Marcus Vick faces traffic, drug charges

Vick was charged with reckless driving and possession of marijuana early Saturday morning in New Kent County, seven weeks after he and two teammates were convicted of contributing to the delinquency of three underage girls.

Vick, 20, was pulled over by state police at 2:30 a.m. Saturday after being clocked going 86 mph in a 65-mph zone on westbound Interstate 64, about 25 miles east of Richmond, state police spokesman Lt. Gary Payne said Tuesday.

State police charged Vick with reckless driving and possession of marijuana, both misdemeanors. The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback and former Tech star Michael Vick was released on a summons, Payne said.

Vick's latest miscue prompted the indefinite suspension, the school said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. Just minutes earlier, Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver, in a separate news release, had announced that Vick, wide receiver Brenden Hill and tailback Mike Imoh had been suspended for the first three games of the season for their May 20 convictions.

Vick was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,250 on three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after he, Hill, and Imoh gave alcohol to 14- and 15-year-old girls at Vick's Blacksburg apartment.

Hill, 19, was sentenced to 20 days in jail and fined $1,500. Imoh received a 10-day jail sentence and a $750 fine. The lawyers of all three players have appealed the verdicts.

Vick's lawyer, Marc Long, wasn't happy with the three-game suspension.

"We are disappointed that not all the facts have been put on the table, yet they're being punished. I'm disappointed they saw fit to take action at this time," said Long.

Some students on campus said that Vick was deserving of the indefinite suspension, perhaps an even stiffer penalty.

"Oh, man, I thought Marcus would stay out of trouble what happened before," said Joe Rivosecchi, a Pittsburgh native who is a senior at Tech.

"You just can't look the other way ... he's got to be punished."

P.J. Lynch, a student from Maryland, was appalled when first hearing that Vick had found more off-the-field trouble.

When asked if Tech coach Frank Beamer should send Vick packing for good, Lynch said: "Yep. It's going to make a lot of alumni upset, though."

Beamer, who was unavailable for comment Tuesday, informed his players of the suspensions in a late-afternoon team meeting.

Weaver, in his statement, said, "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 was expected to battle senior Bryan Randall for the Hokies' starting quarterback job in August preseason practice.

Not now, though. The redshirt sophomore won't be allowed to practice with the team until his suspension is lifted. Hill and Imoh will be allowed practice.

Staff writers Mark Berman and Aaron McFarling contributed information to this story.

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