Tech QB suspended after being charged with reckless driving, marijuana possession

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Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was suspended indefinitely from the team Tuesday, the same day it was revealed he was charged with reckless driving and possession of marijuana.

The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback and former Hokies star Michael Vick was charged after an early morning traffic stop on Saturday, state police said. He was convicted in May of three misdemeanors stemming from a drinking party with three underage girls.

The school said the latest charge prompted the indefinite suspension. Officials revealed Tuesday that Vick and two others convicted in May had been suspended for the first three games of the season.

Vick, a redshirt sophomore, was expected to challenge senior Bryan Randall for the starting job this season after the two essentially shared it last season.

Vick was clocked on radar at 86 mph, 21 mph above the speed limit, state police spokesman Gary B. Payne said.

"As a result of the traffic stop, he also was charged with possession of marijuana," Payne said.

Both charges are misdemeanors, he said.

In May, the 20-year-old Vick was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,250 on three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after he and two teammates gave alcohol to 14- and 15-year-old girls at the players' apartment.

Tailback Mike Imoh, 19, was sentenced to 10 days in jail and fined $750. Wide receiver Brenden Hill, 19, was sentenced to 20 days in jail and fined $1,500.

After the trial, Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver promised to punish the players, but refused to disclose what kind of disciplinary action he would take, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

On Tuesday, Weaver revealed that all three players had been suspended for the first three games of this season. School spokesman Larry Hincker said all three players had signed a waiver that allowed the school to detail the penalties.

"I believe that the actions this past winter of Mike Imoh, Brenden Hill, and Marcus Vick were inappropriate and contrary to the values of our university and sports communities, and should warrant sanction," Weaver said in a statement.

"Although these matters are on appeal in the criminal courts, I am moving forward in the best interests of all concerned with disciplinary action."

Coach Frank Beamer has declined to discuss the convictions, saying he wanted to wait until the appeals process has run its course. The university said in the release that Weaver would have nothing further to say and that he spoke for the university.

Vick has appealed his conviction and sentence to Montgomery County Circuit Court.

Vick was suspended for one game last season for a violation of team policy.

Virginia Tech does not automatically suspend students charged with a misdemeanor. Hincker said any student convicted of a misdemeanor is subject to disciplinary action levied by the university office of judicial affairs. Penalties range from a simple warning to dismissal from school.

SFGate.com
Tuesday, July 6, 2004
©2004 Associated Press
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...745EDT0310.DTL