ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 2, 1997 TAG: 9701020069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MIAMI
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA TECH WON 20 games and played in two major bowls with Jim Druckenmiller at quarterback.
Jim Druckenmiller went out just like everybody knew he would: fighting.
Virginia Tech may have lost 41-21 to Nebraska in Tuesday night's Orange Bowl, but it certainly was no fault of the gutsy Druckenmiller.
Despite getting hammered much of the night by a fierce Nebraska pass rush, the Hokies' nail-tough quarterback never wavered.
Until the clock read 0:00.
Walking off the field for the last time in a Tech uniform, Druckenmiller hugged offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle. Seconds later, the big quarterback broke down for the first time all night - in tears.
"It was just letting everything out,'' Druckenmiller said. "It's hard, man. I'm leaving a bunch of guys I love to death. We've been through some hard times together.
"The memories will always be there, but knowing you're not going to be able to suit up with them again is the roughest thing going. We shared a lot of emotion in that locker room. It was our last time together and I'll never forget it.''
Nobody who wears maroon and orange will soon forget Jim Druckenmiller. He came out of nowhere to lead the Hokies to back-to-back 10-2 seasons and consecutive major bowl games.
Although it was his fumble that Nebraska's Jason Peter picked up and ran 33 yards for a pivotal second-quarter touchdown, Druckenmiller was otherwise brilliant. He completed 16 of 33 passes - he had at least a half-dozen pinpoint throws dropped - and his three touchdown passes accounted for all the Hokies' points.
"Druck played his butt off,'' said Tech junior guard Gennaro DiNapoli.
One man, though, couldn't handle a gang, especially one as tough as Nebraska.
"We just made too many mistakes to win a big game,'' Druckenmiller said. "We represented ourselves OK, I think. We played our hardest, but it's a heartbreaker for us.
"I thought we could have won this game. Yeah, we had a terrific season and all that, but I wish we could have capped it off.''
No doubt, the Hokies will miss Druckenmiller next season. The big, strong kid with the shotgun right arm finished his Tech career by completing 99 of 175 passes for 1,536 yards in the Hokies' final eight games. During that span he threw 16 touchdown passes with only one interception.
Tech coach Frank Beamer knows he's losing much more than a quarterback for next season.
"The guy is a winner, that's the first thing I think about when talking Jim Druckenmiller,'' Beamer said.
"I never saw him panic on the field, no matter what the situation was. If it was his fault, he had no trouble saying it. He's just an honest guy on the field, playing hard and playing with no fear. To me he's exactly what you want as a quarterback.''
Is he the best quarterback Beamer has had in his 10 years at Tech?
"I think so if you look at wins,'' Beamer said. "Talking all-time quarterbacks at Tech, I don't know if he can throw as well as Don Strock or not. And Will Furrer looked a little bit better at times than Druckenmiller would. Maurice DeShazo ran the option better and was little little quicker.
"But guys who can win he's the best.''
His solid play Tuesday and down the stretch figures to have made Druckenmiller a lot of money. NFL scouts watching the Orange Bowl had to love what they saw.
Druckenmiller exhibited a powerful, accurate arm and displayed his Samson-like strength, shaking off one would-be sack after another all night long.
Perhaps, most important they saw a competitor, a guy who will get down and dirty. Don't believe it? Just check out his uniform. It was the dirtiest in the Hokies' locker room.
"Hopefully, somebody will want me,'' said Druckenmiller, who will play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan.18.
"What's in the future depends on how hard I work. I worked hard personally to get to this stage. Hopefully, with some more hard work and some more sweating, I can make it to the next level.''
No doubt, he helped take Tech to a higher level.
"That guy was the big reason we were down here,'' Beamer said.
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN STAFF Jim Druckenmiller, despite taking aby CNBpounding from start to finish, never flinched, barking instructions
to his offensive line in the fourth quarter of the Orange Bowl.
color KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL