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BLACKSBURG -- Although Michael Vick has decided to plead guilty to federal dogfighting charges, athletic director Jim Weaver doesn't see a need for Virginia Tech to disassociate itself from him.

The Hokies retired Vick's jersey in 2002, the year after the quarterback was drafted out of Tech by the Atlanta Falcons. The number itself is still given out to players.

Weaver said that although he doesn't condone Vick's actions, he doesn't see a need to lower No. 7 from a place of honor at the Lane Stadium.

"He earned that when he was here, before he ever was involved in these activities," Weaver said Monday.

Weaver said he was saddened by the news that Vick intends to plead guilty -- a decision that will send the most famous athlete in Hokies history to prison.

The Merryman Center contains Michael Vick Hall, which features displays of former Tech football greats and serves as the hallway for football meeting rooms and an auditorium. Virginia Tech named the hallway after Vick in exchange for a donation he made.

Tech athletic development director Lu Merritt said Tech is not required to keep Vick's name on the hall. Weaver, though, sees no reason to take Vick's name off it.

"I don't think we do anything at this point," Weaver said.

Hokies coach Frank Beamer said in a statement that he was "very disappointed and saddened by the news."

"I am greatly concerned that Michael has put himself in this position," Beamer said in the statement.

Tech fans interviewed at New River Valley Mall and Tech students interviewed on campus had mixed views on whether Tech should continue to honor Vick.

Doug Myers of Christiansburg, a Lane Stadium usher on game days, said Tech should not disassociate itself from Vick.

"He's done a lot of good for the school and a lot of good for other people," he said.

"He messed up. I'm a dog lover myself, but you can't erase everything he's done in the past. It's not like he's led a life of crime his whole life.

"He basically put Tech on the map."

Two people who had been charged with Vick, Quanis Phillips and Purnell Peace, have signed statements saying Vick participated in killing dogs.

"Michael Vick represents the absolute worst in Virginia Tech," Tech freshman Greg Smagin said. "At a time where Virginia Tech's getting a lot of attention, Michael Vick is providing a lot of negative attention, so I think it would be a good idea to start distancing themselves as far as taking his number down."

Willis Burgess, who moved to Blacksburg last year from Augusta, Ga., said Tech shouldn't sever ties with Vick because Vick committed his crimes after he left school.

"Dogfighting, it's a big deal, but he didn't take a human's life," said Burgess, 26. "That's my culture. I've ... seen many dogfights in my day, and we don't look at it as it being treacherous."

Rhonda McCoy, a Blacksburg resident who often attends Tech games, said Vick has earned the right to be honored by Tech.

"Coon hunting's not illegal. Coon dogs go out and chase [raccoons], and it's the same thing as dogfights," she said. "Just because people make mistakes, you don't have to condemn them forever."

Season-ticket holder Rob Boyd of Christiansburg said Tech shouldn't lower the jersey or take Vick's name off the hall.

"What happened was in his NFL career," Boyd said. "I definitely disagree with what he did -- he deserves to be punished."

Season-ticket holder Jeremy Burns of Blacksburg also said Tech should continue to honor Vick.

"He made a mistake and it's a very serious mistake, but he's done a lot of good for the university," Burns said. "A lot of people are disappointed. I am. I used to be very proud to say Michael Vick was [a Hokie]."

Tech junior Anders Kiss said there should no longer be a Michael Vick Hall.

"The whole crime he committed was horrendous," he said. "You can't have a hall named after that. You should probably take the number [down] too."

His sister, Tech senior Mercedes Kiss, disagreed with him, though, noting that his crimes took place after he played for Tech.

She has a Tech jersey of Vick's brother Marcus. She no longer intends to wear it because she no longer wants to be associated with that family's name. But she doesn't see Michael Vick's guilt as a bad reflection upon her school.

"I love Tech football, but ... him going here ... seven years ago has nothing to do with this school now," she said.

Vick was indicted last month for his part in a dogfighting conspiracy that dates back to 2001.

Tech senior Dereje Girma said Vick's guilt is embarrassing for the school but isn't cause for the school to back away from his name.

"The history's still there. He put Virginia Tech football on the map," Girma said.

Tech freshman Raven Price said it is too soon to cut ties with Vick.

"It's definitely a bad reflection [on Tech], but he wasn't at Tech when he did it," she said.

"You can't let one mistake outweigh all his other accomplishments. But it really all depends on how he carries [himself] after this."