Leitao builds 'no excuse' UVa program
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
January 6, 2006

If there's one thing we've learned about Dave Leitao since he came on board as Virginia's basketball coach last spring is that he's a no nonsense, no excuse kind of guy.
So, when our lead headline in Wednesday morning's paper blared: "Leitao blames injuries for loss," I cringed as did our beat writer, Whitey Reid. If you've ever heard the old adage that sportswriters don't write the headlines, well that's true.

In this case, the headline totally misrepresented what Leitao is all about. He didn't blame the loss at Western Kentucky on injuries, although he probably would have been justified in doing so. But he's not that kind of guy.

A winning culture

Leitao is trying to build a winning culture at UVa, an uphill battle in the basketball-rich ACC. It used to be that way here and he's trying to restore that feeling in his own way.

A lot of our readers easily recognize what Leitao is attempting to do and didn't buy into the headline either.

One reader wrote: "this headline is way out of line, an unfair characterization of the coach as an excuse maker when he is anything but that."

Another wrote: "I am disappointed for Coach Leitao to be portrayed as using excuses for losing when it appears to me that his approach is quite the opposite."

If one of Leitao's first year goals is to get the Wahoo Nation to buy into his no excuse philosophy, then it's working.

In fact, some of Leitao's reactions to losing has surprised some fans, who apparently believe that he should stop and smell the roses along Tobacco Road, that there's no pressure to win this season, that it's a "throw away" year, part of the honeymoon and that he shouldn't be so tough on his players for coming close.

Bull feathers.

Leitao is always seeking a higher level.

"That's what players expect from me, what I expect from them and what our fans expect," Leitao said. "When you have that, then losing doesn't taste good, doesn't feel good, doesn't sit well with anybody.

A can-do attitude

"If our mentality is, 'Hey, we only lost by a few tonight and that's a good thing,' that's not where I'm trying to go with this program. No matter who shows up, or how many show up, or what the odds are for or against us, what I want in everybody's mind is that when the ball is tossed up, we're trying to win. If we don't, then we'll try to correct it so we have a chance to win the next one," Leitao said.

There's no such thing as a moral victory in his book. That's what he is constantly pounding into the young minds of his seven scholarship players, no seniors amongst them.

This year is a building block in Leitao's blueprint to success. He knows how to take Virginia where it wants to go, but it takes time. Once a program gets down in a league such as the ACC, it's not an easy climb back toward the surface and there are plenty of land mines along the way.

That's why Leitao is hard on his players. That was the purpose of running and lifting at dawn's early light in the preseason. That's why he had

team breakfasts. That's why he screams bloody murder when one of his guys doesn't block out and gives up an easy basket as a result.

Building blocks. One at a time, the culture builds.

He knows his talent doesn't particularly stack up well against most of the league's 11 other teams. There's no McDonald's All-Americans in sight, not even a Burger King All-American.

Most everyone figured this season would be rough sledding and so far they've been right.

"If I were to stop the season today and look at it, and ask 'Have the guys made progress from Day One until now?' Then I would say, 'Yes.' But at the same time, I look at other programs in the league and where we have to go and it's a tremendous mountain to climb," Leitao said.

He has built physical toughness, togetherness, restored discipline and order. Now, he's working on the mental toughness, which may be the hardest part.

As he readily points out, mental toughness isn't something that comes naturally. When coaches go recruiting, it's easy to spot what kind of physical talents a kid might possess. But it's much more difficult to discover the mental toughness.

"It's hard to find kids who have it," Leitao said. "But no teams can win without it. I could tell that Sean Singletary has that as part of his personality package. That's a good thing for me is that potentially your best player is also your hardest worker and is as resilient as anybody."

That has been Leitao's toughest challenge, a day-to-day process in building the culture.

As Virginia opens its ACC home season on Saturday against Clemson, Leitao will be counting on the mental toughness to help make up for some other things his young team doesn't have.

He will depend on those two trusty old pak yaks, rebounding and defense, too.

"It's comfortable for me to teach and implement that because I understand it as part of winning," Leitao said. "Especially early on, we're not going to out-athlete more athletic teams and we're not going to out-skill more skilled teams. But we can outwork people until we get more talent."

There's help on the way. With five solid prospects essentially locked up for next year, the talent level of UVa's program should rise dramatically, although not to that of league leaders Duke, North Carolina and Maryland.

