THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160434
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Virginia Tech junior quarterback Jim Druckenmiller is older than all but four of his teammates, but he doesn't act it.
``He's kind of a goof and a clown,'' offensive guard and roommate Chris Malone said.
Druckenmiller likes to have a good time. A good time is impersonating a coach in the huddle at practice. Or rubbing the fleshy, foul-smelling seed that drops from a ginkgo tree on an unsuspecting teammate's face mask, then watching him recoil when he dons the helmet.
Or, when Druckenmiller gets some free time, going out to a club and listening to grunge music and doing the ``mosh dance,'' where the objective is to bang into each other violently and fall down in a heap of bodies.
``I'm getting old here, but it seems I still have the mentality of an 18-year-old,'' said Druckenmiller, a 23-year-old who attended prep school one year and then redshirted his first year at Tech. ``I'm just another big kid.''
The Hokies have had a good time this year, and the big kid is a big reason why. Tech goes into its regular-season finale Saturday at Virginia (noon, WAVY) riding an eight-game winning streak and ranked 20th in the nation.
Everyone knew the defense, with 10 starters back, would be good. It is among the nation's best. Everyone knew the Hokies' running game was solid. They have led the Big East in rushing much of the year.
But nobody knew whether Druckenmiller would be a wonder or a blunder as a first-time starter at quarterback.
``I think it's been a heck of a year for him,'' Tech offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle said. ``As a first-year quarterback, he's thrown the ball well and made a lot of big plays for us. As much as anything, he's run the offense well.''
Tech needed a quarterback who could withstand the pressure and make the offense click. It got a stand-up comic to do the job.
``It's been a great personality to work with,'' Bustle said. ``His personality comes out in football. He likes to have fun, but he knows how to work.''
Druckenmiller's work ethic has impressed his coaches more than anything. It's evident in the weight room - where Druckenmiller's prodigious lifting rivals the linemen, and Tech's strength coach has dubbed him ``the strongest quarterback in America'' - as well as in film study and game preparation.
``He's worked at getting better, it hasn't just happened,'' head coach Frank Beamer said. ``Some people come to practice just to put in time, he comes to practice to get better. He really has been a very solid influence on this football team.''
Druckenmiller's numbers are solid, not spectacular. He has completed 52 percent of his passes and thrown 12 touchdowns against eight interceptions. His passing efficiency rating is fourth in the Big East, 48th nationally.
With one touchdown pass Saturday, Druckenmiller will become the first Hokie to toss 13 scores in his first season as a starter. Maurice DeShazo and Don Strock both had 12.
In the season opener against Boston College, Druckenmiller posted the most passing yards (296) and total offense (291) for a Tech QB in his first start. He's the first Hokie quarterback on record with three completions of 70 yards or more.
``It's been a great year so far,'' Druckenmiller said. ``After the 0-2 start, everyone thought this would be the year that would never end.''
Though he played like a wonder against Boston College, Druckenmiller was nothing but blunder in Tech's 16-0 loss to Cincinnati in week two. He threw three interceptions - one of which was returned for a touchdown - and played so poorly in a 12-for-33 performance that Tech fans were not amused by their fun-loving QB, booing him off the field.
Druckenmiller's confidence was shot. And so to, it appeared, was Tech's season. Miami was next on the schedule.
``He probably learned more after the Cincinnati game than he did after any game this year,'' Bustle said.
The Hokies beat the Hurricanes, and haven't lost again. Last week they clinched a share of the Big East title.
Tech was among the lowest-scoring teams in the country the first half of the season and won almost solely because of defense. The past five weeks the Hokies have averaged 43.5 points per game and now lead the Big East and rank 27th nationally in scoring.
The difference, Druckenmiller believes, is emotion. Tech lacked it early in the season, and he chastised his teammates a bit. He's not sure if his words helped turned the offense around.
``I'm excited about playing,'' Druckenmiller said. ``That bugged me on the field, especially that lack of emotion. We're supposed to be having fun. When football becomes a task and it's not fun any more, that's when it's time to get out.''
Tech's 23-year-old rookie starter knows it's never too late to have a good time. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
One TD pass will give Jim Druckenmiller 13 for the season, a record
for first-year starters at Virginia Tech.
by CNB