August 23, 2007

Virginia Tech Stands By Michael Vick

A framed portrait of Michael Vick hangs beside the entrance to Michael Vick Hall, the football meeting rooms in Virginia Tech’s Merryman Athletic Center. Over the football stadium flies a banner bearing his No. 7, along with 10 other retired numbers, to honor the star quarterback, who in 1999 led the Hokies to an 11-0 regular season.

On Monday that same star quarterback said through a lawyer that he would plead guilty to federal dog-fighting charges, an admission that is likely to lead to prison time and could end his lucrative pro-football career. But Tech officials said they had no plans to remove the emblems honoring their football hero, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“Michael Vick earned those honors when he was an undergraduate, long before the dog-fighting activities,” said Jim Weaver, Tech’s athletic director. “I don’t think it should impact his name and picture remaining on that door.”

Mr. Weaver said he had received about a dozen telephone calls and e-mail messages asking him to take down the images. But he said he planned to stand by his man. —Lauren Smith

Comments

1. Uh-huh. Too bad Virgina Tech (and the rest of higher education) doesn’t equally lionize students who are academic and/or cultural achievers. Perhaps this and other quandaries like it would be reduced.

   — barbara    Aug 23, 03:36 PM    #

2. That’s unfortunate that VT is going to stand by something that is so cruel and inhumane. What Michael Vick did was cruel and just plain sick. How can anyone support such a person who thinks that its ok to kill animals because they don’t perform to the expectation that is placed on them?

   — Kate Crawford    Aug 23, 03:39 PM    #

3. Ethics training for all students should be mandatory…. he is a shame to the university.

   — alum    Aug 23, 03:43 PM    #

4. This is one of the least logical things I’ve ever heard. By keeping it up there, VT is saying that it is STILL proud of him. Maybe his number should remain retired, but to keep up the photo and not take away the honor of the dedcated room makes a statement about VT’s values at a time when they should be especially aware of the messages they send.

   — Dave    Aug 23, 03:43 PM    #

5. Not surprising. Virginia Tech is coming off as pretty uncaring on all fronts. This is truly appalling.

   — Rebecca    Aug 23, 03:54 PM    #

6. I don’t see anything inappropriate in their honoring Vick. He was (and is) an extraordinary athlete, and his achievements at VT pre-dated his later deeds. Re-hashing old complaints about academics vs. athletics is not not relevant to this situation.

   — Al    Aug 23, 03:57 PM    #

7. Yep the power of the dollar certainly outweighs the power of proper. You can retire his number but pull down the iconic signage.

   — cliff    Aug 23, 04:06 PM    #

8. Vick has committed crimes of a degenerate nature — crimes where the only reward to the criminal is inflicting cruel torture on animals. Weaver’s cluelessness in the face of this depraved behavior is sad. Let us hope the President or other university officer has the decency to overrule this decision.

   — Hugh    Aug 23, 04:09 PM    #

9. I predict that we’ll read a story in less than a week that the portrait will be gone.

   — Alan    Aug 23, 04:28 PM    #

10. Who can say that his dogfighting activities were all after his playing days at Virginia Tech? Maybe the recent activities upon which the charges are based were only the tip of the iceberg.

    — Karen    Aug 23, 04:33 PM    #

11. Ethics will probably not prevail, but marketing strategy will. In the end, Vick’s image will be seen as a detriment and removed. It does beg the question, at what point does criminal activity outweigh athletic accomplishment? Does USC still publicly honor OJ Simpson?

    — John    Aug 23, 04:37 PM    #

12. VA TECH took a stand far too early in this controversy. Their best bet by far would have been to say nothing unless it was to say they were not taking any action at this time. They could then make a fair, well reasoned decision that reflected the will of their students and alumni. Why the rush to commit either way?

    — Martha    Aug 23, 04:39 PM    #

13. I can think of a whole range of offenses that have been committed by athletes and other folks and no charge was lead to eradicate the names from university campuses. George Wallace, former governor in Alabama, firmly supported segregation and condoned large-scale violence against African Americans for years. His name remains on at least one building that I’m aware of. No one called for its removal and I think he truly condoned crimes against humanity.

    While I’m a dog lover, I think too much attention has been focused on this incident in lieu of the numbers of atrocities committed routinely against children and women.

    The incident with Michael Vick, while I don’t condone it, doesn’t approach the type of degenerate behavior that our country and individual members perpetrate daily.