But there is progress. Back in October, when quizzed about UVa's perception out in the recruiting world, Leitao admitted there really wasn't any perception. That was troubling.

Things have changed. Just like all the other parts of the culture he is building, it appears in small quantities.

"It's like when your phone rings at home and you look at your caller ID and decide whether to accept or not ? [Recruits] see the Virginia name pop up and now they're picking up," Leitao said. "Time will tell whether they're going to have substantial conversations."

He wants to eventually recruit with the ACC's best and that doesn't happen overnight.

Until the complete culture changes and things begin developing the way the coach envisions for his program, there will be no such thing as moral victories.

"I appreciate that support from our fans but I don't want that thinking to infiltrate the mindset of our team, that they can be satisfied with anything but winning," Leitao said. "The only moral victory I'd like to have is a victory cigar after a real win."

 

Hagans’ numbers underscore his importance
Watch out for the younger Pearman
By Doug Doughty
THE ROANOKE TIMES

While my first inclination was to “wing it” when I sat down to write this Thursday’s column, an approach that many readers might have recognized, I’ve decided to come clean.

When it comes to University of Virginia football, I’ve got more questions than answers today.

So here goes. The top 10 questions surrounding UVa’s football program:

1. WHO’S GOING TO PLAY QUARTERBACK FOR THE CAVALIERS IN 2006?

The name getting the most play these days is Jameel Sewell, a 6-foot-2, 213-pound left-hander out of Richmond’s Hermitage High School who was redshirted this year as a freshman.

Head coach Al Groh would not confirm in a late-season news conference that No. 2 quarterback Christian Olsen would even return in 2006, although Olsen, who has completed 17 of 23 passes in limited action over the past two seasons, has indicated he would like to compete for the job.

While Groh has not offered a rationale for Olsen not coming back, Olsen clearly does not represent a long-term solution. Olsen has battled Kevin McCabe for the back-up job for two years and Groh may feel that McCabe has the potential to start for two years, a la the last two Cavalier QBs, Matt Schaub and Marques Hagans.

The Cavaliers might have known that Schaub, the 2002 ACC player of the year, would be hard to replace. But, replacing Hagans might be an even more daunting task, particularly since there’s no Hagans waiting in the wings.

Hagans, with 343 pass attempts and 115 rushes, accounted for 56.3 percent of the Cavaliers’ offensive plays and his 2,802 yards accounted for 63.8 percent of UVa’s total offense this season. In Schaub’s senior year, 2003, he attempted 403 passes but accounted for only 47.4 percent of the Cavaliers’ plays and 58.4 percent of the total offense.

As to why Sewell may be ahead of other young quarterbacks such as Vic Hall and Scott Deke, it’s hard for the media to say because they aren’t allowed at practice. Clearly, Sewell has better size than Hall (5-9, 175) and quarterbacks coach Mike Groh has greater familiarity with Sewell, having served as his principal recruiter in high school.

2. WHAT UNDERCLASSMEN TURN PRO?

Until the final month of the regular season, the general consensus was that preseason All-America linebacker Ahmad Brooks would pass up his final season of eligibility.

There was little mention of Brooks’ running mate Kai Parham, but a first-team All-ACC season convinced Parham that he should put his name before an NFL Advisory Group and some now think there is a greater likelihood that Parham will make himself available for the NFL Draft. Besides, as a fourth-year junior, he’s on track to graduate.

With an injury-plagued junior year having dropped Brooks out of most top-10 projections, he may feel that a healthy and productive senior year might lift his stock.

3. WHO GETS THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR’S JOB?

Whoever called the plays in the Music City Bowl deserves some consideration. I heard it was receivers coach John Garrett but media gadfly Jeff White says he hears it was quarterbacks coach Mike Groh.

I think it would be hard for Al Groh to elevate Mike Groh, his son, particularly after a 7-5 season that many found disappointing until the final game. Mike Groh, in his first year as recruiting coordinator and working long hours to hold the class together in the face of coaching losses, already has a lot on his plate.

Ex-coordinator Ron Prince served as offensive-line coach, but that’s a rare double these days. If the Cavaliers bring in a coordinator from the outside, I suspect it would be a running-backs coach, perhaps Brian White, a former Harvard quarterback who served as co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Wisconsin.

4. WHO’S GOING TO BE THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR?

That’s less of an issue than the offensive coordinator’s job because I can’t help but believe that Al Groh will turn to former UVa aide Mike London, a Cavalier defensive-line coach and recruiting coordinator before joining the Houston Texans’ staff at the end of the 2004 season.

