Virginia Tech kicks Vick off team
Story Tools:        
 Print    Email    Blog This    
Associated Press
Posted: 30 minutes ago    



RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was dismissed from the team Friday, the result of numerous legal transgressions and his unsportsmanlike conduct in the Gator Bowl.

University president Charles Steger announced the dismissal on the same day that coach Frank Beamer met with Vick and his mother in their Hampton Roads home, the school said in a statement. Beamer informed them of the decision during the meeting.

"I'm very disappointed that this didn't have a better ending," coach Frank Beamer said of Marcus Vick (pictured). (Steve Cannon / Associated Press)

Vick, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, was suspended from school in 2004 for several legal problems. The junior came under new and intense scrutiny this week after replays showed he stomped on the left calf of Louisville All-American defensive end Elvis Dumervil during the Jan. 2 bowl.

No penalty was called on the play and Vick claimed its was accidental. He further hurt his cause by claiming to have apologized to Dumervil, the NCAA sacks leader, but the Louisville player said no such apology was ever offered.

On Friday, it was revealed that Vick had been stopped for speeding and driving with a revoked or suspended license in Hampton on Dec. 17, Cpl. James West said. Vick's license had been taken away in August 2004 when he was cited for reckless driving and marijuana possession in New Kent County.

Steger suspended Vick from school at that time, and warned that any additional problems would effectively end his time as a member of the Hokies' football team.

"The university provided one last opportunity for Vick to become a citizen of the university and readmitted him in January 2005, with the proviso that any future problems would result in automatic dismissal from the team," Steger said Friday.

Beamer said in a statement that he was disappointed with the outcome. "We wanted what's best for this football team and Marcus," he said. "I certainly wish him the best."


Poll

School officials said in a statement that there would be no further comment until a news conference Saturday. Beamer, Steger and athletic director Jim Weaver, who said the stomping embarrassed the university, were all expected to attend.

A telephone message left on Vick's cell phone was not immediately returned Friday, and his mother, Brenda Boddie, has an unlisted phone number.

Vick said before the Hokies' 35-24 comeback victory in the Gator Bowl that he planned to return for his senior season. Now, his choices are to declare for the NFL Draft by the Jan. 15 deadline or transfer to a Division I-AA school so he can play next season.

Vick entered this season knowing he would face hostility from opposing fans, mostly stemming from his drug arrest and another for serving alcohol to underage girls during the 2003 school year.

He said he was ready for it, but reacted to chants of "rapist" and "child molester" at West Virginia on Oct. 1 by making an obscene gesture in the direction of the crowd. He met with Beamer following that incident and apologized to the team.

In the ACC championship game against Florida State, he drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag for spiking the ball after a touchdown run with the Hokies trailing, and following the 27-22 loss, walked by reporters after the game without commenting, saying he didn't have to.

He finished that game 26-for-52 for 335 yards with one interception and a fumble near his goal line that teammate Duane Brown recovered. Vick threw one scoring pass and ran for two more touchdowns, but also was sacked six times for minus-35 yards.

On the field, he was often dazzling, but sometimes tried to do too much.

The Hokies started 8-0 and were No. 3 in the polls when they hosted Miami on Nov. 5. But Vick threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away four times in a 27-7 loss.

This season, he was runner-up to Wake Forest's Chris Barclay as the conference's offensive player of the year, and was voted the first team quarterback on the all-conference team.

In 24 career games, the last 13 starts, Vick was 207-for-346 for 2,868 yards, 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also rushed 184 times for 492 yards and six TDs.

Can you blame them?

not at all! it would be nice if more college teams would crack down on their players.

Seems like most people are having a positive reaction to this.

I think Vick is a POS!

F-him and I hope he ends up like most of the thugs he emulates----------broke/prison

Harsh? I guess so. But someone who thinks he is above everyone else deserves it.

Between his unsportsmanlike behavior, nose thumbing, bird-flippin', and ghetto-talk, the NFL would be better served sitting the Vick act out.



An embarrassment to his school

Good, what a POS scumbag that guy is .

He should lose his scholarship too.

Quoted: He should lose his scholarship too.

Oh yeah, like he was really going to use his degree in under water basketweaving anyway.

I'm glad VT is showing some nads and giving him the boot. Unfortunately another high-profile school will pick him up and Vick won't learn a damn thing in all of this.

Quoted: Quoted: He should lose his scholarship too. Oh yeah, like he was really going to use his degree in under water basketweaving anyway.

sound alot like Maurice Clarette THE LAST BOMB .I believe he was at Ohio State,not Va. Tech

Being a Hokie......