    In an era where our prisons are the most inhumane, our social services fail to protect children, people are without health care and exist on a wage that doesn’t approach livability, I think there are so many other things that I can use my outrage for.

    — Kimberly    Aug 23, 05:02 PM    #

14. I hope Va Tech has also honored Vick’s brother Marcus with similar emblems. He too had a standout career that included multiple run-ins with the law. BTW, did Michael Vick actually graduate from Va Tech? (not that there would be anything to his degree should he have attained it)

    — George    Aug 23, 05:15 PM    #

15. Just curious — what has USC done about OJ?

    — Roger    Aug 23, 05:21 PM    #

16. Vick will get his due in court for what he has done. He deserves it. But, it is absurd to wipe the rest of his personal and public history. One should be a little more discerning. I think most people would be in trouble if one serious error was to wipe out all that they have accomplished. Get real.

    — David    Aug 23, 05:22 PM    #

17. I applaud VA Tech’s AD for “standing by his man” at a time when it is most needed. I do not condone Mr. Vick’s participation in a very inhumane act of animal cruelty; but I also highly disapprove of hunters shooting deers in order to collect their antlers as trophies, or shooting ducks for sports. Is there a difference? Inhumane acts against animals are happening everyday and not just in Mr. Vick’s back yard.

    — Lavern    Aug 23, 05:49 PM    #

18. FYI, Roger, USC’s Black Alumni Association still honors OJ as the Heisman Trophy winner. But, of course the difference is that OJ was acquitted by a jury of his peers of a double murder; Vick has pleaded guilty.

    — wayne    Aug 23, 09:01 PM    #

19. I fully Support Virginia Tech. Mr. Vick seems to have made a terrible mistake. A creative way to remedy this situation could be to have him give 5% of his net income (after taxes) to reputable organizations catering to the needs of dogs across the country, including police departments. I know that many lifes of dogs will be not only saved but also made worth-living. A probation could allowed this HUMANE solution to an unfortunate situation. The NFL should seriously consider this solution, in addition to judges and juries who may be involved. May God bless Mr. Vick, Virginia Tech, and this country.

    — Diola Hogon    Aug 23, 09:09 PM    #

20. What if he had committed murder or child molestation. The honor was bestowed before this occurred. Is there nothing that would require the removal of these honors from VaTech’s public display of approval?

    — Ric    Aug 23, 09:48 PM    #

21. Did Vick actually graduate from VT or did they just house and feed him for a couple of years while he got his degree in football (and made a lot of money for VT)? I suppose that honoring him is the least they can do considering all the money he brought into the football program. Never mind that he’s a convicted felon. Want to know why there are so many ignorant thugs in the NFL? Look no further than the way these “football” schools, recruit and coddle big ticket atheletes.

    — John    Aug 23, 10:42 PM    #

22. In regards to hunters’ offenses vs. Michael Vick’s: Since when did bears, elk, and deer throw their lot in with humanity? Canines are domesitcated; trophy animals are not. Granted trophy hunting is not particularly attractive, but it does not consititute a betrayal of the compact our ancestors made with wild dogs.

    — Shawna Hanel    Aug 23, 11:12 PM    #

23. Virginia Tech is making a big mistake by supporting Michael Vick, a criminal and a shame to humanity. VT administrators did not learn a lesson. Shame on the administrators and supporters of this criminal.

    — Kan Chandras    Aug 23, 11:42 PM    #

24. I agree with comment # 13 by Kimberly. There are much worth things going on to be outraged about. The humor newspaper Funny Times has a sad item to the effect that something would be done about the atrocities in Darfur if puppies were being murdered there instead of people. There is a lot of misery in this country and around the world caused by “respectable” people who deserve to have their actions, and their values scrutinized. Mr. Vick is no doubt a troubled person. I hope he gets help wherever he goes, and I hope he uses his notoriety to do some good in the world. PJT

    — Philip J Tramdack    Aug 24, 07:28 AM    #

25. I take issue with the headline of this piece, which is very misleading. VT is not “standing by” or supporting Vick’s criminal acts. The items recognizing him are on athletic facilities and are for achievements made years ago. Previous commenters seem to fail to understand this, or fail to understand that current events do not wipe out history.

