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RALEIGH -- In an age of Internet-spawned impatience and dirigible-sized hunger for college recruiting information, some N.C. State fans may be disturbed that quarterback Mike Glennon won't play in 2008.

Some will interpret coach Tom O'Brien's decision to redshirt Glennon as an indictment of the freshman. (If the kid were really as good as advertised -- the third-best QB prospect in the land, according to ESPN -- he'd surely have unseated the competition 10 days ago and become the Big Wolf on Campus before attending his first class.)

Philip started from Chapter One, didn't he?

Yes, Philip Rivers did play immediately, and he played quite well. It's reasonable to acknowledge these facts if the topic is Wolfpack football history. But as long as we're talking about the present and the future, Philip Rivers is probably about as relevant as Joan Rivers.

Unlike Glennon, who did the old-school high school thing and stuck it out for a full senior year, Rivers graduated early and enrolled at State in January 2000. He went through a full spring practice and had the benefit of studying film whenever he liked for eight months before taking his first snap.

The new guy is merely normal.

"While he's an exceptional talent, he's just not ready to handle some of the situations," O'Brien said. "That became apparent in the scrimmage (Tuesday). We've gotten together with him and he's fine with that."

Quarterback development is a pretty impressive line item on the O'Brien resume. Remember Matt Ryan? O'Brien redshirted him as a true freshman at Boston College. Four years later, the player owns a $34 million signing bonus paid by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, and the Eagles are defending Atlantic Division champions of the ACC.

Among Ryan's O'Brien-coached predecessors with the Eagles are Brian St. Pierre, Tim Hasselbeck and Matt Hasselbeck, all of whom have played in the NFL and none of whom played as a college rookie. The BC program did not suffer from patience. O'Brien's final eight teams in Chestnut Hill posted winning records.

"The college game moves a lot faster than the high school game," O'Brien said. "The more you play, the more it slows down."

The decision to hold back Glennon means the contest for the top job is between Daniel Evans, who came to State as an afterthought, and Russell Wilson, who doubles as a baseball player. The decision should come by the end of the week.

Either way, the future is sticking around.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com