 103 rushing yards in the half, but they were only able to manage a field goal on the last drive before heading to the locker room.

Head coach Frank Beamer felt like the team needed to play better on offense. 

"I think as an offense we've got to finish some of those," he said.  

The passing game was weak all game long, with Taylor being forced out of the pocket often due to the porous offensive line play  and Glennon throwing an interception intended for redshirt junior tight end Greg Boone.  Tech only threw for 68 yards in the game.

Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring did not seem too concerned with the lack of a passing game. 

"I just think the directive obviously as we said from day one is we've got to run the ball better," Stinespring said.  "We've got to run the ball better.  Obviously, we're a little disappointed in the protection, but that's part of the game too."

Furman appeared to be tiring on defense on Tech's last possession of the first half, and the floodgates opened for the Hokies. 

After stopping Furman to open the half, the Hokies took possession and were ignited by an incredible 50-yard run by Taylor, using the entire field before being forced out of bounds. 

With the Hokies in the redzone, Glennon came back in the game to boos from the fans. 

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You might be interested in... Related Topics: furman, football, glennon, tyrod
Posted by: Hokie in MI at 9/09/08 The Hokie offense is becoming very predictable. When we won in the Vick, Randall era, we had an element of surprise and we won. The Kansas loss was due to the predictability..Is that because of Glennons (in)ability ??? I see Michigan having lost its winning ways because they became predictable with run run throw and the modern day teams are better prepared..Hopefully, Tyrod will give a new dimension for Stinespring to work with.... Flag Abuse
Posted by: Hokie in MI at 9/09/08 The Hokie offense is becoming very predictable. When we won in the Vick, Randall era, we had an element of surprise and we won. The Kansas loss was due to the predictability..Is that because of Glennons (in)ability ??? I see Michigan having lost its winning ways because they became predictable with run run throw and the modern day teams are better prepared..Hopefully, Tyrod will give a new dimension for Stinespring to work with.... Flag Abuse
Posted by: Hokie Fan at 9/08/08 The Kansas game was when I officially gave up on Stinespring. Every game since then has just been kicking a dead camel. At one point, I was hoping Virgil would return the ball for a score so the offense wouldn't have the chance of messing things up. Good thing they were able to punch it in. Beamer please fire Stinespring. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jeff at 9/08/08 For Martin and any other Hokies out there who think the win this last weekend avenged our lost to ECU....WAKE UP! Our defense were the ones who put us in a position to win by the thin margin of 24-7. We do not have a good offense and have not had a decent offense for years. Our offense could not even be ranked as marginal! The only reason we hang around 80th spot in the rankings is because of the exceptional players we have. As a recent alumni and a student who stayed through the 4th quarter of every game, I know I speak for the thousands of students who want Stinespring gone! For all the time, effort and money students pour into the program all they get back is the infinitely ignorant offensive schemes of Bryan Stinespring. You wonder why Glennon sucks it up? He and the rest of the offense have no faith in in our offensive game plan. Give them something to work with! Simply put, Stinespring has to go. If Beamer won't pull the trigger on the firing of one of his close personal friends, then Beamer should start thinking about his own job security as well. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Hokie07 at 9/08/08 Well, when Sean throws it you have about a 50/50 chance. It's going to be beautiful or a horrible pass into double, or triple coverage. So they get scared I guess. Tyrod just needs more experience and he will learn to throw better and not always run. Bottom line is: Stinespring sucks. He is just absolutely horrible and I hope donors complain enough this season that Beamer gets rid of him @ the end. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Charlie at 9/08/08 From the above article: "Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring did not seem too concerned with the lack of a passing game. "I just think the directive obviously as we said from day one is we've got to run the ball better," Stinespring said. "We've got to run the ball better. Obviously, we're a little disappointed in the protection, but that's part of the game too." !!!..... why run the ball if the O-line is terrible??? It doesn't make any sense to me. Am I missing something? Can someone explain that logic if I am missing something. In order to have a great running game, 1. you need a great O-line to create holes and options for your running back. 2. You need to mix more plays, run the option, do a shovel pass ect. All I've been seeing 10 out of 15 times is right up the middle.. too predictable. I started learning football just 3 years ago and I'm still new at it but if I'm missing that logic please explain why we aren't trying to pass the ball more due to our horrible O-line? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Charlie at 9/08/08 From the above article: "Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring did not seem too concerned with the lack of a passing game. "I just think the directive obviously as we said from day one is we've got to run the ball better," Stinespring said. "We've got to run the ball better. Obviously, we're a little disappointed in the protection, but that's part of the game too." !!!..... why run the ball if the O-line is terrible??? It doesn't make any sense to me. Am I missing something? Can someone explain that logic if I am missing something. In order to have a great running game, 1. you need a great O-line to create holes and options for your running back. 2. You need to mix more plays, run the option, do a shovel pass ect. All I've been seeing 10 out of 15 times is right up the middle.. too predictable. I started learning football just 3 years ago and I'm still new at it but if I'm missing that logic please explain why we aren't trying to pass the ball more due to our horrible O-line? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Hokie in MI at 9/08/08 Watching the game on ACC select, I was ready to trash the monitor as we repeatedly choked in the red zone..I can take some solace knowing that we hung in there with ECU (Man.. I can't believe that I'm even saying this) while WVU got embarassed, but WE ARE THE HOKIES !!!! We should be better tha ECU and Furman...Just give the team to Tyrod and let us live with what we get.. At least we will all move in one direction.... Flag Abuse