    — fac    Aug 24, 07:53 AM    #

26. Vick never graduated from Tech nor did his brother who was suspended for a year for criminal activity. Tecy did everything possible to save Vick’s brother for the football team. He …. underage girls in his room and Tech said, “we have to let the legal process run.”
    MVick attended very few classes but Tech is so proud of him because they won a few ballgames while he was there. No wonder Tech thinks not taking measures to protect students even after 30 are killed on campus by a gunman. Man, they need Vick worse than those murdered students.

    — russell james    Aug 24, 08:03 AM    #

27. One wonders if Michael Vick would apply the same standards to himself and his football teammates as he did to the unfortunate dogs? If they had a bad day, they would be drowned or hanged. Now that would be incentive to perform better, wouldn’t it?

    — Sandy Thatcher    Aug 24, 08:57 AM    #

28. Are they still looking for Nixon’s portrait at Duke Law School? I think someone removed it suspiciously in the wake of Watergate. I’m not making a suggestion or anything.

    — Ross Lenhart    Aug 24, 09:10 AM    #

29. I think that he should be invited to speak at VT and explain his actions. He needs to give us a reason to still be proud of him. If he has recognized through all this that what he was doing was wrong, and becomes an advocate against dogfighting, then I would be proud of him. Honestly, if he changes his ways, someone like him can really help change the dogfighting culture.

    _{VT Class 2007}

    — Sara Haden    Aug 24, 09:33 AM    #

30. Virginia Tech is not responsible for Vick’s future actions. They don’t remove the disgrace of their well known alumni whether they keep it up or take it down. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that the image of athletics keeps going down and the image of higher education is going down with the athletes. Something much more basic and systemic needs to be done. Taking down a picture or leaving it up will do only one think. It will make everyone go bloggy

    — Paul N. Deputy    Aug 24, 09:43 AM    #

31. I believe that justice is better served by requiring Mr. Vick to use a percentage of his personal earnings rather than prison. I call him Mr. Vick because he is a human being who has made a terrible mistake. His mistake does not erase his achievements nor his abilities; his mistake should not erase his memory either.

    — Sherry Ann    Aug 24, 09:49 AM    #

32. If someone could do this sort of torturous act to an animal, they could do it to a human!

    — Bea Fernandez    Aug 24, 10:05 AM    #

33. Using the logic of some of the comments, why not start really cleaning house by removing Thomas Jefferson’s image and name from everything in this country, including renaming his African American slave descended relatives. Is that the direction we need to go, or is this idea only relevant when it’s a person of color who behaves badly? Several of the comments are well-thought out and balanced, but most of these comments make my stomach turn,... I don’t condone bad behavior, by anyone towards animals or persons, but why do we jump all over bad acting people of color and compare them to other people of color who have done totally different bad acts? Why are majority people treated as individuals, and people of color treated as a group? This is what I see in most of the comments.

    — Joy    Aug 24, 02:45 PM    #

34. I agree with Joy. These comments churn my stomach! The same people calling Vick names and putting him down are showing their own cruel sides. What about a little humanity and compassion? Where is the outrage about what is happening TODAY in Darfur? What about New Orleans? Have we arrived at a state where we value animals move than people? What if Vick were White?

    — Kinaya Sokoya    Aug 24, 03:26 PM    #

35. Humanity? Compassion? Vick did not seem to show those qualities when he chose to execute dogs and engage in a dog fighting ring. I have yet to hear he is even remorseful. I don’t believe this is about race but about the fact that Vick is a very prominent athlete who should be acting as an example to American youth and all those who have chosen to cheer him on. He has disappointed those individuals as well as himself and the VT community. Until there is even a hint at his reform, I don’t believe he is worthy of still being honored by VT.

    — MC    Aug 24, 04:38 PM    #

36. Vick’s skin color has NOTHING to do with my disgust for his behavior! AND, assuming that the same people (self included) who are outraged by the abuse of animals are not also outraged by the abuse of people in Darfur, New Orleans, etc, is a poor attempt at trying to confuse the issue. ALL abuses against humans and animals are unjust and all need to be confronted and stopped. M. Vick made some very poor choices and is being forced to face the consequences of his behavior.

    — Katie    Aug 24, 04:42 PM    #

37. the bottom line is that mr. vick did someting awful. however, i’m not sure any of you can explain sensibly the diffidence between hanging a dog and slautering a pig, goat or deer. there is no difference and for us to kid ourselves is somting less than honest. So, for yoiu racist out there kiss my azz!

    — cat    Aug 24, 06:45 PM    #

38. kate anyone home up there?

