It was Sean Glennon's shining moment.

Virginia Tech trailed Boston College during the third quarter of the 2007 ACC Championship game when the Hokies' quarterback got the play from the sideline.

'Smash B COP.'

The play is a corner-post passing route to receiver Eddie Royal. Glennon called the play in the huddle, and then led the team to the line of scrimmage.

The Hokies had run that play just once during the entire 2007 season, and it resulted in a touchdown - also to Royal - in the game at Virginia.

"We broke the huddle and the first guy I looked at was [Jamie] Silva [BC's safety], who was lined up right across from Eddie," Glennon recalled. "I knew Silva would try to jump the ball. He's a big ball-hawk, which is what makes him a great safety. He's always trying to read my eyes."

Sure enough, Silva bit just slightly on Glennon's pump fake. Royal faked the corner route and cut to the post. The pass was delivered on the money. Royal leaped to catch it as Silva arrived a half-second late for a 24-yard strike.

Touchdown Tech!

The score gave the Hokies their first lead of the day in a 30-16 win in Jacksonville.

"It was the greatest feeling in the world," Glennon said eight months later about a game in which he threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns.

But it wasn't just the jubilation of throwing the winning touchdown and securing the ACC title that created that feeling of triumph. And no, it wasn't the personal accolade of being named the championship game's MVP either.

The highest of highs sometimes follow the lowest of lows. And Glennon had endured his own personal nightmare during the 2007 regular season.

By now, you know the story.

Glennon was pulled during the LSU game in Baton Rouge and replaced with freshman Tyrod Taylor. Glennon watched from the bench as Taylor started in five straight Tech victories. When Taylor was injured, Glennon returned and played the best football of his career.

And now, Glennon admits that his 2007 success wouldn't have occurred if he hadn't been benched in the season's second week.

"I'm not going to lie. It was terrible," Glennon said about being pulled. "Being the (2006) starter and having a decent year. I got MVP of the spring and did well in August camp. Things looked good, but they unraveled at LSU."

That's when Taylor, a true freshman, replaced Glennon.

"The worst thing about it, and what hurt the most, was that it was a left hook out of nowhere. I never saw it coming," Glennon said.

The starter-turned-backup was an excellent teammate. He helped Taylor in practice and celebrated the rookie's success.

But inside, he was miserable.

"I saw how much I missed by being on the sidelines. And I didn't feel part of the celebrations after games when everyone was celebrating," Glennon said. "I missed it. I missed football. You lose sight of it because you're under so much pressure. We look at it as a business too much. You've got to have fun.

"I took the attitude that if I ever got back out there I was going to enjoy it."

But it was hard. Glennon got into the Ohio game at Lane Stadium was booed.

"My mom stopped coming to games after the Ohio game," Glennon said. "She came to Blacksburg for the William & Mary and UNC weekends because she wanted to see me and do dinner, but she didn't go to the games. It was hard on her."

There were hateful e-mails and phone calls.

"I was not in a good mood for a couple of weeks," he said.

But when Taylor got hurt at Duke, Glennon came in, went 16-of-21 and threw two touchdowns. Two weeks later at Georgia Tech, he threw two more touchdowns and ran for a third in a 27-3 win.

Football was fun again.

"I was out there throwing the ball around like we'd throw it in the back yard," he said.

And the fans were cheering again, too.

"People get fired or demoted at work. It happens," Glennon said. "The pass to Eddie in the ACC Championship game was the best moment of my athletic career because of all that happened during the season.

"As bad as last year was, I wouldn't trade it. Playing my best football, winning the ACC title, going to the Orange Bowl - who knows if it happens if I don't get benched?"

Glennon claims the experience has made him a better quarterback and a stronger guy.

"All that stuff, it built a lot of character," he said. "Life is going to be full of disappointments. College football has been good for me as a person in that I've learned how to take criticism and learned how to take disappointments."

And now, even though he's fifth-year senior, he's in a quarterback battle again with Taylor as the 2008 season approaches.

What if Tech coaches opt to employ a two-quarterback system again in '08?

"I wouldn't be disappointed, but I'd prefer to be the one guy," Glennon said. "It probably makes the preparation for us more difficult to have two."

The two-quarterback system worked until the Orange Bowl, a 24-21 loss to Kansas.

"Kansas had a game plan," Glennon said. "They said 'we're gonna blitz the crap out of Tyrod and make him throw quick.' And when I was in the game, they'd drop back in coverage. They were going to make it tough to throw, and for Tyrod, make it tough for him to have time to improvise. Kansas brought the house every play. He was a true freshman."

But this year, Taylor should be better, a year older and more experienced. Glennon insists he'll be better, too.

"Oh, I have a little different mentality this year," he said. "This is my last year. There is pressure in that, but 99 percent of kids would trade positions with me in a heartbeat. I'm going out and enjoying it. Have fun while you can."

That pass to Royal in Jacksonville was a cherished moment for Glennon.

And thanks to his newfound perspective, he's likely to have many more starting this fall.