ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 19, 1997 TAG: 9704210118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING THE ROANOKE TIMES
Al Clark has served his apprenticeship. Now he's ready to show his stuff, beginning today.
Put down the clipboard. Can the sign-language gig. Forget playing the second fiddle.
Finally, Al Clark gets to hurdle the sideline and be the man for Virginia Tech's football team.
After a three-year quarterback apprenticeship - one as a redshirt freshman and two as a seldom-playing backup - Clark suddenly finds himself moving from bit role to the spotlight of a lead performer.
It's about time, Clark said.
``I've been here three years ... first under Maurice [DeShazo], then [Jim] Druckenmiller,'' Clark said.
``I've seen what they can do. And now it's time to show fans what I can do, and make my mark just the way they made their mark.''
Clark, not to mention many others, thought his chance to become Tech's No. 1 signal-caller would come much earlier. Two years ago he entered spring practice running neck-and-neck with Druckenmiller. Then Clark pulled up with a lame ankle and Druckenmiller turned into Secretariat.
``I got a lot of press that I might be the No.1 guy,'' Clark recalled. ``But I was looking it as the No. 1 guy was going to win the job at the end of spring.
``Then I went down with the injury and the rest was history. Druck won and took the job from me.
``I didn't want to be second-string, but it happens. Obviously, that person is better than you. Obviously, he's better so you just sit back and watch.''
Clark watched. And watched. And watched.
At times, it was like capital punishment for a guy who was once the best high school quarterback in Washington, D.C.
``Yeah, it was frustrating at times,'' Clark said. ``You get the urge to go out there on the field and play.
``Hey, I had been a starter all my life ... since I was eight years old. I had always been thrown into the fire and I had kind of gotten used to it.''
The past two years Clark had to get used to standing on the Tech sideline. As the durable Druckenmiller took the Hokies to a 20-4 record and two major bowl bids, Clark was afforded little playing time.
In 1995, Clark got in six games, completing 10 of 16 passes for 84 yards and running for 148 yards.
Last season, Clark spent even more caddy time, throwing just five passes and completing one for 12 yards.
Now a guy who has thrown for a total of 96 yards since leaving Fork Union Military Academy in 1993 is the Hokies' main man.
``Druck is gone now and I've got to replace him,'' Clark said. ``I tip my hat to him. He did a heck of a job here. I mean the guy is a No.1 NFL draft choice. It wasn't like I was behind some kind of dog or something. If you're going to be behind somebody, it's good it's a guy like that.''
Clark doesn't possess the rifle arm of Druckenmiller - ``who does?'' Clark wondered - but he does give the Hokies much more speed and quickness on the option.
``Al has plenty of talent and ability to get the job done,'' said Frank Beamer, Hokies coach. ``The only thing Al has to do is make good decisions and everything will fall into place.''
Clark, who during his high-school heyday always wanted to go to Virginia, said he's ready to do his part to keep Tech football rolling.
Any questions about Clark's commitment were erased earlier this spring when he surprisingly matched Druckenmiller's weight room back-squat record of 500 pounds. Clark gets the record, though, because he weighs less.
``Being behind Druck for two years, I've had to try and lift his weights,'' Clark said. ``In the process I got stronger right with him. When he finally got out of here, I got a chance to take down one of his records. That made me feel real good.''
Now comes the football.
``It's time to go out there on the field and perform again,'' Clark said. ``I'm kind of anxious. I haven't played a full game in about three years.
``I can't wait to get out there and see how it is again ... not just getting in there in the fourth quarter when the game is already won or lost.''
Fittingly, Clark's coming-out party in today's Tech spring game - the Maroon-White affair at 2 p.m. at Lane Stadium - will be somewhat overshadowed by Druckenmiller's NFL draft-call bash at a local Blacksburg pub.
That doesn't bother Clark.
``That's OK,'' he said. ``I've got what I want. It's my turn now.''
TECH TIDBITS: Today's spring game will pit Clark and the first-team offense of the Maroon squad against the Hokies' best defenders on the White team. Backup quarterback, redshirt freshman Dave Meyer, will guide the White offense. ``It will be interesting to see how our No.1 offense moves against the best defenders,'' Beamer said. ... The game, for which there is no admission charge, will consist of eight-minute quarters. ... Offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle will handle the Maroon coaching duties, while defensive guru Bud Foster coaches the White squad.
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM THE ROANOKE TIMES Quarterbacks Al Clark (left)by CNBand Mike Kocicka (18) will do more than go through the motions today
in Virginia Tech's spring game.