THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608250363
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: V20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: College Forecast
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: 103 lines
OK, top that.
What does Virginia Tech do for an encore after its best football season ever, which included a 10-game winning streak and victories over Miami, Virginia and Texas in the Sugar Bowl?
``I think our fans are aware enough, knowledgeable enough and smart enough to know every year's not going to be like last year,'' coach Frank Beamer said.
Beamer's goal is to be in the hunt for the Big East title every year. If the Hokies do that, Beamer reasons, they will bag their share of titles and accompanying major bowl bids.
Major or not, a fourth-consecutive bowl seems to beckon, but the Hokies have questions to answer along the way.
What is Tech's weightiest issue in '96?
The offensive line. Don't get on any of those elevators that say ``2,000 pound weight limit'' with these guys. From tackle-to-tackle, the projected starters go 313, 308, 298, 295 and 313 - a 305.4-pound average. ``It's going to be scary how heavy everyone is come Christmas time,'' center Billy Conaty said. Pass the stuffing.
Seriously, what are the Hokies' concerns?
Wide receiver and defensive line.
The only Tech wideouts with more than three career receptions are Cornelius White (48) and Michael Stuewe (13). And White occasionally has struggled with the dropsies. Tech coaches hoped someone would emerge in the spring to assume the deep-threat role of departed Bryan Still and Jermaine Holmes. No one did.
Defensive end Cornell Brown had a lot of help up front last year from NFL pick J.C. Price and a host of other seniors. Now tackle Waverly Jackson is the only other player along the defensive front with appreciable experience.
Why did consensus All-American Brown come back for his senior season rather than bolting for the NFL, and can he duplicate last season's performance?
Brown said he wanted to enjoy another year of college while improving his game. But it may have also had something to do with what he was told by an NFL committee of player personnel directors who advise underclassmen mulling early entry. Brown said they rated him, at best, a third-round pick last year.
It's feasible Brown could be better than he was in '95 (Big East defensive player of the year, 14 sacks, 103 tackles) but less productive. Opposing offenses will be able to throw more double- and triple-teams at Brown because his fellow linemen lack the strength, experience and talent of last year's front four. That group spearheaded the nation's best rushing defense (77.4 rushing yards per game) and fifth-best scoring defense (14.1 points).
Any chance the defense can be as good as last year?
A chance, yes, but much will hinge on the line. Two of three linebackers are returning senior starters, and junior Tony Morrison is more athletic at inside linebacker than was George DelRicco, who twice led Tech in tackles. Three of the four secondary performers are seniors who have started most of their careers.
Which Hokie offensive player bears watching?
Junior tailback Ken Oxendine, a backup to Dwayne Thomas in 1995 who got hurt in two-a-day practice. As the featured back behind that huge, talented offensive line, Oxendine could be Tech's most potent offensive weapon.
``To me, he's a lot like a young Herschel Walker,'' Tech running backs coach Billy Hite said.
In two seasons, Oxendine has a 6.1 yards-per-carry average. The Tech career record is 5.42 by Virginia Beach's Maurice Williams.
Was quarterback Jim Druckenmiller a one-year wonder?
Well, he certainly had one wonderful year. Druckenmiller was the big unknown when he entered his junior season never having started a game and with almost negligible experience.
After a rocky start, he won 10 in a row, completed 51 percent of his passes, threw 14 touchdown passes and guided Tech's second-highest scoring offense ever. He made second-team all-Big East.
Druckenmiller's predecessor, Maurice DeShazo, had a great junior year in 1993 followed by a flop in '94. Druckenmiller hopes to avoid a similar fate.
Can Tech contend again for the Big East title?
The Hokies are picked third by a panel of sage media experts who cover the league. Let's see here, last year Tech was picked . . . third. Guess the answer is yes.
The Hokies have a bundle of potential pros in the senior class. That's good, right?
Depends. Obviously talent is good, but it's bad if guys are out for themselves trying to impress scouts rather than playing team ball. That's happened more than once at Tech.
Among the seniors, the best bets to graduate to the NFL are: defensive end Brown, offensive tackle Jay Hagood, center Conaty, tight end Bryan Jennings, free safety Torrian Gray, quarterback Druckenmiller, cornerback Antonio Banks, linebacker Myron Newsome, fullback Brian Edmonds and defensive tackle Jackson.
How can seven home games and four road games constitute a difficult road schedule?
When two of the away games are at Syracuse and Miami, the league's projected two best teams and the Big East's toughest venues for visitors. The Hokies also go to Boston College, another potential stickler.
What is a Hokie, anyway?
That was an oft-asked question last year as Tech vaulted into the consciousness of the national media. ``What's a Hokie?'' Druckenmiller said. ``A Big East champion.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo
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Virginia Tech
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KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION PREVIEW by CNB