Throwback Thursday: Michael Vick leads Virginia Tech to Rutgers back in 1999
One of The Knight Report’s weekly game preview pieces is our Throwback Thursday piece, where we compare the projected Rutgers Football starters as recruits to their team’s opponent each week.
However not a lot of the Norfolk State prospects were ranked as high school recruits, so this week’s Throwback Thursday piece takes a look at their head coach Michael Vick and the last time he was at Rutgers as a player back in 1999.
The redshirt-freshman southpaw lead the Hokies to four consecutive victories to open the season before traveling to Piscataway. Unsurprisingly the No. 5 team in the country with Vick at the helm did not disappoint, dominating the Scarlet Knights on their home turf. Virginia Tech put up a whopping 58 points thanks to 316 total yards and 5 touchdowns from their quarterback. Vick completed 11-of-12 pass attempts for 248 yards and 4 scores, while also rushing for 68 yards and a score. Amazingly, all of his production came in the first half, where they scored 35 unanswered to take a 49-14 going into halftime.
As was commonplace back then, Vick captained the offense from under center often. Nowadays putting an athlete in that position pre-snap would be considered questionable, at the least. Some of his most iconic moments came on scrambles from under center, which somehow makes them even more impressive. He was also utilized him on bootlegs and rollouts, and he could make any throw on the field look routine. Much of his rushing production came from scrambles, but he got ample opportunity in the option game as well, mainly on speed/pitch options.
As head coach Greg Schiano mentioned in his press conference prior to the game, Vick was truly a “historical” football talent. His arm talent still unparalleled, while also being the best athlete and runner at the position in history. He certainly opened the door for the playing style and offensive structure seen across the nation today. Talents like Lamar Jackson are encroaching on his spot at the top, but his influence on the game will always be felt. Now he returns to the gridiron to man the sidelines and lead the Norfolk State Spartans back into Piscataway on Saturday.
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