Tech's No. 2 quarterback in treatment - Ike Whitaker will miss the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta while he's in an alcohol program

BLACKSBURG -- Redshirt freshman quarterback Ike Whitaker's seemingly promising football career at Virginia Tech has been dealt another blow.

After serving a 32-day team suspension for destruction of property and alcohol-related charges in an incident on the Tech campus 812 months ago, Whitaker issued a statement through the school Monday saying that he has entered an inpatient alcohol treatment program and won't be with the Hokies (10-2) when they face Georgia (8-4) in the Dec. 30 Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.

"I'm confident that part of my healing process is to publicly admit that I'm currently seeking treatment for alcohol-related issues," Whitaker said. "The reason that I'm missing [the bowl game] is because I've come to the conclusion that I currently have a problem. After consulting with family, Coach [Frank] Beamer, and others that I respect, I've decided to battle this head on, immediately.

"I've entered an in-patient program. It hurts me greatly to be separated from my teammates and miss one of the biggest bowl games in Virginia Tech's history. But I realize I need help confronting this problem. I hope that I will emerge from the program a stronger and better person."

Whitaker, 19, who played in five games this season as the backup to starter Sean Glennon, wasn't present Saturday when the Hokies began bowl practice. In Whitaker's absence, redshirt sophomore Cory Holt has inherited the No. 2 quarterback position for the bowl game.

When asked Monday afternoon if he was "blindsided" by the development, Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain said: "No, not really. It's something that had to ... as Ike said, 'needed to happen.' It's been coming on for a little bit of time ... and now is a good time to get it done."

Beamer said Whitaker finished his semester exams this week and will enroll in the second semester of classes that begin next month. When asked if he expected Whitaker to participate in spring practice, Beamer said: "I think he needs to take care of this and we'll go from there. ... We want to support him any way we can.

"Our concern is with Ike. I'm proud of him wanting to get this thing right. And I firmly believe it's going to end up in a successful fashion."

Whitaker was suspended by Beamer from the squad March 2 after he was arrested on charges of public intoxication, underage possession of alcohol and destruction of property in an on-campus incident. Whitaker later pleaded no contest to the charges in Montgomery General District Court, and a judge took his plea under advisement. If Whitaker stays out of trouble for a year, the judge will dismiss the misdemeanors.

Whitaker was reinstated to the team by Beamer on April 3 and was named the team's backup quarterback a week before the team's Sept. 2 season opener.

The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Whitaker, whose ability to throw and run the football prompted many Tech fans to call for him to play over Glennon in the first half of the season, completed 10 of 16 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown on the season. He ran the ball nine times for 42 yards.

With Whitaker sidelined, the Hokies enter the bowl game facing the prospect of being one snap away from having to play a quarterback who has played just four snaps in nearly 13 months. Holt participated in limited duty in six games in 2005.

"I'm back home at my position, and I just want to show the coaches that I can still play quarterback," said Holt, who spent six weeks of the season working with the wide receivers.

"If something happens to Sean, I've just got to be ready. Yeah, I can do it. I just want Tech fans to know that I'm still here, I'm happy, this is a great place for me. I've heard about all the transfer rumors. I've closed the deal on that. I just can't wait ... if I had an opportunity to show everybody what I could do."

Tech will also be without kickoff specialist Jared Develli. Develli is recovering from hernia surgery performed Wednesday and won't make the trip. The junior had 35 touchbacks on 57 kickoffs this season. Senior kicker Brandon Pace is expected to handle the chore in the bowl game.

Redshirt freshman cornerback Jahre Cheeseman, who is still recovering from foot surgery, and redshirt freshman guard Antonio North, who has been forced to give up football because of a herniated disc in his back, also won't join the team at the bowl.