Could Michael Vick Have Been into Dog Fighting While still in College?

Unless you've been living in a cave underneath the ocean somewhere, you know about the Dog Fighting that former Atlanta Falcons and VA. Tech QB Michael Vick was involved in. Actually, he financed the whole thing.

We've heard all the opinions about whether or not Vick deserves a second chance to return to the NFL. We've heard how Vick is trying to make amends, and I believe that he truly regrets what he did and wants to reform himself. This week, he plans to try to get a job going to the Boys and Girls Clubs to speak to the youths about the consequences of making terrible choices such as the ones he made. One local Sports Talk show host doesn't think his motives are pure and would rather see Vick do something else first to show remorse for the crimes he committed. A friend of mine, who lives in Richmond, said that he would not want Vick counseling his kids.

If you think this has nothing to do with College Sports, hang with me. One thing that I have not heard much about is that the Dog Fighting scandal Vick was heading up may have been going on before Vick entered the NFL and while he was at VA. Tech. If this can be proven and he was benefiting financially, this would drop a bomb on the Hokie Football Program. Vick led Virginia Tech to an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game against Florida St. in 1999, in which they lost (That year, it was the Sugar Bowl). Again, if there is proof (and it's a big if) that Vick was making money off of Dog Fighting while at VA. Tech, every game he played in, including the National Title Game, would have to be forfeited. That wonderful 99 season would be stricken from the record, just like the Michigan Basketball seasons in which Chris Webber was involved in due to financial benefits he and a relative received while he was playing for the Wolverines.

I have heard from an undisclosed source that Michael Vick left Virginia Tech a year earlier to enter the NFL Draft because he was about to flunk out. While there isn't hard proof of this, it is very interesting. I hope for the sake of Virginia Tech that Vick didn't get into Dog Fighting while still in college. I, for one, want Michael Vick to get another chance to play in the NFL, but he still has a lot of work to do. He still hasn't even finished his sentence yet, although it is drawing to a close. He has left a ton of damage and betrayed the trust of many people. Hopefully, the Hokie Football Program will not need to be penalized and embarrassed any more than it already has.

Michael Vick's cruel activity with dogs is a stark contrast to the work that Kristan Boucher, my Sister, is doing with Rottweilers. She owns a dog breeding service in North Windham, CT called Kriznik Rottweilers. Her work can be summed up like this: " I strive to produce Rottweilers that are of correct temperament, correct breed type, that have the mental ability to work in any area, that are healthy and structurally sound and are most importantly excellent family members." Boucher says on her website www.kriznikrottweilers.com. Rottweilers have had a reputation of being ferocious, mean dogs, like Pit Bulls. Her dogs are as docile as they come. It's how you train and treat them. Michael Vick could learn from Kristan Boucher an appreciation of how these beautiful creatures should be treated, but I don't think he would ever be allowed anywhere near her property.