The Confidential

The ACC School Mount Rushmores: Virginia Tech FINAL

This was a tough one to finalize.  On the one hand, Michael Vick was an outstanding player–and an outstanding athlete.  On the other hand, has any player brought more negative attention to himself, criminally, short of murdering someone?  On yet one other hand, however, Michael Vick did his time, as they say.  And nobody has ever suffered a more severe punishment for animal abuse issues.  And then you have to factor in an absence of a true candidate for the fourth spot.  There are some decent athletes, but nobody with much real oomph.  So… despite his issues, the Confidential has to pick Michael Vick for the fourth spot.

The Final Virginia Tech Mount Rushmore:  Frank Beamer, Bruce Smith, Dell Curry, and Michael Vick.

The original article…

As we discussed previously, these school-wide Mount Rushmores are limited to sports only–players and coaches.  That being said, athletes that have gone on to have careers that have furthered their legend are rewarded also.   And negative publicity will also be factored in.  We do not believe that USC would put OJ Simpson on its Mount Rushmore.  It is what it is.  Admittedly, there will be a recency bias too.  While historical accomplishments are typically quite impressive, coaching college football (as an example) in 1955 was a lot different than coaching today, where coaches rarely get 5 years to make their mark anymore.  Similarly, in an era of up to 14 college football games or 40 college basketball games, as well as daunting pressure from the fans and media, today’s game is more challenging.  That’s our opinion and we are sticking to it.

The Confidential gives the first spot to Frank Beamer.  Much like Bobby Bowden at Florida State, Frank Beamer is responsible for Virginia Tech becoming relevant in football.  Only Beamer is at his alma mater.  Just look at his stats: 20 straight seasons at better than .500.  And only two of those seasons with 7-win seasons.  The rest were 8 or more, 13 with 10 or more.  Just an outstanding coach.  Ask yourself where Virginia Tech would be without Frank Beamer.  Probably not in the ACC, that’s for sure.

The #2 spot for Virginia Tech goes to a football player: Bruce Smith.  Smith was the number one pick in the NFL Draft in 1985.  Really, Smith was the bright spot in the pre-Beamer football era for the Hokies.  He won the Outland Trophy in 1984.  Like Jim Kelly, who we discussed yesterday for Miami, Bruce Smith was a fixture on the great Buffalo Bills teams on the early 1990s.  Unlike many #1 picks, Bruce Smith lived up to the hype.  He is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

The #3 spot is fairly easy for a change: Dell Curry.  Now, you may be thinking that Curry is best known for his sons or his wife, Sonya.  But look at his accomplishments.  Actually, the Confidential can go off memory–Curry would have scored a lot more had the played in the three-point era.  Had outstanding range in college.  Of course, his NBA career was extensive and he even coached for a spell for the Bobcats.

And that leads us to the number four spot.  Michael Vick goes here–does his negative outweigh his positive?  Football’s Antonio Freeman.  Baseball’s Johnny Oates and Franklin Stubbs.  Maybe Bimbo Coles?  Well, it seems like Vick’s to lose.  Will he?  So that is where you come in–let us know who should be #4.

Who will be the Confidential’s fourth Virginia Tech Hokie in its Mount Rushmore?

Other Mount Rushmores:

• ACC Football Coaches
• ACC Basketball Coaches

1. Maryland Preliminary   Maryland Final
2. Boston College    Boston College Final
3. Wake Forest   Wake Forest Final
4. Miami   Miami Final
5. Virginia Tech
6. Syracuse   Syracuse Final
7. Virginia   Virginia Final
8. Pittsburgh  Pittsburgh Final
9. North Carolina State  North Carolina State Final
10. Clemson   Clemson Final
11. Georgia Tech
12. Louisville
13. Notre Dame
14. Duke