DATE: Saturday, August 30, 1997             TAG: 9708300579

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   76 lines

HOKIES UNVEIL NEW QUARTERBACK TODAY VIRGINIA TECH OPENS AGAINST RUTGERS WITH SELDOM-USED AL CLARK CALLING THE SIGNALS.

Al Clark has been like the vice president the last few years, ready if called upon but performing most of his duties in anonymity as Virginia Tech's backup quarterback.

Today is Clark's inauguration into the highest office of the football team when the defending Big East champion Hokies open the season at Rutgers (12:35 p.m., ESPN).

Even before his first start, Clark has noticed the difference between the two jobs just around campus.

``Now that I'm the starter, people that I'd never really spoken to or didn't know realize who you are and call you out by first name and just want to hold conversations with you,'' Clark said. ``I've been a backup here two years, but I guess no one pays attention to a backup.''

Clark, a redshirt junior, will get plenty of attention today, as will his Rutgers counterpart Mike Jones, a redshirt freshman.

Both get their first college starts on national television. And both are likely to feel some heat against a defense that likes to put pressure on the quarterbacks. Rutgers defensive coordinator Rod Sharpless used to be at Tech, and employs the same attacking style the Hokies use.

``It's the nature of the defense they play and we play to move people around and bring people,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``I think there's going to be a lot of that going on.''

Clark isn't sure exactly what goes on in a college football game, because he's never played in anything other than mop-up duty. It's been almost four years since he started a game for Fork Union Military Academy.

``That's a long time,'' Clark said. ``I've never been off the field as a starter so long. It's been a learning process and I was willing to go through it. That time is over with now and it's time for me to perform.

``As far as the game tempo and speed of the game, I don't know how that's going to be. But as far as what I'm going to see from Rutgers, I'm pretty much prepared for that.''

Preparation over the last three years for this moment has been Clark's forte, according to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Rickey Bustle.

``But the only situation I haven't been able to set up for him is that actual game,'' Bustle said. ``We've spent some time the last few days talking about finding out that level to play at emotionally - not too high, not too low no, matter whether things are going good or bad.''

Clark said he has visualized games in his head as he has stood on the sidelines the last couple of years, calling off the checks and reading defenses while living vicariously through starter Jim Druckenmiller.

``Right now the man thing I'm concerned about is just going out there and actually doing it,'' Clark said.

Beamer professes no concerns about Clark.

``I think Al is very much in control of himself and he has to be that way to be in control of the offensive football team,'' Beamer said. ``He hasn't given any indication he'll be any other way. He's prepared himself well enough to do well.''

Rutgers coach Terry Shea has not exactly given his quarterback such a vote of confidence.

Jones, who played at Douglas Freeman High School in Richmond, is the only quarterback in the program who was with the Scarlet Knights last year.

Shea said he has good size, understands the offense and is smart. But Shea has said he would like his quarterback to be more athletic than Jones is, and that he worries about his ability to handle the ``movement factor,'' especially against an active defense like Tech's.

``He is not a young man that's going to get to the edge and make you worry about his ability to do athletic things outside,'' Shea said.

Jones has heard his coach's comments, and seems a bit befuddled.

``It kind of made me feel frustrated, like `C'mon coach, I'm not that bad of an athlete,' '' Jones said. ``I can function within the offense. It's not like I'm a lineman dropping back there throwing a pass.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Al Clark will make his first start at quarterback for Virginia Tech

today against Rutgers on ESPN at 12:30 p.m.

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