Groh recently told me, if he put together a list of the 15 “best” people he knew, that London would be on it. That should answer the question of whether there were any hard feelings over London leaving last year.

My impression is that London knew of the hiring of new linebackers coach Bobby Diaco before it was consummated – a courtesy that you’d like to reserve for a new coordinator. Plus, who else that Groh could hire would have as much of a working knowledge of the 3-4.

5. WILL THE CAVALIERS RETAIN THE 3-4?

When I asked Groh the same question several weeks ago, he made a point of noting that the Cavaliers have so many different formations and packages that they frequently are NOT aligned in a 3-4 scheme.

I think Groh’s premise for using the 3-4 still makes sense. He likes the 3-4 because it enables a coach to get more of his best athletes on the field. That made a lot of sense when he had Darryl Blackstock at one of the outside positions, but there barely was enough talent at linebacker for UVa to play a 4-3 this year, much less a 3-4.

6. WHERE WILL ANTHONY POINDEXTER COACH?

Poindexter has coached wide receivers and running backs during the Groh era, but he was an All-America safety during his UVa playing days and the Cavaliers have an opening for a secondary coach, a position handled this past season by defensive coordinator Al Golden, now the head coach at Temple.

Groh always could move tight ends’ coach Bob Price to the secondary, his area of responsibility from 2001-2004, but if the Cavaliers were to hire an offensive coordinator with experience as a running-backs coach, Poindexter could move to defense.

I forget who it was who told me that the energy with which Poindexter worked the sidelines at the Music City Bowl brought chills to him, but it was hard not to notice Poindexter’s emotion.

7. WHO STARTS AT RUNNING BACK?

Groh always said that he would like to see the results if Michael Johnson ever got 200 carries in a season, but Johnson’s history suggests that he can’t possibly stay injury-free for an entire season.

Johnson did not distinguish himself as a kick-returner this year and certainly was not as impressive in that role as redshirt freshman Cedric Peerman, one of his likely rivals for the starting tailback position.

Don’t be surprised if UVa looks at Andrew Pearman, younger brother of 2004 All-ACC running back Alvin Pearman (who scored a touchdown last weekend for Jacksonville). The younger Pearman has provided a wow a day as a scout-team wideout after transferring from Hawaii.

8. WILL NATE LYLES PLAY AGAIN?

The desire is there. No one could argue that. But, will doctors recommend that Lyles give up football as he continues to undergo tests following the head injury that sidelined him in Week 9. It’s hard to get a read on that.

When another gifted safety, Willie Davis, suffered a head injury in 2003, he never returned. Anybody who saw his helmet-to-helmet hit against South Carolina could have predicted that. The play on which Lyles was hurt almost seemed routine, but his injury might have resulted from leading with his head on earlier occasions.

9. HOW WILL THE RECRUITING SEASON WRAP UP?

Two players have decommitted to Virginia since the departure of four assistants, but there have been similar developments almost every year, so some attrition is to be expected during every recruiting campaign.

I don’t see any blockbuster commitments (Jarrell Miller) on the horizon, but with 20 players currently committed, the Cavaliers seem to have more flexibility than in some years, when proximity to the 25-signee limit always seemed to be an issue.

What I’d like to know is how much involvement Diaco has had to date with such uncommitted prospects as Bayonne, N.J., wideout Kenny Britt. I found it interesting when I tried to get in touch with Groh earlier this week that he was on the road and not in the process of hiring assistant coaches.

10. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT UVA HIRES CURT NEWSOME?

Give Groh credit for bringing Newsome to Charlottesville for a pre-Christmas meeting, but it’s been nearly three weeks now and Newsome remains at James Madison, for whom he has done a fabulous job recruiting the Hampton-Newport News area.

I can understand that Groh wants to hire an offensive coordinator before filling the other offensive opening. While he did hire a defensive assistant, Diaco, I think that was with the knowledge of the likely coordinator.

When it comes time to consider Newsome again, I wonder if Newsome will still be available. Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer already has let it be known that he wants Newsome to call him before he does anything.

Tiki could be torch that burns Panthers
By FRANK DASCENZO : The Herald-Sun
fdascenzo@heraldsun.com
Jan 6, 2006 : 12:28 am ET

Memo to those who plan to tune in Sunday at 1 p.m. for the NFC Playoff game featuring the Panthers at the New York Giants: Remember Tiki Barber's tackle-breaking game against the Chiefs a few weeks back and, if you're a Carolina fan, try very hard to forget it immediately.