    “face the consequence” are you mad?
    people have served less thime in jail for manslaughter and murder

    — cat    Aug 24, 06:47 PM    #

39. Not sure who ‘cat’ is, but sure can’t spell and certainly can not participate in an intellectual debate…that much HAS been proven.

    — Katie    Aug 24, 11:09 PM    #

40. “Cat” and “Joy” should try to understand and then appreciate the differences between legal and moral issues. Thomas Jefferson did not break the law by owning slaves. Vick did break the law. Lately people in this country seem to be getting comfortable with the idea of trying to defend criminal behavior by applying some mitigating moral or cultural slant. If we don’t like a law, whether it governs immigration, drugs, or dog fighting, we as citizens can act to change it. But once an existing law is broken, whether by a high profile athlete or millions of othewise honest people just looking for work, or a purple midget, the violators must pay the penalty as prescribed by law in spite of what any offended or outraged grievance group, big or small, has to say about it. A state cannot survive if the enforcement of its existing laws rests on popular opinion.

    — Paul    Aug 26, 02:47 PM    #

41. I support VT standing by Michael Vick. Way to go! He made a terrible mistake and is suffering the consequences of his actions. Let’s move on.

    — Lisa    Aug 27, 09:57 AM    #

42. As one of the nearly 36 million African American descendants of slaves, this aspect of the Vick scandal is amusing at-best and a reminder of white bigotry at worst.

    I do quite a bit of business in Washington DC. Indeed, one of my children attends college there. I walked the memorial left to honor Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington. Each time I walk away with mixed feelings that many blacks no-doubt share. These vicious slave-trading figures, engaged in the most vile of all human horrors. They trades in human lives. Yet, their figures and names are affixed to our currency. We have monuments erected in their honor. They are attributed with mythical virtues they did not posses in-reality. And yet, they remain honored.

    How about the nation, and particularly white America, spend some time examining its Founding Fathers. Do your inventory, with this outcome in mind, “To demolish all vestiges of honor where such persons engaged in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, certain an institution more pathetic than that which PETA denounces.”

    White folks have seem to be immune to their sins. Indeed, you get joy out of killing innocent people of Arab descent. Have a history of immoral interventions in the affairs of sovereign nations. At your hands, not one but two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. The sins of your father make this Vick thing look miniscule.

    You look the other way as Iraqi babies and elderly women have their faces scorched and limbs dismembered as a result of US bombs. No outcry there. Hell, they’re just brown Muslims, and we “the white-skinned” chosen of God.

    In-fact, if you really cared about the common sanctity of life, then you and PETA should be on a state-by-state crusade to end the shooting of deer, bear, and other animals where such actions are done not for food, but to mount their stuffed heads on your hunting trophy walls.

    White folk, all that false self-righteousness over Vick might help you massage your guilt, but others are looking – including God Himself.

    Sincerely,
    REALITY CHECK

    — Nicholas Taylor    Aug 28, 06:37 AM    #

43. Mike is a talented football player. what he did off field is completly different and shouldn’t be put in his football carrer. so in my opinion people need to shut the h**l up about how his football (again on field not off) carrer is over. youre talking about a 27 year old guy who at the most will get 5 yrs in jail. so it’s not like he’s done entirerly. He said he was sorry and took full responsability for what has happened. I think he deserves a second chance. and one more thing i just want to let everybody know i am white, so just to let u know not all white people hate Mike Vick, he is by far my favorite NFL player no matter what he has done. He said he was sorry, he took full responsability and didn’t point the finger at anybody but himself, and for that he deserves a second chance and his memorable football carrer should be remembered for ever.

    — bill    Aug 30, 02:46 AM    #

44. VT Tech is wrong here. Vick actually started into dog fighting while he was still in school. As for what he does off the field not affecting what he did on it that is just naive. He still faces potential charges in VA, SC, possibly in MD and North Carolina as well. If VA decides to bring all the potential counts of animal cruelty Vick will face the possibility of 40 years or more. I am from VA and the stories about Vick’s bad behavior both at VA Tech and since then are not exactly news – it’s only news that it took this long to catch up to him. He’s nothing, but a thug who thinks he is better then everyone and above the law.

    — Bill T    Aug 30, 09:06 PM    #

45. if Vick stays so prevalent in the VT halls, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa should be voted to the baseball Hall of Fame.

    — mike    Sep 2, 06:06 PM    #

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