Hype is a funny thing. It clouds our judgment and leads to absurd statements and expectations that can’t possibly be fulfilled. It can also obscure the past to the point that when we return to it, the reality isn’t anything like we remembered.
Michael Vick was not those things. He was the real deal.
To quantify his impact on the Virginia Tech football program requires context.
When Vick arrived on campus in 1998, the BCS was a brand new system for determining a national champion. The Hokies were coming off a then program-record fifth consecutive bowl game.