Michael Vick and Virginia Tech

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Michael Vick has been in the news this week.  He is leaving prison to spend his final month of sentencing in home confinement.  This unsurprisingly led to live minute-to-minute coverage by ESPN, and of course filled all the off-season NFL talk shows with plenty of discussion fodder concerning the probably of Vick's return as player.  One ESPN question of the day actually made me ponder:  "More likely to play this season:  Vick or Brett Farve?"

After the roller coaster Hokie and NFL career of Michael Vick, then his brother Marcus, I was one of the Virginia Tech fans who had tried hard to wash the "Vick Attachment" to Hokie Football.  I'd had enough of both of them and severely hoped for less media association between MV1 and VT. 

But yet it seems even today as a Virginia Tech fan its hard not to follow the Michael Vick story and have an opinion on his situation.

I was living in Atlanta when Vick got drafted and came to the Falcons.  I've never seen one player inject life into a franchise like him.  NFL football was dormant in Atlanta.  In fact pro sports, besides some passing interest in the Braves, were insignificant until Vick came to town.  But all of a sudden a ticket to the Georgia Dome on Sunday meant a chance to watch the most exciting thing the league had ever seen.  That made me proud as a Hokie.  I even bought my son a Vick jersey, and my family all learned to love watching him play the way I did in college.

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Michael Vick Virginia Tech Hokies Autographed Authentic Jersey
Price: $219.99
Michael Vick signed Virginia Tech authentic Varsity brown jersey. This was signed at our Private Signing and comes with a an individually numbered; tamper evident hologram from Mounted Memories.

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So the slow at first (lesser, infrequent incidents like marujuna in a fake soda bottle at airport security), followed by the rapid demise of Vick due to his horrid dogfighting crimes, made me sick.  Between him and Marcus, I'd had enough of the Vick's and their association with Virginia Tech for good.  I frankly wished they fade away, or at least away from Virginia Tech.

But its clear Michael Vick hasn't and is not going away.  His name means continued media following and possible further career in the NFL.  The question is, how much to Hokies still care?  Are you more sympathetic as a Hokie, or that much more disappointed in what he's done?

Forgetting my disgust with his actions and especially what they have meant for the image of Virginia Tech, do I think he deserves another chance?  I do.  His crimes were unconscionable, but I'm not sure I can remember another athlete who's paid a dearer price.  Vick fell from grace harder than anyone I can remember.  He's done terribly stupid things, but paid an awfully expensive price for it.

Does he deserve further suspension from the NFL besides the time served?  I think not.  Matching penalties to crimes is a slippery slope whether you are discussion actual crimes or league misconducts.  There are many doing just that in regards to whether crimes against animals should be and have been punished the same as those against people, with some making very good arguments.  I won't go there, and I don't know what NFL Commish Goodell will do in terms of further league suspension (he's generally tough), but Vick has a serious uphill climb in front of him and I'd seriously doubt he's not remorseful.

The question of whether he CAN play at the NFL level is a good one as well.  What I believe will hurt Vick is that the very thing that made him so popular with the Falcons (he sold tickets, sometimes disproportionate to how effective he really was as a QB), will be offset in his return due to the negative publicity he will bring.  Sure, I'd love to watch him play again, but I don't want him the face of my franchise.

I really hope this is the last time I write about Michael Vick on this blog.

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