Barber broke away from the Chiefs like a knife going through a stick of butter. He slashed inside, outside, curving like a demon going through fire. On his 41-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, at least five Chiefs missed tackles as Barber sped down the left sideline on his way to a team-record 220 yards in the Giants' 27-17 win.

This one comes down to one factor -- stop Barber or lose.

Barber enjoyed the greatest regular season by a running back in Giants history and the 11th best in NFL history, finishing just 20 yards behind Shaun Alexander in rushing. Whenever he touches the football, the Giants season consistently has been a Barber highlight show.

In that torture of Kansas City's defense, the Giants relied on a banged-up offensive line, yet Barber still eclipsed the old single-game franchise rushing mark of 218 yards set by Gene Roberts against the Chicago Cardinals in 1950.

Nobody explained the damage better than Jared Allen, one of the Chiefs' defensive ends who said after the game: "Barber is powerful. He runs good. He's explosive. But there were so many times we had him stopped."

Right, had him but missed him. If the Panthers are caught looking at Barber's No. 21 too many times, they will be back in Charlotte quickly and thinking about the NFL draft.

Defenses have had a miserable time containing Barber at the line of scrimmage. His uncanny ability to change direction at the point of impact has allowed him to lead the NFL in runs of at least 20 yards (16) and of at least 40 yards (7). Barber had a 95-yard run last week against the Raiders.

Virginia has sent some talent into the NFL the last several years, but who has performed better than Barber, a second-round pick (36th overall) in 1997? Barber rushed for 31 touchdowns in four years in the ACC.

Size it up any way you want. Barber is a force strong enough to bust through and around a defensive front, but he's also quick and agile enough to avoid linebackers and safeties. The Giants' 422 points were the second highest in franchise history, and without Barber, that doesn't happen.

True, the Panthers are not the Kansas City Chiefs and their defense is far superior. And the Panthers are 6-1 in their last seven road games and have a defense that ranks No. 3 overall in the NFL (fourth vs. the rush, ninth vs. the pass), but the Giants rank No. 4 overall in offense (sixth rushing, 11th passing).

Another memo to Panthers fans: The Giants are 7-1 at East Rutherford, N.J., this season.

Defense, more often than not, gets the nod over offense, but this time it might be different. All factors say the Panthers can stop most offenses -- those that depend on the pass and those that rely mostly on the run.

But these Giants don't just live, and possibly die, by the pass. They hand it off to Barber (357 times this season), and they also throw it to him (54 catches, 530 yards, two touchdown receptions). For the Panthers to surive Barber is one thing, to stop the Giants' arsenal of receivers is another.

Look what Barber has added to an attack of receivers that includes tight end Jeremy Shockey (65 catches), Plaxico Burress (76) and Amani Toomer (60). Shockey, Burress and Toomer each have seven touchdown catches.

Memo to the Panthers: Bring your best defense.

 

VT fans react to Vick incident
Following are responses selected from a group of Virginia Tech fans who have agreed to contribute to a semi-regular forum. To be part of the group, e-mail Doug Doughty at doug.doughty@roanoke.com.
The Roanoke Times

QUESTION: How should Virginia Tech deal with quarterback Marcus Vick following the incident in which he kicked Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil?

Doug,

This is a completely unique situation in that it involves the brother of Tech’s most recognizable football face. If you throw that situation out the window, this is my take.

What happened on the field was an irrational, heat-of-the-moment reaction. What disturbed me the most, however, was how he later described the incident as “accidental.” It showed no remorse, and made his attempt at a locker room apology seem hollow to me. How you handle punishment is dicey. Would you get fired from work if you had a series of speeding tickets? No, but you might if your job was a school bus driver. By the same token, does a convicted criminal released from jail, having served his time, go back to the pokey for a couple of traffic violations?

I think there are two issues. At the very least Virginia Tech should take the course of action which would normally have occurred if he had been ejected from the game for taking a swing, which I believe is a suspension for the following game (i.e. the first game of ’06.) However, if that’s the only punishment he receives; the powers that be in Blacksburg are taking a sizable risk with the University’s reputation in the hands of that particular school bus driver.

