Recent Comments
Thank You! I've been saying for years he just ran backwards into the ref. I remember the refs after that game talking about how our defense was out of control and they dont have stuff like that in the Big 10 (they were a big ten crew) etc etc etc, fucking please. Anyways, watching whats his name from Bama actually shove a ref after he hit Ryan Williams late in ATL, and not get kicked out, I said to myself "Jimmy Williams got screwed."
As far as Marcus goes, dudes an embarrasment case closed, what a waste of talent.
I am going to stick my neck out and say this, but please be merciful. Am I the only one who doesn't think Marcus Vick belongs in the 9th circle with Adolph Hitler?
I get that he has made, and continues to make seriously bad choices. DWI was inexcusable and he paid the price for it, but lots of kids make that mistake and move on. I don't believe anything else he did was that bad. Is there something else he did that I'm missing? Waving the gun at McDonalds was terrible but he was off the team at that point.
He was under more scrutiny that probably any player in the history of college football. He got Duke Lacrossed as soon as he got to campus, and the only thing he got convicted of was having underage people at his party with alcohol, which literally every college student has done. He flicked off all of WVU after some fans poured a coke on his head, but I actually thought that was awesome.
The leg stomp against Dumervil I also don't think was that bad. Dumervil was playing dirty all game, aiming for Marcus' knees and hitting him borderline late and not getting flagged for it. Marcus retaliated, just like a baseball pitcher throws at a guy to protect his teammates. Players of all sports (ESPECIALLY football) do similar stuff all the time and as long as they're not trying to injure someone I think it's fair game. The only thing he was guilty of was maybe being too obvious about it, but recall it didn't even draw a flag in the game. The refs just let that game get out of hand (but tossed Jimmy Williams for walking backwards into an official).
And that stomp was really what got him thrown out. Technically they said it was for a speeding ticket, but we all really know it was that. I was disappointed that they chose to kick him off the team for that and I think they would have been national champions in 06 if he had stayed. You show his stat line against Miami, but how about West Virginia? They were also a top rated team and he absolutely shredded them. He had some great scrambles too, and I remember him decleating a WVU DB at the sideline. I would have him at #4 even though personally I like Randall and even Glennon better. And he could have been #1 or 2 with another season.
Great read! I wish you had a number for heart, as Al Clark was so beat up during the '98 season, it is amazing he even played one game. I'm sure the dude has pains every day from that one season.
And speaking of Slowikowski, he lived in my townhouse the year before me. One August morning, I hear somebody come through the backdoor. Who was it? Slowikowski. He was seeing if any mail had come from him. Guess knocking on the front door made too much sense.
no, we get recruits because our HC wears overpriced headphones. That is what's hot on the streets today.
...the Richard Johnson 2-point conversion to tie it up.
I agree with what Joe is saying, but that might be a product of having been in Blacksburg for '04 and all of Tyrod's career. And while Glennon may be reviled, I'd argue there is a certain level of contempt reserved only for Marcus Vick. Not only did his antics reflect poorly upon the school, but let's be real: with him at QB in 2006, Tech is a national title contender. The WR corps (Royal, Hymen, Morgan, and Harper) would all be returning, along with a defense that was loaded with ballistic missiles. That '06 squad COULD have been the best team Tech ever had...if Marcus was holding the reins, not Sean.
**DISCLAIMER: Yes, my twitter avatar is Marcus Vick, but only because I love those orange-sleeved Pro Combats from '05 (I might be the only one).**
1. I love that anyone named Slowikowski (gotta be one of the greatest football names ever) gets more than one mention in a post about QB's.
2. Re: the first ACC team: I remember hearing that the motto of the entire team that year (which I understand they broke every huddle with) was "DOMINATE!".....this was because nobody seemed to want us in the ACC. Nothing like playing with a chip on your shoulder. After getting knocked around by Clempsum last year, maybe this year's Hokies can use similar inspiration.
Great write-up. Small factual error re: Michael, though. He did not start the 2000 game vs. Miami. Meyer started and played the 1st three series before being pulled for an obviously gimpy Vick... after he was ineffective and turned the ball over twice, Meyer went back in.
20-1 is Vick's actual record as a starter.
Things I remember.
- Seeing a friend while walking across the Drillfield to Lane and being offered, then swigging back cheap bourbon.
- Coming out flat. It was the week following the NC State loss, a, "here we go again," moment.
- The sun-shower waking Lane, and the team up.
- Victory.
- Sad WVU fans.
I believe you failed to mention Marcus' game in Morgantown. That was one of the best performances by a Tech QB ever, and it was WVU's only loss in a year when they beat GA in the Sugar Bowl. It is sad to think what could've been with Marcus - he was probably the most accurate passer we ever had, but also one of the biggest knuckleheads.
I think you're underestimating DeShazo's overall impact on the program. I'm an '05 grad and there is no way Sean Glennon or Marcus Vick were better QBs if you look at it holistically. Marcus had the tools and Glennon was a tool, but MD played in a different era and set the table for guys like Druck to come in. Talent-wise he's probably a Brian Randall equivalent without the monster leadership traits that Brian had.
Sean Glennon belongs after Al Clark and should be tied with G. Noel.
I'm also biased since 2004 was my last football season on campus, but I think you're underrating Randall's impact, the big games he won then, and the general impact of that season. After the mini-doldrums of the early 2000's and the move to the ACC, it was widely expected inside and out of VT that we'd be mediocre and fighting for relevance in a better league and a post-Vick(s) world. This was when the ACC was considered good(ish).
