Hokies Ready for Vick’s Return

Marcus Vick, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick, is on track to return to Virginia Tech’s team next season.

The 20-year-old quarterback was suspended this season after a night of drinking with underage girls. He avoided jail by pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge.

The Hokies left the door open for Vick’s return, as long as he completes a drug education and counseling program. So far, he has fulfilled the conditions for being readmitted to school in time for spring practice.

“We’re hoping for a happy ending, a successful ending to this story,” Coach Frank Beamer said Friday before a Sugar Bowl practice in New Orleans. “Marcus is a good person. He’s got a good heart. We all want this to work out.”

The No. 9-ranked Hokies (10-2) play No. 3 Auburn in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night. It will be the final college game for senior quarterback Bryan Randall, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year.

Vick would contend for the starting job next season if he rejoined the team.

He played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2003, passing for 475 yards and two touchdowns. During the suspension, Vick has spent time with his brother in Atlanta.

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Quarterback Josh Haldi passed for 146 yards and ran for two touchdowns to lead Northern Illinois through mud and rain for its first bowl victory in 21 years, 34-21 over Troy late Thursday night in the Silicon Valley Classic at San Jose State’s Spartan Stadium.

The Huskies (9-3) overcame a steady downpour, lighting problems and a delayed kickoff by scoring 34 consecutive points in the matchup of two schools with one previous bowl appearance between them.

Garrett Wolfe, the NCAA’s scoring co-leader, rushed for his 21st touchdown of the season for Northern Illinois before leaving because of a hip injury.

The Huskies erased a quick start by the Trojans (7-5), who scored two touchdowns in the first nine minutes of their first bowl game in their fourth season in Division I-A.

Northern Illinois backup tailback A.J. Harris rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown.

The Huskies, who didn’t get a bowl invitation last season despite going 10-2, have a trophy to take back to DeKalb for the first time since winning the 1983 California Bowl.

“We’ve still got things we want to do, but this is a great step for everyone here,” Northern Illinois Coach Joe Novak said.