ALLEN WILKERSON
Roanoke

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I believe that the unsportsmanlike conduct by Marcus Vick is a matter for Coach Beamer, Stinespring, Rogers, and Hite. It happened in the course of a very tough and dirty first half by both teams and I believe the coaching staff will take the appropriate course of disciplinary action. I believe that we are witnessing a lot of "piling on" with the media coverage and it's a golden opportunity for some to use the "Vick kick" to make some kind of negative statement about the state of Virginia Tech's program.

Virginia Tech has just completed another Top Ten finish (#7) and many would love to see their success and their image tarnished. I agree that Marcus has two incidents this year that Tech fans are ashamed of (the other being his reaction to nasty WVU fans) and I believe it needs to be addressed, but Beamer has too many other first class performances that are worthy of mention. (Cedric Humes, Jeff King, and Darryl Tapp's leadership in the GB win as examples) Their efforts are being ignored in the craze to repeat the story on the one bad point in the game. The Jimmy Williams incident is another matter and the ref handled it- that's a separate matter and one that is unfortunate for Jimmy.

These two incidents are not related and they are not reflective in the whole team's personality. This Virginia Tech team fought back from a disappointing championship game effort, and accomplished just their third 11 win season. Two plays should not dominate the news afterward. It needs to be reported and highlighted, but it does not deserve front page news on the day after the national championship game. It should also be noted that some opponents attempt to draw penalties from players like Jimmy Williams and provoke guys like Marcus during the games. Beamer does need to address this in the offseason (better composure and the ability to rise above the need to strike back in the heat of a game).. I hope that we'll be now able to recognize some of the noteworthy accomplishments of a great season and allow Coach Beamer to deal with his quarterback's behavior.

MARK EDWARDS
Smithfield

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Maybe a one-game suspension, because I feel it was provoked. Earlier in the first half, prior to the “stomping” incident, as Vick walked back to his huddle, a large Louisville paw shoved his helmet so hard his head snapped back, but there was no flag and no mention of it by the announcers. It is well known that the formula for beating the Hokies in big games is to intimidate or "punk” them. Florida State did it so successfully the Tech staff submitted over 20 questionable calls to the ACC following that game, much higher than normal. While the moral outrage posse at ESPN, WDBJ and this newspaper saddle up, it appears the rough stuff is a one-way street concerning Tech and the media: news when we do it and invisible when it's done to us.

ED STONE
Martinsville

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As a displaced Roanoker now living in Southern California, I may have a little different perspective than those living in Virginia and particularly Roanoke area. What has struck me is that no one out here said much about the Vick incident, and no one raged for instant discipline. In fact, in seems premature for any fan to suggest any course of discipline until the facts are in. Before suggesting discipline, I would like to see Coach Beamer and MV on TV explaining what happened. Was MV provoked? Did MV just lose his mind for a few seconds? What happened? THEN, we can all suggest appropriate disciple. As a postscript, it was interesting to me that neither the Louisville Courier-Journal or the school website even mentioned the incident. Thank goodness ED wasn't injured on the play.

DAN HOGAN
Orange County. Calif.

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Cheap shot. Thankfully, Elvis wasn't injured. Marcus' actions were obviously intentional despite his claims to the contrary. When Marcus was reinstated to the team we were told he was on a short leash. Accordingly, his past misconduct must be taken into account in deciding his punishment.

I am struggling with this. Part of me wants to say ENOUGH and end the embarrassment and dismiss him from the team permanently. Marcus has had his second and third chances. Another part of me thinks off-the-field and on-the-field actions are somewhat distinct and separate.

Football is a violent game. Unless you are naive, things happen all the time in the heat of battle, in the pile, on the sidelines that would be considered "dirty" but are never reported or noticed by the public. Eye pokes, spitting, punches, etc. are not at all rare, but are usually not out in the open.

While embarrassed by his actions and the negative attention, I think he should be suspended for two games next year and issue a sincere and public apology to Elvis, Louisville and VT. (The two games being the Season opener and the ACC opener...as to avoid two games at the beginning against out-of-conference cupcakes. [The ACC opener might be against Clemson for all VT knows because the ACC schedule for next year hasn't been released yet] .

BOB HICKS
Roanoke

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Very Very sad to see the spotlight back on Vick especially after the great team comeback in the game. I think a public apology (ESPN press conference variety) and let Beamer decide the punishment. I don't necessarily believe the public should be the judges and jury. As a Va. Tech fan I am thoroughly embarrassed ...I would hope Marcus is as well.

