Sports
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Tech will suspend Vick
The quarterback stomped on a Louisville player's leg during Monday's Gator Bowl.
By Norm Wood nwood@dailypress.com | 247-4642
January 5, 2006, 6:22 PM EST
Virginia Tech will suspend quarterback Marcus Vick for an undetermined number of games next season if he returns to school, according to two sources within the athletic department who wished to remain anonymous. The suspension is the result of Vick stomping on a Louisville player's leg in the first half of Monday's Gator Bowl.
Tech coach Frank Beamer will be in the Hampton Roads area Friday and will meet with Brenda Boddie, Vick's mother, and Vick to discuss the player's options. If Vick doesn't accept the suspension, he will either have to transfer to another school or turn pro.
In order to gain immediate eligibility next season by transferring, he'd have to go to a Division I-AA or lower level school. Vick said at a press conference Dec. 29 that he doesn't plan to enter the National Football League Draft in April.
Earlier this week, Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver said he was embarrassed by quarterback Vick's "unacceptable" actions and promised to further review the situation.
This is latest controversy for Vick, a junior who is a Warwick High graduate and the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.
He was convicted on Aug. 3, 2004 of reckless driving and marijuana possession. The same day, Virginia Tech suspended him for the fall 2004 semester.
Tech suspended Vick for the 2004 season because of the August convictions and because he was convicted in May 2004 on three charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The charges stemmed from a Jan. 27, 2004 incident at Vick's Blacksburg apartment. The incident involved three teenage girls, Vick and teammates Brenden Hill and Mike Imoh.
Vick appealed those charges, which were merged into one charge for a plea agreement that let him avoid 30 days in jail.
Vick, 21, re-enrolled at Tech in January 2005. He won the starting job and led the Hokies to an 11-2 season, which ended with a 35-24 win over Louisville in Jacksonville, Fla.
For the season, his first as a full-time starter, Vick completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,393 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
During a game at West Virginia on Oct. 1, Vick flipped his middle finger to fans behind Tech's sideline.
He apologized in a statement the next day. "What I did was wrong and I am sorry," he said. "My goal is to be the leader of this team and do things the right way."
* Blacksburg, Va., August 3, 2004 -- Virginia Tech student and athlete, Marcus Vick, has been suspended from the university through the end of the fall 2004 semester, effective immediately. After that, he will incur an additional year of "deferred suspension" where any new disciplinary action and conviction would trigger automatic suspension from the university. Furthermore, the athletic director has informed Vick that any further violations, either criminal, university judicial, or of athletic policy, will result in permanent dismissal from Virginia Tech athletics.
The university's judicial action stems from a widely reported conduct with local high school girls. (Vick was convicted on three misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. One other misdemeanor charge was dismissed. The conviction is on appeal, and in Virginia the finding is then set aside.) University judicial officials also took into consideration a recent charge by state police of marijuana possession. Vick has not yet had court action on that charge.
Re-admittance to the university is also contingent upon Vick's successful completion of a formal drug education and counseling program.
University President Charles Steger said, "I concur with the actions of the university judicial system. This is a stiff penalty. Vick won't play this year and loses that year of eligibility. If there is any more trouble, his Virginia Tech career is effectively ended. But just as important, this offers a compassionate, last chance opportunity for Vick to get his personal life in order."
Although, the current legal actions add ambiguity because they are not final, the university is taking action based on known student behavior. The judicial actions are consistent with established university policy and precedent.
Said Athletic Director Jim Weaver, "The university is doing the right thing in the name of discipline. It is sending Marcus a strong message that we take seriously student athlete behavior. This action also gives Marcus a chance to right himself. Fundamentally, he's a good person and we want to see him succeed."
Note: The university is taking the unusual step of announcing a student disciplinary action. Marcus Vick has released the university from federal privacy restrictions that prevent disclosure of student disciplinary sanctions.
little vick might be heading for the draft
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