ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310020
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA TECH offensive tackle Jay Hagood may be a nice guy six days a week, but he's an animal on Saturdays.
If you catch the act of Virginia Tech offensive tackle Jay Hagood off the football field, you'll find one of the largest and lovable ol' teddy bears in captivity.
``We go out to eat a lot. I'm telling you, Jay Hagood is just a super nice guy,'' said T.J. Washington, the Hokies' other starting offensive tackle.
Soft-spoken. Easy-going. Big-hearted. Gentle giant. That's the book on Hagood.
``I looked up during media day [in mid-August],'' said Tech offensive line coach J.B. Grimes, ``and there was Jay playing soccer with my 10-year-old. Then I looked again and he had my 4-year-old up on his shoulder. That's the kind of kid Jay Hagood is.''
``[He] wouldn't hurt a flea,'' Washington added. ``Just a great guy to be around.''
Except on autumn Saturdays. That's when the 6-foot-4, 313-pound Hagood goes haywire.
``When Jay puts on that helmet and has his cup of coffee before a game, he's a changed person,'' Washington said. ``Then he gets fired up, his eyes get all red and he's just ready to kick somebody's tail.
``You wonder if it's really the same person. I think he's schizophrenic, he has multi-personalities, or something. Whatever it is, you don't dare get in that man's way come game time.''
Just ask Tony Brackens. The former standout defensive end for the University of Texas who now plays for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars met Hagood up close and personal in last year's Sugar Bowl. After Tech's 28-10 triumph, Brackens basically said Hagood was Hagreat.
``Best pass-blocker I've ever seen,'' said a beaten Brackens, who literally spent the entire game lost in Hagood's massive shadow.
Since ruining Brackens' New Year's Eve in New Orleans, Hagood has found his name being tossed around on NFL scouting lists. The Sporting News recently rated the senior from Easley, S.C., as the sixth-best offensive tackle prospect for next spring's NFL Draft.
``I think he's legit and I know the pro people feel that way,'' said Tech coach Frank Beamer. ``Jay's got the size and he's pretty nifty. I think he and Billy Conaty [Hokies senior center] both will have an opportunity at the next level.''
Hagood, a second-team All-Big East selection in 1995, has been a fixture on Grimes' stout line for three seasons, starting 30 consecutive games.
At left tackle, Hagood's job is to pry holes for Tech's horde of capable running backs and keep blind-side pressure off quarterback Jim Druckenmiller on passing downs.
``He's my insurance policy,'' Druckenmiller said last season, when asked about Hagood. ``He keeps me from getting killed a lot. All I can say, man, is thank goodness for Jay Hagood.''
While Hagood is big, strong and nimble, his most potent weapon is his pterodactyl-like wingspan. He has arms that won't quit, Washington said.
``We do pass-protection drills against each other sometimes, and all I know is when he puts his arms on my chest, I can't reach his shoulders,'' said Washington, not exactly a munchkin at 6-4, 312.
``I call him gorilla, because I think his knuckles drag the ground sometimes.''
If there's ever been a knock against Hagood, it's the fact he's been somewhat injury-prone. The big guy missed more than his share of practice time last season due to various nicks and bruises, including problems with both of his heel cords.
``He was a regular Tuesday guy, wasn't he?'' said Beamer, referring to his weekly news conferences in which he lists which players will be sitting out upcoming practices with injuries.
``Jay has been banged up a lot. But he's always came back and played and dealt with the pain. And I think that says a lot about him.''
Grimes said Hagood is as athletic as any 300-pound-and-change lineman he's ever coached. Many pounds ago at Easley High, Hagood was an all-region tight end, not to mention an all-state basketball player.
``He's still pretty nifty on the basketball court,'' Grimes said. ``I understand he can still bring [a basketball] behind his back, through his legs and shoot the 3-[pointer].''
Forget hoops, though. All Hagood wants to talk about now is football as the Hokies pursue their fourth consecutive bowl bid.
``It's been great to be a part of all this,'' Hagood said. ``This team here has a chance to do some more great things. There's a lot of work to be done yet.''
Washington said Hagood's serious mode tends to rub off on his linemates.
``We're all nice people off the field and we don't do nothing wrong,'' Washington said.
``But on the field, I think Jay said it best. He said we're the only people in the world who have a job in which we can go out for 60 minutes, beat on somebody, and not get in trouble.''
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM STAFF Jay Hagood's Sugar Bowl performanceby CNBagainst the University of Texas last season caught the attention of
NFL scouts. color