Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508280006
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Perhaps it was only fitting that Chad Johnston emerged as the solution to West Virginia's 1994 quarterback puzzle in a game against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
After all, it was a yearlong stay in Virginia that proved to be a key to Johnston's mercurial rise with the Mountaineers' main man.
``I was born in West Virginia, I was raised in West Virginia and I plan on spending the rest of my life in West Virginia,'' Johnston said. ``But I have to admit that one year in Virginia helped make a difference for me.''
Johnston, the first West Virginia native to start regularly at quarterback for the Mountaineers in 30 years, spent his sophomore year of high school (1989-90) at Craig County in New Castle.
For a 15-year-old who had never been away from his home in Peterstown, W.Va., it was like a trip to a strange land.
``It was rough on me, especially at first,'' Johnston said. ``I had lived in Peterstown all my life, and all my family and friends were there.''
A split between Johnston's parents precipitated the move. Johnston came to Craig with his father, Gordon, who had been hired as the Rockets' football coach.
``I know my dad needed to move on,'' Johnston said. ``It was the best thing for him. And I think it was good for him that I went with him.''
It was good for Craig County, too. The new coach and his strong-armed son guided the suddenly competitive Rockets to a 4-6 record. Nothing spectacular, but it was a far cry from previous seasons in Craig.
Johnston completed 53 of 128 passes for 690 yards and three touchdowns. He also played defensive back, a position where he was selected to The Roanoke Times' Sizzlin' Sophomore team.
``The good thing was I had the opportunity to play a lot of ball that I wouldn't have had back home,'' Johnston said. ``I was just a sophomore who didn't know a whole lot. I think I really grew up a lot that year. Looking back now, I do think that year in Virginia had a little to do with my development as a person and a player.''
After a year with his father at Craig, a homesick Johnston returned to Peterstown. His father soon moved on, too. Gordon Johnston is the athletic director at Riverheads High School in Staunton.
Spurred by the much-needed confidence he had gained at Craig County, Johnston went on to star at Peterstown High School, leading the Pirates to a 14-0 record and Class A championship as a senior. He was named first-team all-state as a quarterback and defensive back.
When it came time for Johnston to choose a college, WVU was first, second and third on his list.
``I always wanted to come here,'' Johnston said. ``Ever since I was little I dreamed about playing for the Mountaineers.''
Strangely enough, in another twist tying Johnston and the state of Virginia, he once considered going to Virginia Tech
``There was no other team besides WVU, even though I came real close to going to Virginia Tech.''
Coincidentally, Johnston's stepbrother, Travis Jackson, plays basketball at Tech.
Nothing against a Hokie, Johnston said, but, ``there's nothing like being a Mountaineer.''
Especially when times are good in football.
Redshirted as a freshman in 1992 and a third-stringer in '93, Johnston met WVU football head-on last season as a third-year sophomore. He quickly discovered how hot the pressure cooker can be in a state that lives and dies with its only Division I-A football team every Saturday in the fall.
The Mountaineers, 11-1 in '93, stumbled out of the gate 1-4.
``There was a lot of heat,'' Johnston said. ``It's kind of funny. They [the fans] hated us the first half of the season. They were on us pretty heavy.''
Johnston didn't exactly set the world on fire early. He started against Nebraska in the Kickoff Classic, which WVU lost 31-0, and completed eight of 21 passes for 92 yards in his first three appearances.
``We were struggling and I was pretty low,'' Johnston said. ``But being a quarterback, you can't show that on the field. I could go home and feel as bad as I wanted, but in this building [the Mountaineers' football facility] I had to keep my head up.''
After not playing in WVU's fourth game, a home loss to Maryland, Johnston's coming-out party was Sept. 22, 1994, in WVU's 34-6 loss to Tech in Blacksburg. He relieved turnover-plagued Eric Boykin in the second quarter and played reasonably well, completing nine of 24 passes for 90 yards with no interceptions.
Not spectacular numbers, but good enough for coach Don Nehlen. Johnston got the start the next week at Missouri and completed 17 of 25 passes for 291 yards and two scores in the Mountaineers' 34-10 romp.
From there, Johnston took over. The next week at Pittsburgh, he threw for 396 yards - the second-best total in WVU history - and four touchdowns in the Mountaineers' wild 47-41 victory.
Behind Johnston, WVU saved its season, winning six of its final seven regular-season games to earn a Carquest Bowl bid.
Counting his two touchdown passes in WVU's 24-21 bowl loss to South Carolina, Johnston threw for 16 touchdowns and 1,681 yards in 12 games - nine as a starter.
``I always felt like I could put up the numbers and make good decisions,'' Johnston said.
``I was kind of timid early. Finally, I learned at quarterback you've got to go out and make plays and not worry about what could go wrong. The second half I played with a lot of confidence.''
Johnston's performance was more than enough to convince Nehlen. When the Mountaineers open at home against Purdue on Sept.2, Johnston will be at the offensive controls.
``Chad just got better for us, that's all,'' Nehlen said. ``I thought he really matured. He's such a quality kid. I'm happy to see it.
``It wasn't easy for him. When you're a quarterback for a major-college football team and you're not winning, nobody has much good to say about you, especially in West Virginia, where they don't have anything at all to talk about except their football team.''
In Craig County, they're talking about Chad Johnston, too.
``I didn't know a lot of people down there,'' Johnston said. ``There were a lot of fine people there, some of whom I still consider my friends today. Tell 'em I said hello.''
And thanks.
by CNB