As a youngster, Mike Glennon learned football the easy way.
"I just did what he did," N.C. State's quarterback said.
"He" being older brother Sean, a quarterback first at Westfield High in Centreville, Va., and then at Virginia Tech.
"I guess it was the natural thing for me to do," Mike said. "I was four years younger and sort of just followed along in Sean's footsteps. What he did, I did."
To a point, that is. Mike went his own way when it came to picking a college.
And if the transition from Russell Wilson to Glennon goes smoothly for the Wolfpack this season, State fans can be thankful that big brother halted his influence at the most opportune time.
"I didn't push (Virginia) Tech or try to push him in any direction,"
Sean said.
Sean said several factors led to that decision when Mike began emerging as one of the top-rated high school quarterbacks in the country during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
"No. 1, it had to be Mike's decision," Sean said. "The worse thing I could have ever done would have been to try to pick a school for him. As much as we're alike and always went along the same path, we're still different people. He had to go where he felt most comfortable."
But there was something else.
Although he threw 28 touchdown passes, passed for almost 5,000 yards and was named the most valuable player in the 2007 ACC championship game after leading the Hokies to a 30-16 win over Boston College and Matt Ryan, Sean had a somewhat uneven college career.
As a senior in 2008 on a 10-4 team, he was replaced in the starting role by sophomore Tyrod Taylor.
"I enjoyed my experience there and I'm very much appreciative of everything about the program, but I wasn't really a great fit at quarterback in that offensive system," Sean said. "It just wasn't a great offense for my playing style."
Which means the Hokies offense could have been an uncertain fit for Mike as well. Both are big, classic pocket passers - Sean at 6 feet 4 and 225 pounds and Mike at 6-6 and 220.
Although Sean flourished at times, the Hokies offense is generally designed to accent smaller, more mobile quarterbacks.
"Mike benefited from Sean in recruiting," said John Glennon, the players' father and a former golfer at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
"With Sean, we were all just tickled he would get a chance to play football in college and be able to keep playing the sport," the elder Glennon said.
"With Mike, we tried to weigh more things and look deeper for what might the best possible offensive fit we could try to make. Mike is good at thinking things through. He didn't want to act first and sort things out later."
After a lot of research and several campus visits, Mike came down to the Wolfpack and Michigan.
The offensive system favored by Tom O'Brien and implemented by Dana Bible was the decisive factor.
"I had no doubt that State was the best way I could go," Mike said. "I sort of thought that all along, but I wanted to make as sure as I could."
But in the unpredictable game of football, the offense O'Brien and Bible used at Boston College with Matt Ryan had to be changed substantially to make the best use of Wilson's smaller frame and skills.
For the past three seasons, State's attack more resembled that of Virginia Tech with the Vick brothers (Michael and Marcus) and Taylor than the Boston College teams led by Ryan and the Hasselbecks (Tim and Matt).
With Wilson now out of the picture - possibly for another school - the State offense will be more akin to the one O'Brien and Bible used to produce NFL prospects at Boston College.
But even if all goes as designed, Glennon will be following one of the most popular and successful quarterbacks in school history.
"I know I'll have some butterflies on that first play or two, but I really don't think I'll be nervous," he said.
"I've waited, but I think I've learned a lot about the position, too. This is why I've put in all the time and training."
Mike is obviously a quick learner on the academic front, having graduated from State last month with a degree in business.
Glennon's father is convinced the weight of replacing Wilson and directing an offense won't be overwhelming.
"I honestly think Mike's ready for everything in front of him," John said. "He's sort of spent his life preparing for what's next."
