Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 17, 1995 TAG: 9509180133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In his first 10 days as Virginia Tech's starting quarterback, Jim Druckenmiller has appeared on national television, has been applauded for a record-setting performance and has been booed by the home fans.
It's not easy being a first-year Hokie quarterback.
Then again, Druckenmiller didn't make things easy on himself Saturday by completing just 12 of 33 passes and throwing three interceptions - one of which was returned for a touchdown - in Tech's depressing 16-0 loss to Cincinnati at Lane Stadium.
All week, Druckenmiller was the recipient of kudos for his showing against Boston College on Sept.7, when he threw for 296 yards on 21-of-43 passing in a 20-14 loss that was nationally televised by ESPN. It was the highest yardage total ever by a Tech quarterback in his first start.
By Saturday, that game seemed like ancient history. The player called ``Drunk'' by his Tech coaches and teammates led a wobbly offense that staggered to its first shutout loss at home in 14 years.
Don't think that Druckenmiller didn't hear about it, either. Not necessarily from head coach Frank Beamer, but from the rain-soaked Lane Stadium fans whose boos grew louder as the Hokies went three-downs-and-out on four of their first five possessions of the second half.
It's enough to make a guy stop reading his press clippings.
``My confidence remains the same,'' Druckenmiller said. ``Maybe I let it [the booing] get to me a little bit. People were telling me I'd done a good job [against BC] and then they come out and make me feel like I've been stabbed in the back.''
Even though Beamer brought in backup quarterback Al Clark in the fourth quarter, he said Druckenmiller is the No.1 guy. For now.
``I haven't talked to [offensive coordinator] Rickey [Bustle] yet, but [Druckenmiller] will be starting,'' said Beamer. ``He's gone through a lot to get here. Plus, we're not giving him any help.''
Beamer has been through this before with first-year starting quarterbacks. Will Furrer was inconsistent until his junior year, and even then he had to win the job from Rod Wooten.
When Furrer slumped a bit as a senior in 1991, fans bellowed for freshman Maurice DeShazo to get a shot. Then, in 1992, DeShazo was booed off the field after a dismal showing against West Virginia and backup Treg Koel was given a chance.
Druckenmiller, a junior who was redshirting in 1992 when the Hokies went 2-8-1, has seen the good and the bad side of being in the spotlight in just two games.
``I don't know exactly how Maurice felt [in '92],'' he said, ``but I feel frustrated and disappointed.''
After overthrowing his receivers early, Druckenmiller began to throw cautiously and tentatively, especially in the second half.
``He started aiming the ball a little bit,'' said Beamer.
There were other factors behind Druckenmiller's numbers. For the second straight game, Tech receivers dropped several catchable passes.
The Hokies were without Bryan Still, their best receiver who suffered a shoulder injury against BC. Without him, Tech's passing game looks vulnerable. The Hokies are hoping Still returns for next week's game against Miami.
``Bryan Still is a great receiver,'' said flanker Cornelius White, who has struggled in the first two games. ``It might put some pressure on us with him not there. ... The receivers haven't caught the ball well. No excuses. I dropped some catchable balls.''
What's even more vexing to Beamer and Bustle is the absence of Tech's supposed offensive strength - a rushing attack.
Tech, which ran just one offensive play on the Bearcats' side of the field in the second half, gained just 77 yards rushing on Saturday, with 46 coming from Druckenmiller. Senior tailback Dwayne Thomas was held to 40 yards on 13 attempts. He has just 101 yards in two games.
Thomas had averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his first three years, but is averaging just over three yards per carry this season.
Part of that is due to some lackluster play up front, where the Hokies have plenty of experience. The offensive line never seemed to get a handle on Cincinnati's various blitz packages, and Druckenmiller was sacked four times.
``They blitzed every which way,'' center Billy Conaty said of the Bearcats, who constantly sent their linebackers after Druckenmiller. ``It was hard to pick up what they were doing. We had prepared for it, but it was hard to adjust to.
``We've got to concentrate better. We didn't do anything well.''
Now, with Miami coming to town next week, the Hokies face the prospect of being 0-3 with six of their remaining eight games on the road.
``It gets down to executing,'' said Beamer. ``There's no secrets to winning football games. You've got to block 'em, run and hold on to the ball. ... That would help `Drunk' a lot if we could do that.''
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB