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QUESTION: What's your feeling about Tech's decision to dismiss Marcus Vick from the football program?

Mr. Doughty

Wow! What a weekend. Marcus Vick gets dismissed! Just as Frank Beamer was in town to personally delivery the news to Vick and his mom of a two game suspension Beamer gets the word from the school that Vick is now actually dismissed from the school just before arriving at Vick's house.

Apparently the school had just learned of a December 17th incident in which Vick was stopped in town for speeding (38 in a 25mph zone) and also driving under a suspended license. The later of which turns out to be just a formality in paperwork in which Vick was totally unaware and something that was easily taken care of through some uncompleted paperwork.

Still, most interesting is that this is what Virginia Tech deemed it's final straw and what apparently led to their decision to ditch him. So they had to call Beamer just as he was approaching Vick's house where Beamer thought he was going to deliver the news of a two game suspension. What a turn of events! I'm still a little dazed by it all myself.

In the end, solely as a VT fan, it's probably for the best. Vick never seemed to have a connection with the team. He always seemed like a team of one lacking that motivational charisma for other team members to feed off of.

Whether good or bad, in all his poise, he lacked emotional connection (at least in a good way) to each game and for the duration of entire games would seem both unaffected and uninspired. This seemed most evident in the two big loses to Miami and Florida State.

He may call it poise but it seemed to translate into uninspired and characterless play at times especially in those two big losses. As a Hampton Roads resisdent I find myself reminded, whether good or bad, of Allen Iverson. Luckily, as a VT fan, the Hokies have some very talented QBs (four of them) lying in the wake of this news and this spring (and fall) football practices should be very refreshing and interesting.

Doug,

As a 1984 graduate, an avid Tech supporter, and a Tidewater native, I am saddened by the whole situation with Marcus Vick. It is unfortunate that a player has his career ended by one quick instant reaction under fire -- a negative one at that. It reminds me of Woody Hayes and his attack on a Clemson football player many years (decades) ago.

I am glad that Virginia Tech can now move forward to restore it's reputation is the press and prepare for the future of its football program. It's a shame that one individual and the media's coverage of his actions have caused a black eye on one of the best programs in the country. Look at the state of the entire VT program -- record high graduation rates for its football players, the best in-state following in its 100-year history, coaching stability, a very successful record in the past 13 years, and many outstanding former and current players who have excelled under Beamer's program.

I would hope that we can now spend some time to reflect on the many outstanding seniors who just gave one of Tech's best bowl performances ever (or second halfs) in the Gator Bowl victory. Cedric Humes, Darryl Tapp, Jeff King, James Anderson, Will Montgomery, Jonathon Lewis, Justin Hamilton, etc..... What classy guys and what effort they gave us in the comeback win. 11 victories and alot of great memories.

I am proud they wore a Hokie uniform and I thank them for giving five years of their life for VT football. They have not gotten the credit they deserve because of the circus and media frenzy to capitalize on the Vick moment. it was not enough to report the story, once or twice. It was necessary for the Daily Press to call the referee in Colorado and "interview him....gathering outlandish comments that only slandered Frank Beamer and Virginia Tech. I was told they just reported the news...funny, I don't remember the DP from calling the ACC refs after the UVA/BC game for comment on how they missed throwing Brad Butler out. (Sorry for that small rant)

My point is, enough is enough. Virginia Tech has acted, has its house in order. Please let's get back to the game and recognize the real heroes of the season.

Oh, but talent and opportunity are terrible things to waste! More than anything, I am saddened by all of this. But time and again I found myself, a VT grad and avid Hokie, defending my team for what appeared to be shoddy behavior. And Mr. Vick the younger seemed to be in the center of these problems. My friends and colleagues were beginning to get the picture that Tech would do anything, or put up with anything, to make sure that we won football games. This was not a good feeling for me.

I wondered, too, how parents of potential Tech players would respond to this whole situation as well. Ask yourself this: Would you rather send your son to a Marcus Vick led Virginia Tech, or to Penn State?

I realize that Mr. Vick is not an adult yet, and makes the childish mistakes of youth. But after significant earlier problems, acceptable parameters for his behavior were made clear, and those boundaries were broached. Even then, the dismissal from the team was not a hair trigger/knee jerk reaction, but done after some reflection.

I agree with the decision, for I think no one is beyond reproof. We are all responsible for our behavior and our choices. And no one student athlete is bigger than the University. You know, we won the ACC without Mr. Vick, and frankly, I believe we will win again. In 2006.

And Mr. Vick, I am sure, will do OK. I wish him well. Most of all, I wish him the ability to take this event, this lost opportunity, and turn it into a positive for himself, and for all his future teammates who will be depending on him.

I hope this series of mistakes has taught Marcus a lesson about being responsible for his actions. It should send a powerful message to the rest of the team. That message being, if you screw up you will be punished and you will get only so many chances to make things right. College football has gotten to the point some players know that their school will not take action, or if they do it will be after the big game. Some schools will not bench/suspend a player unless there are pending felony charges! I don't have to mention any program in particular since a few come to mind.