BOB VANKERCKHOVE
Roanoke
 

Next step in stomp strife, coach talks to Vick's mom
By KYLE TUCKER, The Virginian-Pilot
© January 6, 2006

Four days after the infamous Marcus Vick stomp, fan debate and discussion among Virginia Tech officials continues. While no resolution has been reached , it may be close.

“My understanding is coach (Frank) Beamer is going to meet with Marcus and his mother tomorrow,” athletic director Jim Weaver said from his home Thursday night. “Just have a meeting. There’s no timetable established whatsoever.”

Weaver’s latter comment was in reference to possible punishment for Vick, the junior quarterback who stomped on the leg of Louisville player Elvis Dumervil during Monday’s Gator Bowl victory.

“I do not believe a decision has been made at this point,” Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said Thursday night. “I think when coach looks to make decisions, he’s going to be thorough ... he’ll talk to the individuals he thinks are pertinent and then make decisions.”

Tech’s own fans have been largely critical of Vick’s behavior and harsh in their opinions on punishment — as have several national television analysts, Virginia’s governor-elect and most recently the commissioner of the ACC.

“I have had several conversations with (Weaver), regarding the Marcus Vick situation,” commissioner John Swo fford said in a release Thursday. “It is obvious to both of us that this incident was inappropriate and contrary to the standards of sportsmanship set by both Virginia Tech and the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“We will continue our conversation with Virginia Tech as the process of addressing this issue is completed.”

Vick returned to the team this year after serving a semester- and season-long suspension from Tech in the fall of 2004 for multiple legal troubles, including reckless driving, possession of marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His return was billed a “last-chance opportunity” by the school’s president.

At least two newspapers in the state reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources, that Vick would be suspended for at least one game.

“I don’t know anything about the sources,” Weaver said. “We’re not that far down the line at this juncture.”

Hokies safety Aaron Rouse, a First Colonial grad , was critical of Vick but hoped to have him back – if he changes.

“It’s not looking good,” Rouse said Thursday. “I’m not condoning what he did at all. It was wrong, but there was a lot of trash-talking, pushing and shoving, and sometimes you lose your cool.

“There’s going to be consequences, though, and he’s got to understand he’s got to be the leader of this team. He’s got to realize he’s Marcus Vick, and he’s under way more of a microscope than any of us.”
 

Did Virginia Tech bury its soul at wounded knee?
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 5, 2006
Last updated: 2:33 AM

When Marcus Vick stomped on the knee of Louisville’s Elvis Dumervil, he also came down very hard on the people at Virginia Tech who had put their faith in him.

Now Frank Beamer is being portrayed in national circles as a craven coach who places victory ahead of sportsmanship.

Beamer said he didn’t remove Vick from the Gator Bowl game because that would have punished the team.

That’s coach-speak at its worst. As a result , Beamer’s reputation is on the receiving end of more than a little punishment.

Meanwhile, Tech director of athletics Jim Weaver, another who already had given Vick a second chance after his 2004 suspension, issued a statement expressing the school’s embarrassment over the quarterback’s nationally televised cheap shot .

And yet, if truth be told, Tech risked a measure of embarrassment every time Vick stepped foot on the field and exposed the school to charges that it valued expediency over principles. They were the kind of embarrassments many top-level football programs invite and which college boosters tolerate.

It is suspected that Tech’s willingness to readmit the suspended Vick had a little something to do with the strength and accuracy of his arm and his speed afoot. Even so, when Vick returned after missing the 2004 season, after he incurred criminal punishment for marijuana possession, reckless driving and contributing to the delinquency of three underage girls, even some rabid Hokies fans must have harbored reservations.

Now, many who held their breath are venting their anger and calling for Vick’s dismissal. Even Gov. -elect Tim Kaine, a Hokies fan, has been heard. The incident, he said, “just really made my heart sink.”

Kaine stopped short of suggesting a punishment for Vick, but many critics aren’t as restrained.

Chatter about Tech has been all over ESPN. On Wednesday’s “Pardon the Interruption,” Tony Kornheiser compared Beamer’s program to East Germany, a country whose identity revolved around winning. A school just can’t buy that kind of publicity.

In another era, Vick’s expulsion would be a no-brainer. His assault on Dumervil was his fourth or maybe even fifth strike. But some of our college football factories, in case you hadn’t noticed, want it both ways. They preach sportsmanship and class even as they fill their lineups with ticking time bombs .

