The Roanoke Times | File photos

Fifth-year senior Sean Glennon, who has started 22 games during the past two seasons, was named Virginia Tech's No. 1 quarterback by coach Frank Beamer.

Tyrod Taylor said he will redshirt in 2008 and come back next year with three years to play.

BLACKSBURG -- It was last Saturday afternoon when Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain delivered perhaps the best play call that senior Sean Glennon had ever heard.

"It was really short and sweet," Glennon said Tuesday. "He said, 'We're going to redshirt Tyrod. You're the guy. Go do it.'"

In a matter of seconds, O'Cain's concise words ended a lengthy battle between Glennon and sophomore Tyrod Taylor for the Hokies' starting quarterback job.

"My first goal was to win the job," said Glennon, who will make his 23rd career start in Tech's Saturday season opener against East Carolina in Charlotte, N.C.

"But the main goals are: Can I get this team back to an ACC championship. Can I get us to another 10-win season? Can we get back to a BCS bowl? Those are the big goals."

While Glennon winning the hotly contested race was not a shock to anyone observing the Hokies' practices the past three weeks, the coaching staff's decision to redshirt Taylor this fall will come as surprising to some. Tech used both QBs last season in winning the ACC championship, leaving most to believe the two would likely share time this fall.

Instead, Taylor will play only if Glennon is seriously injured early in the season. Fifth-year senior Cory Holt will serve as Glennon's primary backup, leaving Taylor to sit out the season and maintain three years of eligibility.

"I think in the end that everyone feels like long term this is a good plan if we can get this done," said coach Frank Beamer, who officially announced the plan at the beginning of his weekly news conference.

"Again, a lot of things can happen as the season goes along. But as of today, this is our plan."

There would have been no plan if not for Taylor. The dual-threat 19-year-old from Hampton signed on to the redshirting plan after he and his parents, Rodney and Trina, met with O'Cain.

"It was a decision that me and my family had to make," Taylor said. "[The coaches] thought it would be best for me to redshirt than to play part time and get a year under my belt so I can better physically and mentally. It was hard [decision] at first, but at the same time it was for the best."

Glennon, of course, would love nothing more than to finish out his roller-coaster career at Tech on a high. Despite owning a 16-6 career record as a starter and earning MVP honors in Tech's 30-16 rout of Boston College in last year's ACC championship game, the 23-year-old pocket passer has endured a love-hate relationship with many of the program's faithful through his career.

"I'm sure there are people that are very happy with the decision, and I'm sure there are a lot of people that are going to be sending me and Coach Beamer e-mails about the situation," a grinning Glennon said. "That's just the nature of the beast. Someone's going to be unhappy.

"But I'm hoping most of the Hokie Nation is just behind whoever the coaches feel like is the best guy for the job. I'm hoping everybody rallies behind me, but there's always going to be a few."

Defensive end Orion Martin of Martinsville, said he was happy for his fellow fifth-year senior.

"Sean is a great guy with a lot of character and he's been through a lot of ups and downs," Martin said. "He's worked his butt off and he hasn't complained. I'm sure he's going to have a great year for us."

When asked if he thought he had won the team over, Glennon shook his head affirmatively.

"Most of the guys that weren't [behind him] aren't in this locker room anymore," he said. "I think the younger crew, either they're behind me or they have no choice but to be behind me. So my guess would be everyone's ready to roll."