We started the season playing USC, the best team in the country, and had a chance to beat them. The offensive PI call there is only rivaled by the Coale non-catch in the Michigan game for me. Still likely would have lost, but we competed. Then we promptly lost to NC State on a missed last-second FG, went unranked, and everyone wrote the season off.
Then we didn't lose another game en route to winning the conference. Win over ranked WVU. Close win over WFU. AMAZING fourth quarter comeback destruction of ranked GT (watch the videos). Ranked win at UNC. Ranked win at home over UVA that knocked them back into irrelevance and out of the ACC race (deja vu). And the clincher - a defacto ACCCG on the road against Miami. Then to top it off we played the undefeated team in the Sugar Bowl - remember when the SEC didn't get automatic respect! - and lost only by 3.
No bowl win and close but no cigar on beating two undefeated teams. And ACC titles are now commonplace around here. But that wasn't the case then and wasn't expected then. That season set the tone for the future, with VT as kings of the ACC, defying the ACC's expectation that Miami/FSU would take the crown year after year. Without Randall and that season, who knows where the program would be.
hoping that LT3 is less likely to truck people he is friendly with.
I was a student during the 2001-04 football seasons. It was trying. With the exception of Dave Brown (Giants fan here) Grant Noel was the most frustrating quarterback to root for. I never once thought he'd make a play when he had the ball in his hands. You just watched and hoped he'd hand the ball off, or not fuck anything up. It was terrible. I remember the low point being the safety to close out a stunning home loss to Syracuse.
This was considered a turning point for the 2002 season, and I remember everyone accepting he wasn't severely injured and it was a convenient way for Beamer to bench him while saving face.
Randall wasn't spectacular in 2002, but he was promising. Based on the talent on the roster, we majorly underachieved in 2002-03. Back then we would win the big non-conference games, then fall to mediocre Big East schools, mind boggling.
I thought Marcus should have started from say one. In hindsight, I think 2003 would have been a much better season if Randall was 100% the starter, got all the reps in practice, and the support of the coaches.
Here's a quick Marcus story. A rumor around campus was Marcus was driving a new Escalade, a gift from Michael. Anyways one day I was walking up to McComas to lift and as I was approaching loud rap music was the only thing I could hear. As I got closer the bass was shaking the ground, seriously. Then I spotted it, a brand new Escalade, keys in the ignition running, all four doors open, straddled on curb, two wheels on the grass, two on the pavement blaring music. The driver was no where in site. Who knows if it was Marcus' or not... Supposedly he still holds Tech records for parking tickets.
In 2004, the first in the ACC, everyone thought we'd be average. I remember being on campus during the first week of classes (I believe that was after the USC loss) when a Randall led group of football players handed me a team united bracelet. He won me over right there.
(I still have mine.)
He just seemed like natural leader, and on the field he finally reached his potential. During that magical 2004 Randall grabbed, and still holds hearts of every Tech fan. I can only imagine how good he would have been in 2004, if he had an entire 2003 under his belt... This is still one of my favorite plays ever.
Great article! Awesome to have something clever and informative to read and kill time at work.
"Oh, and his running backs were Cedric Humes, Brandon Ore and Mike Imoh. A hell of a backfield if you're looking to throw a party....not one if you want consistent production." -classic
Also, I'm going to play the Devil's Advocate here and say that Ike Whitaker takes the Jim Druckenmiller Award for Most Rails Consumed by a Hokie Football Player (this would be some awesome hardware).
All in all, I pretty much agree with your analysis but considering that Glennon was the primary QB my first two years of school, the memories are still too fresh to put him at 6, regardless of "science". Thanks again!
TLDNR
I just went by pure box score, and it looked like he just started and got pulled... #CRACKRESEARCHTEAM
According to HokieSports.com Brian's right, Clark started, Sorensen came in mid-way though the 3rd quarter (9:43) to finish out the game.
I do not know the facts versus implications about the actions of the administration and Paterno. I do know the administration of ANY school will do all they can to protect the school from bad press. You could say PR is a big part of their job. I think most of us would try to protect those we love.
However, they should not interfere with the investigation of criminal actions. They can protect the school and at the same time cooperate with authorities. Did they try to interfere with investigations or just try to keep it out of the press?
I think the penalties are harsh and swift. They have been investigating other schools for football related problems for a long time and have yet to take action (Miami & UNC for example). Why did they do this so quickly against PSU?
The bigger "point" the NCAA is trying to make, as stated by the head guy, "is that schools should not place football ahead of the interests of young people". There is a lot to be argued in that statement. It seems this action by the NCAA is an attempt to protect itself against allegations of incomptence and lack of institutional control over major college football programs.
Maybe it will work at Penn State for a while but I don't think it will really get to other schools. Most schools will continue to make sure they don't get caught and if there are similar allegations at their school, will quickly cut ties with the individual. I am sure it has happened before.
Frank: "If this is what the young people are doing. . . "
that sounds like my gas WHEN MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO SCORED THE GAME 7 GAME WINNER AGAINST THE CAPS. KREIDERBOMB!
Letting Marcus back on the team was the worst decision Beamer ever made. Deshazo was a better QB than Glennon, and possibly Vick. He was certainly more important, as he was the offense along with Dwayne Thomas and Antonio Freeman when Tech rose from obscurity.
FYI, I think Nick Sorenson started the UNC Bowl game, not Al Clark if I remember correctly. Clark did play though. He also won the bowl game against Shaun Alexander, Chris Samuels, and Bama.
RICK NASH BABY! KREIDERBOMB!
Pregnant wife means money saving and throwing a party/cookout at the house. Let the bourbon flow...