The first-quarter ejection of All-American cornerback Jimmy Williams for bumping an official who attempted to break up one of his trash-talking orgies was another uneasy moment for Tech. But just as mortifying for Hokie Nation, let’s hope, was Williams’ cavalierly announcing after the game that he was blowing off the rest of the school year.

“Um, I’m done,” he said. “It’s a wrap for me.”

Now the question is, should it be a wrap for Vick? Dumping the quarterback would immediately improve Tech’s image and silence critics. But getting rid of Vick would greatly hurt chances of reaching a BCS bowl next season. Under those circumstances, what do you think Beamer will suggest?

Chat-room bloodhounds cite a statement Tech president Charles Steger made upon Vick’s return from suspension: “If there is any more trouble,” said Steger, “his Virginia Tech career is effectively ended.”

But did he mean trouble on the field? Or only off? The president’s statement is ambiguous enough to offer Tech wiggle room.

To the detriment of his own and the team’s image, Beamer clearly wasn’t tough enough on Vick. Perhaps his quarterback would have demonstrated better self-control in the Gator Bowl had he been disciplined after giving a middle-finger salute to West Virginia fans earlier in the season.

That, too, was an embarrassment that Beamer, Weaver and the Tech administration tolerated. Another embarrassment, like so many that go into the building of an ambitious program.

Reach Bob at 757-446-2373 or bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com
 

Tech will suspend Vick
The quarterback stomped on a Louisville player's leg during Monday's Gator Bowl.
By Norm Wood
nwood@dailypress.com | 247-4642
January 5, 2006, 6:22 PM EST

Virginia Tech will suspend quarterback Marcus Vick for an undetermined number of games next season if he returns to school, according to two sources within the athletic department who wished to remain anonymous. The suspension is the result of Vick stomping on a Louisville player's leg in the first half of Monday's Gator Bowl.

Tech coach Frank Beamer will be in the Hampton Roads area Friday and will meet with Brenda Boddie, Vick's mother, and Vick to discuss the player's options. If Vick doesn't accept the suspension, he will either have to transfer to another school or turn pro.

In order to gain immediate eligibility next season by transferring, he'd have to go to a Division I-AA or lower level school. Vick said at a press conference Dec. 29 that he doesn't plan to enter the National Football League Draft in April.

Earlier this week, Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver said he was embarrassed by quarterback Vick's "unacceptable" actions and promised to further review the situation.

This is latest controversy for Vick, a junior who is a Warwick High graduate and the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

He was convicted on Aug. 3, 2004 of reckless driving and marijuana possession. The same day, Virginia Tech suspended him for the fall 2004 semester.

Tech suspended Vick for the 2004 season because of the August convictions and because he was convicted in May 2004 on three charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The charges stemmed from a Jan. 27, 2004 incident at Vick's Blacksburg apartment. The incident involved three teenage girls, Vick and teammates Brenden Hill and Mike Imoh.

Vick appealed those charges, which were merged into one charge for a plea agreement that let him avoid 30 days in jail.

Vick, 21, re-enrolled at Tech in January 2005. He won the starting job and led the Hokies to an 11-2 season, which ended with a 35-24 win over Louisville in Jacksonville, Fla.

For the season, his first as a full-time starter, Vick completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,393 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

During a game at West Virginia on Oct. 1, Vick flipped his middle finger to fans behind Tech's sideline.

He apologized in a statement the next day. "What I did was wrong and I am sorry," he said. "My goal is to be the leader of this team and do things the right way."

Vick's options spelled out
He will be suspended for at least one game if he returns next season
BY MIKE HARRIS
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Jan 6, 2006

The fate of Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick should be known soon.

Three sources told The Times-Dispatch yesterday that if Vick is on the team in 2006, he will be suspended for at least one game.

Vick, the 2005 all-ACC quarterback, wasn't called for a penalty when he stomped on the leg of Louisville's Elvis Dumervil after a second-quarter play in the Hokies' Gator Bowl victory Monday. But the incident was caught on video and drew a rebuke from Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver.

Tech coach Frank Beamer will meet with Vick and his mother today in the Tidewater area - Vick is from Newport News - to explain two options and offer a third for Vick, the sources said.

He can renounce his final year of eligibility and turn pro, something Vick said he wouldn't do in an interview before the Gator Bowl. He would need to declare his intentions to turn pro by Jan. 15.

He can transfer to a Division I-AA school for the final year of his eligibility. He would be immediately eligible.

