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Jan. 5, 2000 By Dennis Dodd SportsLine Senior Writer |
NEW ORLEANS -- So this is what it was like watching Springsteen at his first gig. Or maybe Hemingway pecking away at his first novel. Or perhaps watching those initial tentative brushstrokes of a young Van Gogh.
Dodd: Sugar Bowl vindicates Bowden, Warrick Florida State goes undefeated despite Virginia Tech scare Warrick turns Sugar Bowl into personal highlight film Weinke stars in Seminoles' championship night For Bowden, one more title, more gray hair Tallahassee turns out for championship, again Hokies fans pleased with effort if not result Audio: QB Chris says the 'Noles never gave up Audio: QB Michael Vick says the Hokies made too many mistakes
All three might have been raw, edgy and a little bit unrefined at first, but there was a spark of greatness there. The same goes for a certain Virginia Tech redshirt freshman quarterback Tuesday night in the Sugar Bowl.
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We have seen the future of college football and it is Michael Vick.
If there was any doubt about the future of Virginia Tech's prodigy, it was stifled after Florida State's 46-29 victory over Vick and his teammates. Sure, the Hokies lost their initial venture into the national championship spotlight.
But it wasn't Vick's fault. Not all of it. In fact, after playing against him several Seminoles said they expect Virginia Tech back in the title game.
"He's real," said Florida State safety Sean Key. "It's like trying to keep a 2-year-old baby in a crib. That guy is awesome. He's got my vote all the way.
"He isn't going to be there three more years. He's got the Heisman next year. I don't know who else can beat him."
Vick accounted for 322 of Virginia Tech's 503 yards. Everything in the Hokies arsenal flowed from him whether it was the option, deep passing game or improvised scrambles. The only time Florida State really stopped him was when Vick fumbled, which he did twice.
Tragically, he came into the game having fumbled only five times all season.
"I fumbled, and you can't make mistakes like that in a national championship game," Vick said. "I did. I'm not blaming myself or anybody on this team."
Vick is what he is -- a blossoming high-risk, high-reward talent still with a few warts. Along with becoming the nation's leader in passing efficiency, he finished 10th in the Big East in rushing. He is wise beyond his years.
The maturity showed when he led the Hokies on a 76-yard drive on the game's opening possession. But on 4th and 1 from the Florida State 4 Vick was stripped of the ball and fumbled into the end zone. On the next drive, he was sacked on third down, taking the Hokies out of field goal range.
Later in the first half he missed a wide-open Andre Davis with a bomb. But four plays later, he laid in a perfect strike to Davis for a 49-yard score that cut Florida State's lead to 14-7.
Vick also was the reason Virginia Tech rallied for 22 unanswered points to take a 29-28 lead in the third quarter.
Vick had the Seminoles defense exhausted after the Hokies controlled the ball for more than 13 minutes of the first quarter and ran 48 plays in the first half. Through three quarters Virginia Tech held the ball for 28 of 45 minutes.
But Vick and the Hokies couldn't finish off the job. Florida State rallied itself to score 21 in a row to get its second national championship of the 1990s.
"Somebody asked me, 'Would you rather play Virginia Tech without Vick or (defensive end Corey) Moore,'" Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. "I said Vick. We can double team Moore. There isn't a darn thing you can do about Vick. When we made some of our best defensive plays, he ran 50 yards for touchdowns. I knew he was good but I didn't know he was that good."
Vick didn't implode like some predicted when he saw the bright lights and 79,000 sets of eyes staring at him in the Sugar Bowl. Instead, he might have become the 2000 frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy with 97 yards rushing and 225 passing. He's already close, having finished third in 1999 balloting.
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| Michael Vick's running and throwing ability have him on the verge of greatness.(AP) |
"In my opinion, he should have won the Heisman this season," Davis said. "He meant more to this team than any other team in the nation."
The third-quarter drive that put Virginia Tech ahead 29-28 was a typical Vick-engineered one. He hit fullback Cullen Hawkins on a backdoor screen for 23 yards. Two plays later, Vick cut back on a scramble for 15 yards. One play after a sack he gained 22 on a keeper.
Andre Kendrick scored on the next play to give the Hokies their first and last lead of the game.
"He's an unbelievable athlete," Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke said. "He deserves all the media. He's a young guy. I'm an old man. I just know how to win football games."
So does Vick, just not enough to finish No. 1. But his legend is growing. Two Florida State defenders -- Tommy Polley and Roland Seymour -- went down with leg injuries suffered while chasing Vick. Polley might be able to blame a torn ACL on Vick's cutback ability.
"He's going to be good for years," Polley said. "Especially with most of their team coming back. They're going to be in the hunt."