BLACKSBURG, Va. - The way Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer sees it, if one quarterback can pass and the other can mix in some running, why not use them both?<br>
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Beamer stressed Tuesday that he doesn't intend to replace starter Sean Glennon, but he said Ike Whitaker also will see some time Thursday night when No. 10 Clemson comes to Lane Stadium for a nationally televised Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.<br>
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Glennon, a sophomore who beat out Whitaker and Cory Holt for the starting job this season, is a drop-back passer. He has had 1,364 passing yards this season and has thrown eight touchdown passes. He also has six interceptions and several fumbles, having been victimized several times by an offensive line that still is learning.<br>
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That's where Whitaker might help because he's more mobile. In limited action in the Hokies' 36-6 victory against Southern Miss on Saturday night, the freshman had 14 yards passing and 26 yards rushing.<br>
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``When he pulls the ball down, he's a threat as a runner,'' Beamer said.<br>
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If the Hokies use both, it should strengthen the offense, Beamer said. Tech (5-2, 2-2) will want every advantage on offense it can muster as it takes on Clemson (7-1, 4-1) as an underdog at home.<br>
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``If you could effectively put those two guys together and run your offense,'' Beamer said, ``I think you've added to your offense, and added what teams have to defend.''<br>
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Right now, tailback Branden Ore is doing nearly all of the running for Tech 88 percent of it, to be exact. He had a career-best 207 yards against Southern Miss.<br>
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Beamer said his plan to use Whitaker shouldn't be viewed as a slap at Glennon.<br>
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``Sean Glennon has played very, very well for this football team,'' Beamer said. ``It's certainly not a shot at Sean. It's just that you've got Ike that has an ability over here, and you'd like to get that incorporated into the game plan.''<br>
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Getting the formula right is tricky, Beamer said.<br>
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``If you get him in there and he makes a great play, then it's great,'' he said. ``But if he gets in there and doesn't make a great play it's why did you ... mess up the rhythm?''<br>
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Fifth-ranked Florida has succeeded with its quarterback combo of Chris Leak and Tim Tebow, Beamer noted. When the Gators beat No. 9 LSU 23-10 on Saturday, starter Leak went 17-for-26 for 155 yards, but Tebow threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score.<br>
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Other teams have used two quarterbacks effectively, Beamer said, but acknowledged that the combination often doesn't work.<br>
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``More times than not, though, it's probably gone the other way when you're trying to play two quarterbacks,'' he said.<br>
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Both the Hokies and the Tigers have a short week to get ready for their game Thursday, which will be telecast on ESPN.<br>
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``That's a hard turnaround,'' Beamer said. ``I've cut back a little practice time today. It's important that you regain yourself physically.''<br>
Notes: Virginia Tech has won 25 straight games when scoring first. ... Place kicker Brandon Pace has made 13 consecutive field goal attempts, and 49 of 58 in his career. ... Clemson leads its series with Tech 17-10-1, but the Hokies have won the last three games. ... The teams haven't met since the 2001 Gator Bowl, when Michael Vick, in his final college game, led the Hokies to a 41-20 victory. ... This the first time the Hokies have been an underdog at home since 2003, when they beat Miami 31-7.