He can accept a suspension - likely only one game but maybe more - at the start of next season with the understanding that one more on-field or off-field incident would result in dismissal from the team.

Two of the sources said Vick may even be required to sit out spring practice, though that hasn't been determined.

Beamer was not available for comment yesterday. Weaver said "there's nothing new to report" and said the next step wouldn't be complete for a couple of days.

"When you discipline your kids," Weaver said, "you talk to them first."

Vick was suspended from school for the fall semester in 2004 after a series of legal troubles and reinstated with the knowledge that further trouble would lead to his dismissal. Earlier in the 2005 season, he was caught flipping an obscene gesture toward the stands at West Virginia on Oct. 1.

Also yesterday, ACC Commissioner John Swofford released a statement on the Vick situation.

"I have had several conversations with Virginia Tech Athletics Director, Jim Weaver, regarding the Marcus Vick situation that occurred in the Toyota Gator Bowl. It is obvious to both of us that this incident was inappropriate and contrary to standards of sportsmanship set by both Virginia Tech and the Atlantic Coast Conference," the statement said. "We will continue our conversation with Virginia Tech as the process of addressing this issue is completed."
 

Beamer must put his foot down
BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Jan 6, 2006

Frank Beamer has a big problem, and it's not close to being restricted to one bad-actor quarterback. Marcus Vick is Virginia Tech's renegade du jour. Beamer's reputation and the fabric of his football program are the larger and long-term issues.

The ripple effects from Vick's foot stomp to the leg of a fallen Louisville player continue to pool toward Beamer's office in the Jamerson Center. The incident occurred four days ago. It's not going away. Vick will either be banished, disciplined or soft-pedaled. Sooner or later, he'll fade from Tech's depth chart.

The pall he helped create will linger.

Unless Beamer takes action to remove it.

Consider two random observations: "Just wanted to let you know that some Hokie fans are way beyond patience now and not willing to chase national college football prominence at all costs." And: "For $2,000,000 a year, Beamer is obligated to do more than provide histrademark PC response regarding the disciplinary problems in the program."

Those are excerpts from a couple of the 125-some e-mails I've answered from the Gator Bowl's fallout.

I asked our associate sports editor if there was room in the budget for a secretary. She smiled and turned me down. Too bad Beamer and Tech's honchos didn't deal with Marcus Vick so conclusively two years ago.

Here's another selection: "Do they put pride, dignity and honor above football or is it time for the alumni to figure out how far we have fallen?" That one from a Class of '55 grad.

See, this is about more than Marcus Vick. This is about Tech being whistled for 17 penalties in the ACC championship game against Florida State. This is about the Hokies following that dubious performance with five personal-foul flags in the first half alone against Louisville. This is about Beamer and his assistants ranting at officials during those high-profile games.

This is about our governor-elect being forced at a news conference to respond to a question about Vick's act (Tim Kaine said it "made my heart sink" - his comment made the national wires).

This is about the head of the Big 12 officiating crew that called the Gator Bowl saying of Tech's players, "Those kids were just completely out of control."

Look, Frank Beamer has done wonders in Blacksburg. He inherited a program hamstrung by NCAA probation and guided it to national prominence. He's won conference championships. He's taken the Hokies to 13 consecutive bowls.

He's not a rogue. He's an alumnus himself and surely wants the best for his school. But the perception is growing out there - Darryl Tapps and Jeff Kings notwithstanding - that he oversees a soiled, nasty-streak product that's veered off the tracks. If he's not decisive and vigilant, that'll stain his legacy.

Bobby Bowden. Say the name, and what comes to mind? Two national titles? Top-five campaigns? Or the folksy permissiveness that's stamped FSU with the image of a halfway house for misbehaving louts? Is that how Beamer wants to be sized up? Not likely.

A theory. Tech got good by chasing and catching Miami in the Big East - by snatching some of the Hurricanes' swagger and edginess and putting a maroon-and-orange tint on it. Tech vaulted into the big-time. But it also experienced a spate of law-breaking in the'90s that prompted another governor's involvement. Now, with other missteps along the way, comes the latest.

"Our good image has been tarnished over the years by 'thugs' who call themselves athletes . . . "wrote a Class of'70 alum. I would rather finish the year at 4-8 with a classy, hard-playing fair team than at 10-3 with the likes of Marcus Vick."

You can come reasonably close to having both. It's up to Beamer to balance the equation.