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Taylor Era Gets Off To a Positive Start
Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor unleashes a pass against Ohio on Saturday. The Hokies won, 28-7.
(Steve Helber - AP Photo)
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Before taking the field for the first drive, Taylor gathered with Branden Ore and two wide receivers. Ore didn't say anything to him as they jogged to meet the rest of the huddle.
"He's one of those guys, you don't have to," Ore said. "He's so calm and collected, you wouldn't think he was a true freshman."
Still, Tech's coaching staff handled Taylor with care. They scaled back the offense and made certain patterns less complex. An improved running game bulwarked Taylor: Ore rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown despite missing time after taking a helmet to the ribs; Kenny Lewis added 62 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.
"They didn't ask me to be Superman," Taylor said.
But fans treated him like a hero. Late in the fourth quarter, he jogged past the south end zone to a room to get an X-ray on his left hand (it showed a harmless bruise). The crowd rose and cheered while Taylor ran by, as if he were taking a victory lap.
As the crowd cheered Taylor, Glennon ran the backup offense on the field. ("I do what they tell me to," he said.) A week earlier, he had taken the field as a starter.
More difficult opponents than Ohio await, and Taylor still has played only seven quarters. But his starting debut not only delivered on his promise but also provided more.
"You hear all the hype, so you want to see what the guy is about," Ellis said. "He came right in. He lived up to the hype."
