Jan. 6, 2006 - I do not envy Jim Weaver. He is mulling over, probably the most defining decision of his administration as athletics director at Virginia Tech - What will become of Marcus Vick.

By now you’ve probably seen the infamous “stomp” video in which Vick intentionally stomps on the knee of prone Louisville defensive lineman Elvis Dumervil. It was one of those rare, incredibly overt acts of stupidity and aggression that the sports world only sees once in a blue moon.

It was so obvious, I just kind of stared at the television and thought, “Oh dear Lord, did he really do that on national TV?” I realized after seeing the replay a couple of times that it was going to cost Virginia Tech dearly, well after the game was over. Unfortunately, I was right.

Since the Gator Bowl ended with Virginia Tech coming from behind to win 35-24, the talk has not focused around the great play in the fourth quarter, but instead about how Virginia Tech has sold its soul for football glory and that Tech players are all thugs.

Like many Tech alums, I am outraged, but not because of Vick’s actual transgression, but for the long-term damage he’s caused to the image of my alma mater and its football program. Tech is getting hammered in the press with sports reporters across the dial in both radio and television ripping on Frank Beamer, Vick, Weaver and the entire Tech athletic department. I can’t tell you how many times people have asked me what I thought about Vick’s actions simply because they know I’m a graduate and diehard fan.

If you haven’t read Will Stewart’s column, you should. It speaks to the incident on many levels, most of which I agree with. However, I respectfully disagree with him on one issue; that players like Vick, Jim Druckenmiller, George DelRicco and other past Hokies who have run afoul of the law and brought shame on our school’s good name will always be there. That may be true, but they don’t have to play for Virginia Tech. Is winning really that important? I seem to recall Penn State having a great year with a bunch of quality players and people. Notre Dame has a pretty impressive year too. You don’t hear about their players pulling crap like this and when they do, the schools have always put the university’s and program’s reputations ahead of the individuals and dealt with them quickly and decisively. Tech should take notes.

Tech has reached the upper echelon of college football. We are contenders every year and it’s time for us to be more selective with the quality of players we recruit. Not just the quality of athlete, but the quality of the person. I hate to say it, but Tech’s team this year reminds me of Butch Davis’s Miami teams of the mid 90s - a bunch of thugs who will win games, but don’t represent the school in a positive light.

But that’s the sad part; Tech only has a few players who can’t seem to get right. Vick and Jimmy Williams are the top two offenders. Williams with his constant arm flapping and trash talking and Vick with his bird flipping and foot stomping. They also happen to be two of the team’s best players. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. They are two high profile athletes that get a ton of camera time and therefore, people associate and apply their behavior to all Tech football players. Unfair and unfortunate, but perception, my friends, is reality. And the perception today, is that Tech recruits classless thugs. Reality? No, not at all. But we’re not talking reality, we’re talking perception. And perception goes a long way in the realm of public image.

If you’ve ever played high school or college sports, you know that tempers can run pretty hot and sometimes, even the most sportsmanlike athletes can lose their cool. I’m guilty of it. I’ve taken a couple of cheap shots on the playing field and if you know me, the incidents were totally out of character. It’s inevitable. I don’t fault Vick for losing his cool, it happens. But when it happens on a national stage and you’re representing not only your teammates, but tens of thousands of alums and the image of the school, there are consequences that you need to prepared to accept.

Will mentioned that Beamer develops personal relationship with his players and therefore has a tough time disciplining them when the time calls for it. I understand and appreciate that. Weaver is going to have to be the bad cop in this situation and he’s walking a very fine line - does an on-the-field transgression count as a final straw for a rocky past that consists of off-the-field incidents? Good luck, Jim, you are in a lose-lose situation. If you don’t punish him, Tech will take a tougher beating. If you do, you set a dangerous precedent and you lose a star player for however long you suspend him.

So why did it even get to this point? One of Tech’s defensive leaders, Darryl Tapp, has been a model citizen for how a Tech football player should represent himself, his team and his school. Why didn’t the leaders on this squad pull these guys aside and say, “Listen, this is our team, our school, and I will not have you showboating and costing this team on or off the field. Get your head right or we’ll do it for you.” Sometimes being a good friend and teammate means doling out some tough love.

Bryan Randall. Remember him? He led Tech to an ACC title, won ACC player of the year honors and was about as nice a kid as you could have asked for on a team. He wasn’t as highly recruited as Vick, but he was unquestionably more successful and do you think it had something to do with his attitude? His teammates respected him. They killed themselves for him. I don’t get that same sense with Vick. To this day, I’d take a Bryan Randall over Vick any day of the week and twice on Saturday. Why? Because I’d rather go 8-4 and be considered a class program than go 11-2 and be called “Thug U.”

So now what? What will Jim Weaver do to Marcus Vick. I think if you’re Weaver you have to think long term. And while you may set a dangerous precedent by suspending, or even kicking Vick off the team for good, he has to consider the long term public relations factor. Weaver needs to be strong and decisive. He needs to send a message to the world and to future Hokie football players with a message that I hope will look something like this:

“Marcus Vick will not play for Virginia Tech next season. His career here is done. Marcus is a great athlete and did some great things for this program, including leading this team to an 11-2 season. But his off-the-field problems combined with his on-the-field incidents this past season have not represented this team or this University in the manner we require of our athletes. We thank Marcus for his contribution and wish him the best. We have no doubt that he will find success at the next level.

“Additionally, let me make it clear, to everyone, that Virginia Tech, myself and Head Coach Frank Beamer; will never put a single player above the integrity of this program or this great University. We owe that much to the players of the past who have helped put Virginia Tech on the map, and to the thousands of Tech fans who take pride in this program.”

As I said, Weaver is in a no-win situation. Either way, this program suffers. It’s just a matter of the greater good. There’s more at stake here than one player’s future. Weaver holds the future of this program in the palm of his hand. His decision will have a lasting and defining impact on the future of Tech football. Take a deep breath and hold on, it could be a bumpy ride.

Now a few words from an old school college football fan and long-time Hokie supporter … my old man, retired U.S. Air Force Major Bill Cope:

“Agree … Vick’s actions were inexcusable, but probably more disgusting to the Hokie faithful than the country as a whole. Consider: I live in Tennessee and read in the paper everyday about the GREAT Big Orange football program (a.k.a. Tennessee). This happens to be a program that usually has more felons than graduates. And the same sports writers around the nation only talk about their talent, not their arrests records. After all, if Vick had been playing for Tennessee, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, Miami (in past years), he wouldn’t have even been sent home last season. As for the media frenzy, I figure it’s the same old agenda: 1) Big “name”, so make a big deal out of it; 2) Beamer and VT are a “class act” compared to 98 percent of the rest, and the media is always looking to take down the “good guys.” So, sit Vick down for a game next year (or suspend him RETROACTIVELY as Tennessee did with a couple guys this year) and tell the media to “get over it” because we’re not playing their game!

VT has built a quality program and at this point, I don’t think a couple of incidents by a couple of ‘mental midgets’ every four or five years qualifies them for the “Thug U” label. Keep the faith  Hokie Nation; there are a lot of universities, college presidents,  ADs, and fans that would love to have the Hokie football program!”

Well said, pop!