Just because a student/athlete has a 38 inch vertical, can run a 4.29 40, was Mr. Touchdown at his high school, it does not mean he comes to a college program with a good, positive attitude. I don't think Beamer "stuck his head in the sand", as some of the readers have alleged but took a long and difficult look at the matter. Tough love is never easy.

Earlier responses

I have thought long and hard about Marcus Vick and the VT football team and school, and wanted to compose my thoughts and not shoot from the hip in regards to this matter, as I think it is a complex situation.

I feel bad for all involved....

For a VT team to finish in the top ten in the nation with a cloud overhanging;
For the majority of players who play for the team and the school, make huge sacrifices, come from backgrounds many of us know nothing about, and meet expectations both on and off the field;
For coaches who feel that the players are family, and know that not all "children" behave the way they hoped they would, but that you don't easily dismiss a child from the family;
As a parent/coach, to continue to try to influence young men and women to take responsibility for their actions, and to learn from their mistakes.

As a former coach, and as a parent (and you never stop worrying about your children no matter their age), I am aware that some children are not easily coached, and that sometimes tough love is the only way to reach them. For some, the process of growing up takes longer than for others. As a coach, it breaks your heart when you cannot reach one of your charges and you see them wasting great potential in their sport and their life.

I guess my biggest regrets re Marcus is that he doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes, and that when confronted with mistakes, he appears to lack the moral life lessons to truly regret his errors and accept responsibility. We are all human, and as I have never played an aggressive team sport, I don't have first-hand knowledge of what goes on on the field, but I cannot excuse failure to accept a human mistake by calling it an accident and not offering a heartfelt apology.

I can only hope that this is the worst we will hear on the news re Marcus Vick.

In 1987, when Virginia Tech entrusted its football program to Frank Beamer, I believe that he has always wanted for the the football program and the entire university to be projected in a positive light.

Never has his leadership and program been questioned as much as they have in the past week. I have to believe that this was one of the toughest decisions that he has ever had to make in his professional career. But I also believe that as an alumnus of the school, coach Beamer cares more deeply about the university's public perception than whether suspending his quarterback may cost the team a couple of wins the following year.

While I think the punishment was very harsh, I applaud coach Beamer and the administration for taking a tough stand. As an alumnus myself, there is no one I would rather have running the football program at Virginia Tech than Frank Beamer. I don't feel that bad for Marcus as he has been given many chances. I do feel bad for some of the younger players on the team who had looked to Marcus for leadership. I also hope that this decision sends a message not only to players at Virginia Tech, but to college players and coaches around the country that they are role models and should follow a certain code of conduct.

Like I said, it may be a harsh penalty -- maybe too harsh -- but I applaud coach Beamer's stand and the guts to do what he felt was the right thing.

I knew Vick was dead in the water when WDBJ-TV opened its News at Six with 'the Vick stomp' instead of the death of nearly a dozen coal miners just up the road in WV a few days ago.

Their story - hyenas that they are - included a petition to oust Vick from the team. Knew then the whole thing had spiraled out of control. What a mess. I have defended Vick for two years and am worn out from it. He just does not make good decisions.

But I do think this got away from the university. Had Beamer not gone into his shell, as he does at times like this, but acted the next day and suspended Vick for say - the first game (or two) next season, even with the speeding ticket this could have been avoided.

Some fault lies with Beamer and Weaver, who were waiting to see what their bosses - powerful alumni and Charles Steger - wanted them to do. Beamer and Weaver remind me of Bill Clinton - let's do what's popular.

Marcus, we hardly knew ye. In the end, Virginia Tech had no choice, and it is a shame that it had to come to this. Michael Vick brought the greatest days ever to Virginia Tech. Marcus had talent nearly a bright. I wish he could have embraced all that Virginia Tech had to offer and I wish it could have worked out and Hokies everywhere will agree that this is great disappointment, a great shame and a an opportunity squandered by Marcus -- and Marcus alone -- nearly beyond belief. I join with Coach Beamer in wishing him well.

And yet, optimism wins out. The best days for Virginia Tech football remain ahead and in the ACC.

Marcus came to VT with a ton of talent and we saw flashes of that talent this year. Sadly, we also saw what happens when a kid doesn't have a solid understanding of what it takes to fulfill his potential on or off the field. I don't know if VT made the right call but something had to be done and I applaud the administration for making a very hard decision. VT is much bigger than a single individual. Now it's time to rally around those kids remaining at VT and don't be shocked if the 2006 Hokies look a lot like the ACC Champions of 2004.

I am glad that the university has finally come to their senses and dealt with this ongoing "problem" in the proper manner. This "ain't" baseball and he had 5 strikes by my count.

We may only win 5 or 6 next year but at least Tech can hold their head high. Believe it or not there is life without a Vick in the program!

This sends the right message. Perhaps Sean Glennon and Ike Whitaker can make the comparison now on whether they want to be a Marcus Vick or a Brian Randall. I would err on the side of 8-3 seasons forever, than recruiting thugs to elevate the Hokies to NFL calibre play.

The right decision was made. I am confident that in the future, swift action will be taken by all the leaders at my university to address issues such as this.

My family will say a prayer for Marcus tonight. Go Hokies!