Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511210029
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Jermaine Holmes joined the club Saturday. When the Virginia Tech wide receiver ran under Jim Druckenmiller's 32-yard lob with :47 to play, Holmes became the latest Cav killer. His catch and Atle Larson's extra point made the Cavaliers losers for the fourth time this season.
``It must suck for them to lose like this," Holmes said.
Holmes dropped a pass on the first play of that decisive drive, evoking familiar groans from the Tech fans at the game. Tech's wide receivers have had their share of the dropsies this season, most notably in the season-opening 20-14 loss to Boston College.
The Hokies wideouts knew they were under scrutiny, but according to Holmes, ``We didn't let it bother us that bad." In fact, they reveled in it. At practice, they gladly do push-ups when any of them drops a ball. Sometimes they stay after for extra work.
Plus, the verbal jabs fly all afternoon. Holmes said he had a few ready to fling at fellow flanker Cornelius White as soon as he was finished being interviewed.
But first, Holmes planned to offer White his thanks. Three plays after Holmes' drop, White caught a 14-yard pass from Druckenmiller on fourth-and-10, sustaining the Hokies' drive.
``Cornelius bailed me out of that one,'' Holmes said. ``I appreciate the receivers that we have.''
Holmes also appreciates it when they get tired and he's asked to make a play. That's what happened on Druckenmiller's scoring strike.
White was supposed to be lined up wide left on the outside on first-and-10 at Virginia's 32. White, however, was tired and winded when the Hokies went into their huddle, so Holmes set up for the deep route and White stayed inside.
Druckenmiller pump-faked and let it fly. Holmes said he thought it was overthrown at first, so he picked up his pace.
The throw was cast in a perfect arc. Holmes kept his eyes on the ball. He said his mind went blank. The drop ``didn't cross my mind."
Finally, the ball landed in his hands. And stayed there.
``Biggest catch I've ever had,'' he said.
Druckenmiller said the Hokies realized in the huddle that it was their last shot in a regular-season game. He wanted it to count. No more drops.
So he went to a guy who dropped his last one.
``I knew he'd catch it,'' Druckenmiller said.
The Hokies' final offensive play might not have been made by offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle's call, Druckenmiller's arm, or Holmes' hands.
``We happened to get lucky at the end,'' Holmes said. ``You need luck to play football.''
The Hokies had it. Once again, Virginia didn't.
by CNB