THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 2, 1997 TAG: 9701020177
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: ORANGE BOWL NOTES
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: 68 lines
Nebraska's defense hounded and pounded Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller all night Tuesday in the Orange Bowl.
But Druckenmiller never got rattled, kept the overmatched Hokies fighting until the fourth quarter and probably enhanced his already lofty reputation among pro scouts.
``I think he made himself some money down the stretch this season,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said Wednesday, the morning after Tech's 41-21 loss. Druckenmiller was not available for comment. ``That guy is a big reason we're here.''
Druckenmiller completed 16 of 33 passes for 214 yards, one interception and three touchdowns. Only Florida State's Danny Kanell, with four last year, has thrown more touchdowns in the Orange Bowl. One of Druckenmiller's was a perfect 33-yard delivery to Cornelius White right before Druckenmiller was mashed by a blitzing Cornhusker.
At least four passes were dropped, including a couple that would have been big gains and another that would have been a touchdown. Druckenmiller was sacked three times and endured countless other knockdowns right as he released the ball or scrambled from the pocket. But he demonstrated the strength, toughness and sound decision-making that has turned him into a top NFL prospect.
``Druck's a great player,'' Tech offensive guard Gennaro DiNapoli said. ``He took a couple of tremendous hits and kept coming back.''
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper is on record as saying Tennessee's Peyton Manning will be the first quarterback selected if he declares himself eligible for the draft, and Druckenmiller will be second.
Beamer on Wednesday said Druckenmiller is the best quarterback he has coached in 10 years at Tech, and that the two-year starter may rank among the Hokies' all-time best.
``To me, he's exactly what you want at the quarterback position,'' Beamer said.
HEIR APPARENT? Next season Tech will have an inexperienced quarterback, which will be the biggest question mark for a team that loses 13 starters. The Hokies had the same circumstance two years ago coming out of the Gator Bowl, when Druckenmiller emerged as the starter.
Next season's quarterback is probably going to be rising junior Al Clark, who has attempted just 22 passes in 12 appearances the past two seasons. Clark was in for one play Tuesday when Druckenmiller was shaken up. Other candidates for the job are freshmen Dave Meyer and Nick Sorensen - who redshirted this season - and rising junior Mike Kocicka.
KEY PLAY: Sometimes it's a stretch in a football game to identify one play that changed the game, but if you were going to pick one in the Orange Bowl it came early in the fourth quarter.
Nebraska was ahead 31-21, but Tech was driving and had second-and-one at the Husker 31. Tech tailback Ken Oxendine got spun around on a run outside and lost 15 yards, but on the play Tech was called for an illegal block in the back. It was marked from the spot of the foul, and ended up being a 27-yard penalty leaving the Hokies with second-and-28. Druckenmiller threw two incomplete passes, Tech punted and Nebraska dominated the remainder of the game.
``Things got whacko after that,'' Beamer said.
QUICK HITS: Beamer and several players described the scene in the locker room after the game as very emotional. All the seniors were called up individually to speak to their teammates. . . . Tech tailback Ken Oxendine's 150 yards rushing ranked fifth on the Orange single-game charts. . . .Beamer said he will wait to see how things play out in court, but virtually guaranteed dismissals will be forthcoming of some Hokies who have run afoul of the law and have not represented the program well. ``Some of these guys are not going to be here,'' Beamer said.