Michael Vick is now a member of the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame, despite a substantial petition drive, and a silent protest that went on through the weekend.
A sell-out crowd at Lane Stadium saw a dominant Hokie football win, but didn’t see the most famous member of the latest Hall of Fame class.
Vick was part of private induction ceremonies Friday, but reportedly left early due to his TV obligations as an NFL analyst for Fox.
Vick left a video message instead, playing during the halftime ceremonies to introduce the next Hall of Fame class.
“Hokie Nation, I just wanted to say thank you through all the support through the years,” he said. “You’ve been so gracious to me, and my family, and the support has always been there. It will never be forgotten. I will be a Hokie for life, and this is a moment that I will never forget. Go Hokies. We are family, we are one.”
An enthusiastic crowd responded to the video with cheers. Meanwhile, a sampling of tailgating Virginia Tech graduates before Saturday’s 38-0 defeat of Old Dominion showed many felt the same way, saying Vick paid the price for his crimes – having served 18 months in prison on charges related to dogfighting.
“I think he got in with the wrong crowd, and was led astray, but think he did pay his debt,” said Ginger Carey of Haymarket.
“It’s a college hall of fame, it’s not an award for being a humanitarian necessarily, but I will say I think Michael Vick atoned for his actions,” said Robert Turner of Roanoke.
“You know, it’s the Virginia Tech (Sports) Hall of Fame, and he was a Virginia Tech player, he was very good for our program, he brought us into the national spotlight, and he did a lot for our program when he was here,” said Eric Fuller, who came to Blacksburg from Florida.
Jennifer and George Chaconas of Smith Mountain Lake, who were part of tailgating crowd, said they're still big fans of the football team, but could not support the athletic departments’ decision to induct Vick.
Silent protesters had their own designated area.
As a result of Vick’s Hall induction, some have abandoned their support of Hokie football.
They don’t include alumnus Melissa Reams, who came from California solely to join the protest. Sporting her Hokies shirt and hat, Reams says she loves her alma mater, but is struggling with how to move forward.
“I can’t really support the athletic department right now,” she said. “The only way I can vote is with my money – and so right now, I don’t want to give them any money. So I don’t know when I’ll step back in the stadium, but it’s not going to be anytime soon.”
Protest organizer Kate Blanton says about 200 people joined the group between the game and Friday ceremonies.
