how mustard helped braxton burmeister in his virginia tech debut

Jackson Didlake

September 27, 2020

BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech was able to capture a 45-24 victory in their season opener over NC State. The game was filled with good offensive play for the Hokies, but there was one unlikely hero: mustard.

Redshirt junior quarterback Braxton Burmeister started the game 6-7 for 60 yards before he was forced to leave the game due to cramps after falling on his right throwing hand, thrusting third-string quarterback Quincy Patterson into the starting role.

“I landed on it funny and it just locked up on me," Burmeister said about the injury. "I didn’t have any control of my fingers, so my hand was just closed."

His replacement, Patterson, added that he and the rest of the team were worried that he had “broken his hand or something.”

“I’ve never seen a hand like Braxton’s,” head coach Justin Fuente said. “I thought he snapped his wrist or something. It looked just awful. He couldn’t straighten his hand out.”

“His hand was all mangled, curled up,” Fuente added. “It was a pretty severe cramp.”

Burmeister told the media that he got some fluids in and his hand started to feel better.

“I had to drink a ton of electrolytes, and I had some mustard too,” Burmeister said. Yes, mustard.

“It’s just how I know how to deal with cramps because it has a lot of salt in it,” he said.

From there, the bizarre story only got more interesting. Burmeister informed the media that it was his mother who brought him down some mustard packets.

“She just had it. So, she ran it down.”

While it wasn’t the Hokies’ training staff who advised Burmeister to eat mustard, all that matters is it worked.

Burmeister returned to the game and finished the day with 7-11 for 106 yards, adding 46 yards on the ground.

A transfer from Oregon whose immediate eligibility waiver was denied last year, Burmeister had to step in as the starter for the Hokies on Saturday after it was announced that Hendon Hooker would not dress.

Burmeister started in five games as a true freshman for Oregon, passing for 330 yards and two touchdowns to six interceptions. He also rushed for 102 yards and three touchdowns. As a sophomore, he played in four games, passing for 43 yards and rushing for 29.

Playing a limited capacity of fans, the Hokies had to make their own energy en route to a win.

“I think we handled it well and we had a lot of juice on the sidelines,” Burmeister said. “It kind of felt the same energy wise.”

Hooker will return to practice tomorrow according to Fuente, but it is unclear what his status is at Duke on Saturday. Burmeister may retain the starting role for the time being and after a successful debut, his spirits are high.

“I felt comfortable out there. The o-line opened some big holes for me and our running backs.”