THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 25, 1996 TAG: 9609250572
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: 83 lines
Virginia Tech is No. 18 in The Associated Press football poll, but after Nebraska lost Saturday the Hokies moved to No. 1 in one regard.
Tech's 13-game winning streak is the longest in Division I-A. The streak is more than a year old, beginning with the Miami game last Sept. 23.
``This week we've heard the most about it,'' Hokies defensive end Cornell Brown said. ``Since Nebraska lost, it's a big thing around campus and people are taking notice of it.''
But Tech coach Frank Beamer said the streak will not be a topic of conversation during meetings or on the practice field as the Hokies prepare to play preseason Big East favorite Syracuse Saturday (3:30 p.m., CBS).
``No one ever talks about it,'' center Billy Conaty said. ``We prepare for each game, and if we don't, the streak will be over.''
That is not to say it's overlooked. The Hokies know where they stand.
``Any time you're the best in the country at anything, you take great pride in that, and we do,'' Beamer said. ``We're ahead of a lot of great programs there in consecutive wins, and we feel good about that.''
Nine of the Hokies' 13 consecutive wins have come away from home, including two at neutral sites.
WAKEUP CALL: An estimated 100 tents were pitched outside Tech's Jamerson Athletic Center this week, forming the line of students awaiting Tuesday's distribution of tickets to the Nov. 29 Virginia game. Tuesday morning, Beamer and several players delivered hot chocolate, donuts and coffee to the students at about 6:45 a.m. to show their appreciation for the support.
``I must tell you a couple of those students accused Waverly Jackson and T.J. Washington of eating those donuts,'' Beamer said, joking about a pair of lineman who weigh a combined 611 pounds.
``Some of those people have been out there a whole week,'' defensive end Cornell Brown said. ``That makes you feel good as a player.''
However, the 6:45 delivery ``was extremely too early for me,'' Brown said.
RECKLESS QB: The top rushing quarterback in the Big East is not the fleet-footed Donovan McNabb of Syracuse; it's Tech's lumbering Jim Druckenmiller.
Druckenmiller ran for 53 yards against Rutgers on scrambles or options, and punctuated many of the runs by lowering his shoulder and plowing into defenders or diving for the first-down marker.
``Jim's strong enough to take care of himself,'' Beamer said. ``There are some times he has to be smart about it.''
Druckenmiller ranks 14th among Big East rushers with 30.7 yards per game. Druckenmiller, a 6-foot-4 weightlifting fanatic, rushed for only 57 yards last season. He knows he has to be careful not to get hurt, but seems to be getting a rush out of carrying the football.
``I'm used to taking hits when I'm not looking,'' Druckenmiller said. ``It actually feels good to see them coming once in a while, or to give the hits out.''
ON THE MOVE: Brown has lined up exclusively at end so far, and admits to some frustration at the frequency of double-teams opponents have thrown at him in an attempt to bottle up the Hokies' All-American.
``I didn't think it would be that bad,'' said Brown, whose frustration led to an unsportsmanlike conduct call Saturday.
``It's tough on me, I just have to keep my head during the game,'' Brown said.
Beamer said Tech is working on lining up Brown in different places along the defense so that opponents have trouble finding him when they come to the line of scrimmage. Brown said moving around the defense ``would mean a lot to me,'' but that Tech coaches had not discussed the possibility with him yet.
QUICK KICK: Beamer on Tuesday voiced support for sophomore punter John Thomas, whose 36.2 average ranks last in the Big East. But he also left open the possibility that redshirt freshman Jimmy Kibble could get a crack at the job.
``If he becomes consistent, he'll have a heck of a chance to be our punter,'' Beamer said of Kibble, who also kicks off for the Hokies. ``He booms that thing with height.''
INJURY REPORT: As of Tuesday, no key players are expected to miss the Syracuse game with injury. Linebacker Tony Morrison (foot) and tailback Ken Oxendine (separated shoulder) are expected to return Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: Tech coach Frank Beamer: ``We're ahead of a lot of
great programs . . . in consecutive wins, and we feel good about
that.'' by CNB