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NEW KENT, Va. - Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick pleaded guilty Tuesday to reckless driving and no contest to marijuana possession, shortly after he was suspended from the university for the 2004 season.
The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback and former Hokies' star Michael Vick was fined $300 and his driver's license was suspended for 60 days for reckless driving. As part of a plea agreement, he was placed in a first offender program on the marijuana charge.
Virginia Tech officials also suspended Vick from the university through the fall semester Tuesday because of the New Kent charges and his convictions in May on three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Vick and two teammates were charged with giving alcohol to 14- and 15-year-old girls at the players' Montgomery County apartment.
Vick refused to answer reporters' questions outside the courthouse, but his lawyers distributed a written statement from their client. Vick apologized and said he intends to return to Virginia Tech."I have learned a great deal from the mistakes I have made," the statement said. "I will work hard to earn respect as an athlete and a person. I understand that I had a responsibility to conduct myself appropriately at all times and will work to do that. I am asking that Virginia Tech, and the other people who support me, not give up on me."
The reckless driving and marijuana possession charges were filed against Vick last month after an early morning traffic stop on Interstate 64 about 25 miles east of Richmond. He was clocked on radar at 86 mph, 21 mph above the speed limit, state police said. The traffic stop led to the marijuana possession charge.
Re-admittance to the university is contingent on Vick's successful completion of a drug education and counseling program.
The suspension "is a stiff penalty," Virginia Tech president Charles Steger said. "Vick won't play this year and loses that year of eligibility. If there is any more trouble, his Virginia Tech career is effectively ended."
The sophomore was expected to challenge senior Bryan Randall for the quarterback's job this season after the two essentially shared the job last season.
ARKANSAS: Arthroscopic surgery on Monday revealed that first-team left guard James Johnson had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Arkansas' offense will have only one starter from last year's team, quarterback Matt Jones.
AUBURN: The team signed Florida prep cornerback Lorenzo Ferguson on Monday. Ferguson, who was a four-year starter for Southridge High School of Miami, had planned to sign with LSU in February, but LSU asked him to wait until next year to sign because of a broken ankle. He decided he wanted to play this year and visited Auburn and Rutgers this summer.
KENT STATE: Quarterback Joshua Cribbs was sentenced to five years probation for marijuana possession. He will not be allowed to play in the season opener at Iowa on Sept. 4 as part of his punishment. He is the school record holder for total offense in both a season and career. He completed 178-of-364 passes for 2,424 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing 161 times for 701 yards and 14 scores last season as the Golden Flashes went 5-7.