The Roanoke Times

File Sean Glennon still hopes to land a job in the NFL.

During Sean Glennon's career, the former Virginia Tech quarterback experienced the elation that comes with being the MVP of the 2007 ACC championship game, and the embarrassment of sitting on the bench throughout his final college game at the 2008 Orange Bowl.

The intense scrutiny Glennon faced during his five years in Blacksburg constantly played on his emotions. Whether it was smack talk on fan Web sites or to his e-mail account after a bad interception, or praise and high-fives after a winning touchdown pass, reaction from the Hokies' devoted football fans often left Glennon's psyche in tatters.

Even now, as he focuses on his new life as a first-year mortgage consulting and loan officer with Home Savings and Trust Mortgage in Fairfax, Va., Glennon's critics continue to taunt him.

"People call me, say they hate me and then hang up," Glennon said.

Now that Glennon, 24, has graduated and spent the last six months in the business world, he had every reason to believe his critics might finally turn their attention elsewhere. But recently, Glennon learned he has been the subject of a number of defamatory chain e-mails. One of them, obtained by The Washington Post, includes vituperative comments aimed at smearing Glennon's reputation in the business world.

"I'm going to start writing his phone number on bathroom walls," one e-mailer wrote. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen," read another.

The viral messages arose from an e-mail Glennon wrote to his friends and former teachers at Westfield (Va.) High School, where he led the team to the 2003 Group AAA championship his senior year and earned first-team All-Met honors.

After graduating from Virginia Tech, Glennon signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent but was released last July when it became apparent veteran quarterback Brett Favre would be coming out of retirement.

Glennon was devastated by being cut and out of work. Like many recent college graduates, he spent the rest of the summer networking to find a satisfying job that also allowed him enough free time to prepare for a possible second chance at his dream career in the NFL.

In August, he was hired by Gary McInturff, president and majority owner of Home Savings and Trust Mortgage, who was impressed with Glennon's positive outlook and his degree in finance and marketing.

To build his list of business contacts, Glennon reached out to the Westfield community, letting people know he was back in the area and newly employed.

"It feels a little strange to be writing to you like this, and to be hanging up my cleats for a suit and tie, but I'm taking on this new challenge with enthusiasm," Glennon wrote. "Let me know if there is any way I can help, and again, thanks so much for your support over the years. My time at Westfield meant so much to me."

Glennon included his information -- his e-mail address, and his office and personal cell phone numbers -- in case someone wanted to contact him for advice about refinancing their home.

Glennon has no idea how it happened, but it didn't take long for his contact information to go viral. As a result, scores of anonymous comments blazed a digital trail of vitriol directed at the former Virginia Tech quarterback.

"He finally found a business where turnover is a good thing," one e-mail read. And another: "I hate him. He thinks he deserves to be in the NFL-NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN."

Throughout his career, Glennon endured similar rants from many of the Hokies' fans.

He was benched his senior year and replaced by then- sophomore Tyrod Taylor, a quarterback from Hampton, Va..

"Sean had a very unfortunate career," Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain said. "I will respect Sean for as long as I live for the way he handled it. It was hard, and to be honest, it wasn't fair."

Glennon still believes he can play professional football, and his agent, C. Lamont Smith, is trying to get him on a training camp roster. So far, Glennon said there has been some interest, and he's hoping something may happen now that the Super Bowl is over.

"I love the game, and I love football too much to give it up," said Glennon.

"There are players in the NFL with a lot less ability than he has that are playing as backup guys," O'Cain said. "Sean throws the ball well enough, and most importantly he has the mental capability and understands the game."