THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509070569
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
Virginia Tech's Jim Druckenmiller, a weight-lifting fiend, is being trumpeted here as ``the strongest quarterback in America.''
Tonight, he'll need a strong stomach.
Druckenmiller, once regarded as a likely career backup, gets his first start when the Hokies open against Boston College - on national TV (8 p.m., ESPN), no less.
Not an easy first assignment. Boston College was nationally ranked before being drubbed by Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic, and was picked second in the Big East - just ahead of Virginia Tech.
Better pass the Tums.
``I don't think it's all going to hit me until I walk through the tunnel,'' said Druckenmiller, a redshirt junior from Northampton, Pa.
Center Billy Conaty expects Druckenmiller's hands to be shaking the first time he comes up under center. Conaty remembers his own first start, daunting even though it was against patsy Bowling Green.
``I don't think I blocked anyone, I was so nervous,'' Conaty said. ``That's the bad part about it, he has no time to ease into the season - he gets thrown to the dogs in the first game.''
The circumstances have led to some interesting scenarios for Druckenmiller as his debut approaches.
Last week a Virginia Tech sports psychology professor called Druckenmiller into his office and, in effect, invited the quarterback to plop down on his couch and bare his soul.
``He just wanted to know what I was thinking, to see if I needed any help,'' Druckenmiller said.
While the professor tried to get inside his head, ESPN, meanwhile, wanted a glimpse of his sculpted 6-foot-4, 222-pound body. The cable network asked to set up a shot of Druckenmiller working out in the Hokies' weight room Wednesday. Tech nixed the idea. ESPN will have to settle for file footage of the QB pumping iron.
``Day before the game,'' Tech offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle said, shaking his head. ``I want him relaxing, looking at film, slapping down a cheeseburger and getting ready to play.''
Druckenmiller, of course, wanted to do it. He's lifting whenever possible anyway.
Druckenmiller holds all the Hokies quarterback records. Unfortunately, those records are in the weight room, not on the field.
Bustle calls Druckenmiller ``a freak of nature,'' a quarterback who can lift as much as his linemen.
This summer, Druckenmiller represented the skill-position players in Tech's Iron Man obstacle course. He was not supposed to compete, but when tailback Dwayne Thomas didn't show up, Druckenmiller filled in - despite having just run a series of timed wind sprints.
Competing against the other finalists, linebacker George DelRicco and defensive lineman Jim Baron, Druckenmiller recorded the fastest time. Among other things, the course required competitors to push a Ford LTD station wagon 30 yards, toss nine 25-pound bags over an 8-foot fence, run through a gauntlet of teammates armed with blocking pads, and pull a sled loaded with 250 pounds 30 yards.
``That was hell on earth,'' Druckenmiller said.
Druckenmiller's exploits in the weight room (335-pound bench press, 500-pound squat, 376-pound hang clean, 321-pound overhead push press) have become lore around the football team. Offensive guard Chris Malone of Emporia, Va., said the linemen have added respect for a quarterback who is as strong as they are.
Malone recalled a recent day in the weight room when the backs and linebackers were doing hang-clean repetitions with 230 pounds. Druckenmiller did more than anyone and just kept going.
``Finally coach (Mike) Gentry, the strength coach, comes up and says, `Will you stop before I get fired,' '' Malone said. ``Jim's a beast.''
Bustle hopes Druckenmiller's physical prowess makes him less susceptible to injury. Malone is fond of telling his roommate Druckenmiller, ``I guess I don't have to worry about missing that block - you'll get up.''
The question is, will Tech's offense be healthy under Druckenmiller?
He won the job in the spring, when Al Clark, heir apparent to Maurice DeShazo, was injured. Tech coaches say Druckenmiller has progressed well and has prepared as well mentally and physically as they could have hoped. He has a strong arm - obviously - but limited mobility.
There is some sentiment among Hokies watchers that the running backs, receivers and offensive line are talented and experienced enough that Druckenmiller doesn't have to win games. He just has to avoid losing them.
Druckenmiller is not a kid fresh out of high school. He turns 23 in 12 days - only four players on the team are older - and has been enrolled at Tech since the spring of 1991. But his career statistics amount to about one good game - 20-for-38 passing, 209 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
``I think he has prepared himself as well as I've seen one prepare,'' Bustle said. ``But there's nothing I can do to set up 50,000 people, the game drill and the lights are on.''
Tonight the Hokies begin to find out if Druckenmiller is as strong mentally as he is physically. ILLUSTRATION: AP FILE PHOTO
Strong-armed Jim Druckenmiller will get his first career start
tonight for Virginia Tech.
by CNB