Vick no longer brings pride to Virginia Tech

Michael Vick put Virginia Tech on the map. The undefeated 1999 season brought national recognition to Tech- and Vick is the most important player from that season. Vick passed for 1,840 yards and threw for 12 touchdowns, not including the eight touchdowns he scored on the ground. The Hokies lost to Florida State in the Sugar Bowl, missing out on the elusive National Championship.

Since Vick, admissions rates at Tech have skyrocketed. Tech has seen an increase of applicants, SAT scores and average student GPA. The national rate is increasing in all categories as well, but not at the rate of Tech’s increase.

Michael Vick has also given very generously to the school and football program. Most recently, he donated $10,000 to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. In the Merryman Athletic Center, every football player has spent some time in Michael Vick Hall, which holds football offices for film and other classroom-type settings for athletes and coaches.

Since the Michael Vick era, Tech has also been home to Marcus, his younger brother.
Marcus Vick did not have the same affect on Tech that Michael did. Although leading the Hokies to the ACC Championship game with an 11-2 record, several on-field and off-field distractions tainted his image.

Marcus was kicked out of Tech’s football program in January of 2006, after which he left the school. He was recently dismissed from the Miami Dolphins.

While Marcus has stayed out of the headlines in the past few months, his brother, Michael, has been everywhere.

On July 17, Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury for “conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activates and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.”

According to the 18-page indictment, Bad Newz Kennels — the name of the dog-fighting operation — has been training and fighting dogs for nearly six years. After purchasing a home in Smithfield, Vick and three others purchased pit bulls and gambled on dog-fights.
In February of 2002, Vick and an associate began testing the dogs, and one that did not perform well was shot by Vick’s associate with a .22 caliber pistol, according to the indictment.

The killings of these dogs continued, where the animals were usually shot, but sometimes electrocuted. In one instance, a female pit bull was executed by “wetting the dog down with water” and was electrocuted. Vick was consulted before this execution, according to the indictment.

In April, Vick and two others executed “approximately eight dogs” that did poorly in testing, by various ways such as “hanging, drowning and slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.”

The disturbing indictment continues with many other instances of clear animal cruelty, as well as reckless betting, where at one point, $40,000 was on the line for fights.

There is no question that dog fighting is completely wrong. In no instance is it OK to bet on animals that are basically killing each other. Furthermore, when performing poorly, there is no justification for the execution of animals.

If Vick is charged with these crimes, he could face fines of up to $375,000 and six years in jail.

Tech has not yet commented on plans to change the name of Michael Vick Hall in the Merrymen center, and according to the Roanoke Times, Beamer is standing by Vick, who launched his football program into the spotlight.

Beamer is not ready to judge Vick, and is planning on waiting until things are sorted out in the courtroom before he changes his opinion of the player he describes as a “very caring, a very concerned, (and) a very good person.”

It is unfortunate, but the man responsible for many students’ enrollment at Tech may soon be shunned by the school.

With good reason.

If Vick is found guilty of these heinous acts, the university cannot afford to be linked to him. The reputation of Tech is quickly changing, and in order to stay in good standing, Tech will need to cut ties with the former star. Whether it’s the removal of Vick’s jersey from Lane or the renaming of Michael Vick Hall, Tech cannot afford to publicly support someone who is involved in dog fighting.

For now, all the university and athletic department can do is hope that he is acquitted of all charges. While it is still unclear the degree to which Vick was involved in the dog-fighting ring, the evidence in the indictment does not look like Vick has an entirely clean slate.

The days of Tyrod Taylor, Tech’s incoming freshmen 5-star recruit, cannot come sooner.