Posted by: Billy at 9/07/08 While the offense is not great so far, lets not get too crazy yet. After watching ECU dismantle WVU, we know they are better than anyone thought. We know this years team has no reason to be cocky, so they'll work hard and finish strong. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at 9/07/08 excerpt from an article previewing the furman game: "I'm not sure how the game plan will be any different from last week against ECU because during an interview with Kyle Tucker, Hokies' offensive coodinator said that he wouldn't change anything about his strategy last week. [[...]] Tucker asked him, "So there was nothing, going back looking at the ECU game, that you would've taken back or changed?" Stinespring responded, "No. Uh-uh."" Flag Abuse
Posted by: Charlie at 9/07/08 Martin.... while they did win the game it wasn't anywhere near a blow out or a stellar game. I have seen the hokies as a much better team in "rebuilding" years than this year. Remember in 2006 when they trounced Northeastern 38-0? I'm saying that even last year when we were suppose to have one of the best teams in tech football history, the offense wasn't that stellar. The last stellar offense was the 1999-2000 football team with Vick but we also had a different Offensive Coordinator. Since 2001 our offense hasn't even been in the top 25. Lately we haven't even broken the top 50 which is just in-excusable with a top 10 defense especially last year with all the talent. Our defense has saved us and balanced out the team as a whole to a top 25 team but our team is lopsidedr. Talent doesn't fix tech's offense situation, the coaches and their play calling do. If this trend continues, no matter how much talent or experience our players acquire we will never be a true power house like LSU, USC, or Ohio State because of the offensive coaching. Those team's are balanced, we're not. Therefore our National Championship hopes are slim if we continue our coming seasons like we have the last 8 years under Stinespring. Tyrod is as good if not better than Vick was but he will never show or have any heisman hopes under our offense let alone a NC run. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Martin Shecanery at 9/07/08 Just like I thought the hokies came out in full force with a dominating victory. For all you people hating on the coaching staff you need to let it go. Hokies rule. They will easily win 7 games this year and once again play in a bowl game! Flag Abuse
Posted by: eaunglennonstink at 9/06/08 Whoever the QB(make the correct decision!!! we lost once already), the coaches need to give him time to get into a rhythm. They let Sean play against ECU and according to him he was "90%" awesome and we lost. Let TT play 100%. I have to believe this is not good for anyone. Either you choose to win or you let Sean prove he is not an NFLer. At least, Sean has a chance to go pro if he doesn't play aka he can blame it on the line wink wink. Obviously, he is amazing in practice. So, maybe he will produce in the combine because he is not producing in the games this season. FIRE STINESPRING!!! Flag Abuse
Posted by: Charlie at 9/06/08 I was dumbfounded when they split the quarterbacks! They need to make Tyrod the full time starter. He is the future of this team for the next 3 years. Glennon had plenty of chances. While I understand this was a small game, this should be Glennon's last game and if it is...... I would understand the coaches thinking in this game giving glennon a respectful last hurray in being able to play in this game. Come Georgia Tech and the next few road games. Make Tyrod the starter! Period. He's proven to be just as good if not better than glennon and glennon is 3 years ahead of Tyrod! If they don't, then I've lost faith in the intelligence of the coaching staff. While 24-7 turned out better than I had predicted at half time (14-7). We should still be better. If the coaches and the offense can get it together, I have faith we will only get better. If I see the same predictable plays, the logic that we should keep running the ball all game even if it is not working, the two QB system again, and as a result... a loss to Georgia Tech, then I am 99% set on how this season will go. If that happens next Saturday I am set on that Stinespring needs to go and Beamer needs to Wake Up!! As much as a fan I am, you need to see what is happening realistically Flag Abuse
Posted by: Charlie at 9/06/08 Arriving I wasn't as enthusiastic going into tech's first home game as usual. Why? Because I had this gut feeling that this game would be just as obnoxious if not more so than last Saturday. While I was certain we would come away with a win, I was certain we would not get over 25 points. After watching the first half predicting almost every play they would do and how it would fail I was in utter disbelief at the stupidity of the Offensive strategy. I would take Stinespring in a game of NCAA football 09 any day with complete confidence. I almost left at half time but, being a hokie fan at heart I decided to stay since it can only get better after hitting the bottom as an Offense against a I-AA opponent. And it did. The third quarter proved what I predicted that we would explode with a series of touchdowns but we fell two touchdowns short of being where we should have been in this game and where I hoped that a good final score would have been. In the 30's at least against a 1-AA opponent that is not a powerhouse in their league. Shoot, I hate to see what this game would have been like if we had played Appalachian State last year. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Better but not great at 9/06/08 Will we get through the entire season without seeing Fire Stinespring signs in the crowd? Flag Abuse






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