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Tech suspends Vick after Saturday arrest
BY NORM WOOD
Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
(KRT) - Quarterback Marcus Vick was suspended from the football team indefinitely Tuesday by Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver after Vick was arrested and charged Saturday with reckless driving and possession of marijuana.
Vick, a Warwick High graduate, was traveling alone about 2:30 a.m. Saturday on Interstate 64 West, about 20 minutes from Richmond. A Virginia State Police trooper pulled him over for going 88 mph in a 65-mph zone. A search revealed Vick was carrying two bags of marijuana, State Police spokesman Gary Payne said.
Vick, 20, was released from police custody on a summons. He is scheduled to appear at 10:30 a.m. July 27 in New Kent County General District Court. The maximum penalties for the misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and possession of marijuana are 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Marc Long, Vick's lawyer, did not return phone calls Tuesday.
Saturday marked the second time in six months that Vick has been in trouble with the law. He and teammates Brenden Hill and Mike Imoh were found guilty in bench trials in May of three counts each of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Vick was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a $2,250 fine. Hill, a former Warwick High player, was sentenced to 20 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, and Imoh was sentenced to 10 days in jail and a $750 fine. The players have appealed the verdicts and are seeking new trials.
Tuesday's action marked an about-face by Tech's athletic department. After the convictions in May, Weaver said he would discipline the three players, but wouldn't say what the penalties would be other than that they would be apparent once the season started.
On Tuesday, Weaver said the three players would be suspended for three games as a result of the May convictions. A statement issued minutes later by Tech's athletic department said Vick had been suspended indefinitely as a result of Saturday's arrest.
Weaver did not return phone calls Tuesday but did issue a statement:
``I remain deeply concerned by the situation involving our three student-athletes. I remain concerned with the known behavior regardless of the judicial disposition. All of us in the athletics department believe behavior above reproach should be the norm for Virginia Tech student-athletes.
''I believe that the actions this past winter of Mike Imoh, Brenden Hill and Marcus Vick were inappropriate and contrary to the values of our university and sports communities, and should warrant sanction. Although these matters are on appeal in the criminal courts, I am moving forward in the best interests of all concerned with disciplinary action.``
Vick, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback and former Tech star Michael Vick, was expected to challenge incumbent Bryan Randall for the starter's job this fall. Vick passed for 475 yards last season and threw two touchdown passes.
If Vick's suspension is for the season, he could immediately transfer to a Division I-AA university and have three seasons of eligibility left. Because Vick has already used his redshirt season, if he immediately transferred to another Division I school he would have to sit out a year, leaving him two seasons of eligibility.
Tech football coach Frank Beamer did not return phone calls, and Michael Boddie, Vick's father, refused to comment.
BY NORM WOOD
Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
(KRT) - Quarterback Marcus Vick was suspended from the football team indefinitely Tuesday by Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver after Vick was arrested and charged Saturday with reckless driving and possession of marijuana.
Vick, a Warwick High graduate, was traveling alone about 2:30 a.m. Saturday on Interstate 64 West, about 20 minutes from Richmond. A Virginia State Police trooper pulled him over for going 88 mph in a 65-mph zone. A search revealed Vick was carrying two bags of marijuana, State Police spokesman Gary Payne said.
Vick, 20, was released from police custody on a summons. He is scheduled to appear at 10:30 a.m. July 27 in New Kent County General District Court. The maximum penalties for the misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and possession of marijuana are 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Marc Long, Vick's lawyer, did not return phone calls Tuesday.
Saturday marked the second time in six months that Vick has been in trouble with the law. He and teammates Brenden Hill and Mike Imoh were found guilty in bench trials in May of three counts each of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Vick was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a $2,250 fine. Hill, a former Warwick High player, was sentenced to 20 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, and Imoh was sentenced to 10 days in jail and a $750 fine. The players have appealed the verdicts and are seeking new trials.
Tuesday's action marked an about-face by Tech's athletic department. After the convictions in May, Weaver said he would discipline the three players, but wouldn't say what the penalties would be other than that they would be apparent once the season started.
On Tuesday, Weaver said the three players would be suspended for three games as a result of the May convictions. A statement issued minutes later by Tech's athletic department said Vick had been suspended indefinitely as a result of Saturday's arrest.
Weaver did not return phone calls Tuesday but did issue a statement:
``I remain deeply concerned by the situation involving our three student-athletes. I remain concerned with the known behavior regardless of the judicial disposition. All of us in the athletics department believe behavior above reproach should be the norm for Virginia Tech student-athletes.
''I believe that the actions this past winter of Mike Imoh, Brenden Hill and Marcus Vick were inappropriate and contrary to the values of our university and sports communities, and should warrant sanction. Although these matters are on appeal in the criminal courts, I am moving forward in the best interests of all concerned with disciplinary action.``
Vick, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback and former Tech star Michael Vick, was expected to challenge incumbent Bryan Randall for the starter's job this fall. Vick passed for 475 yards last season and threw two touchdown passes.
If Vick's suspension is for the season, he could immediately transfer to a Division I-AA university and have three seasons of eligibility left. Because Vick has already used his redshirt season, if he immediately transferred to another Division I school he would have to sit out a year, leaving him two seasons of eligibility.
Tech football coach Frank Beamer did not return phone calls, and Michael Boddie, Vick's father, refused to comment.
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