ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 20, 1997 TAG: 9704220007
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
The drafts on tap at P.K.'s on Saturday included Lite, Budweiser, Black & Tan and NFL.
Jim Druckenmiller was trying to drink it all in - not literally, of course. His hands were shaking too much to hold a glass steady. He never was this shaky against Miami.
At the erstwhile Virginia Tech quarterback's personal draft party, Druckenmiller had to wait 4 1/2 hours to hear his name called.
That really isn't much of a wait when you consider he waited about the same number - in years - to get his chance in major-college football. And when he did, he made the most of it.
He did something else Saturday, too.
He cried.
``I don't ever remember him being this emotional,'' said the quarterback's father, Jim Druckenmiller Sr.
Then, it's not every day someone reaches - or even exceeds - his dream. Druckenmiller did that, as the No.26 pick, the first quarterback chosen in the 62nd NFL draft.
Druckenmiller is the 14th quarterback selected in the first round in the past decade, and he got there on his arm, his weight work and his guts.
The Pennsylvania native has gone from a guy only home-state schools such as Kutztown, East Stroudsburg and Lycoming wanted to a club that has won five of the past 16 Super Bowls. In doing so, he's remained pretty much the same - a down-to-earth guy, even on a day when he was in the clouds.
He was invited to New York for the draft, but he wanted to stay in Blacksburg where he could celebrate the moment with his family and friends. He tried to kill time by playing pool and talking with as many people in the pub as possible.
His personal draft call from the 49ers came a couple of minutes before the nation learned what wasn't a surprise on ESPN. The 49ers had told Druckenmiller's agent, Gary Wichard, that if the Hokies star was available, he'd be their choice.
``We thought he would go there,'' the quarterback's dad said. ``If he had gone earlier, like to Miami at [No.]15, it would have been a pleasant surprise.''
He'll be going into a great situation, too. Niners starter Steve Young will turn 36 during the 1997 season. The occasional Elvis (Grbac) sightings behind center have moved to Kansas City.
``I'm ready for the challenge,'' Druckenmiller said. ``I am a little scared. This is something new for me.''
He said and did all the right things, as usual. Like the song almost says, if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a 49ers cap in your hair.
``I got this one when I went out there for the visit,'' said Druckenmiller, who will catch a flight to the Bay area today.
First-round quarterbacks have been boffo or bust in recent years. For every Troy Aikman or Drew Bledsoe, there is a Todd Marinovich or David Klingler.
Druckenmiller will be groomed as Young's heir to the West Coast offense. Going to the Dolphins as Dan Marino's understudy would have been similar. Trying to cope in the perennially rebuilding situation of an Atlanta would have been different and more difficult.
The Tech alumnus often is compared to recent Buffalo Bills retiree Jim Kelly - and part of the likeness is that the younger of the two Pennsylvanians should succeed, too.
They are mentioned in the same sentence because of their linebacker toughness, but it also should be flattering to Druckenmiller. Kelly threw for more than 43,000 yards in his pro career with Buffalo and the U.S. Football League's Houston Gamblers and played in four Super Bowls.
``It's been a long process for Jim since January,'' the elder Druckenmiller said. ``The waiting, the wondering has been the hard part. He always had a goal in mind, but until you have a team, you really don't know the direction.''
John Burke, a New England Patriots tight end and former Tech teammate, stopped by to wish Druckenmiller well.
``Welcome to the Show,'' Burke said. ``Be sure to bring extra underwear to training camp.''
Before Druckenmiller gets there, there's the matter of what he will ask from the Niners. One thing he won't get is his familiar No.16. That belongs perpetually in Niners history to another old Pennsylvania schoolboy, Joe Montana.
The No. 26 pick in last year's draft was Druckenmiller's former Big East Conference rival, Miami linebacker Ray Lewis. Baltimore signed him for $3.76 million over five years.
Quarterbacks sometimes get more - the position, you know. And Niners executive Bill Walsh - the Hall of Fame ex-coach always labeled a genius - has compared Druckenmiller to John Elway.
Druckenmiller wasn't worried about the salary cap Saturday. He was headed from Main Street to uptown, and his smile could have spanned the Golden Gate Bridge.
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. Virginia Tech quarterback Jimby CNBDruckenmiller, drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, says, ``I'm ready
for the challenge'' of the NFL. color. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL