MICHAEL VICK
THE GRIDIRON GURUWORDS BY JOHN COMPANIOTTE
Off the field Michael Vick, one of the most famous quarterbacks in NFL history, is grounded in community work with his football summer camps for kids.
The most fleet-footed quarterback in the history of the NFL actually has his feet planted firmly on the ground when off the gridiron. In last year’s exciting season, Michael Vick made the record books with three 100-yard-rushing games in one season, and came within one game of his goal of taking the Atlanta Falcons to the franchise’s second-ever Super Bowl. This season, Vick is determined to come home with an NFL Championship ring. And off the field, he gives back through community work.
He started out as something of a goalpost prodigy. During his high-school football career, he passed for more than 4,800 yards and 43 touchdowns. Vick played for Virginia Tech in college, which he led to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the national title game in his freshman year. In 2001, the Falcons drafted Vick, the first-overall pick. When he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2002, Vick became the sixth quarterback to be voted to the NFL All-Star Game in his first year as a starter since 1970. He established four new NFL records in 2002, including most rushing yards in a game by a quarterback, with 173—shattering a 51-year-old mark. During his four years as a professional football player, he has been pursued by everyone from opposing defensive linemen to “The Tonight Show”, ESPN and the Fox Network, and even a TV home improvement show that wanted his assistance on a refurbishment project (passing hammers to the carpenters on the roof, perhaps?).
“Michael is unique in that to some of the media outlets he is viewed as a rock star, and so they want him for a lot of projects a traditional quarterback in our league wouldn’t be asked to do,” says Rich McKay, Falcons president and general manager. “We get requests for him all over the world, [including from] soldiers who are abroad,” says Susan Bass, Falcons vice president of communications and community affairs.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports columnist Furman Bisher, who has seen a lot of quarterbacks come and go during his 60-year writing career, describes Vick’s unique abilities: “The average quarterback gains most of his yards running for his life. Not Vick. I don’t know that we’ve ever seen a quarterback like him, when you can count on more yards ad libbing than through the air.” For the 2004 season, Vick ran for 902 yards, with a 7.5 average yardage per carry; a good running- back in the NFL will often average less than five yards per carry.
After a year of breaking records, Vick is ready for a short rest before taking another shot at the title. In the off-season, Vick says, “I take a little time off to let my body rest. Then I participate in the Falcons’ off-season workout program. I also watch a lot of tape to see the areas in which I need to improve, and I spend a lot of time with my wide receivers building chemistry with them on the field.” Despite his success, Vick is still intent on improving his own skills. “I work closely with the coaching staff to enhance my game,” he says. “My appreciation for the game is what drives me; I learned and continue to learn from the great quarterbacks that came before me.”
Despite appearing every Sunday to revolutionize the way the game is played, Vick also understands the importance of the game’s fundamentals. Now in its second year, the Michael Vick Camp, which takes place from June 19-23, 2005, will cater to football enthusiasts aged eight-18, from beginners to seasoned athletes. The five-day camp, held at the State University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia, places campers in groups with others their own age, size and experience level. The daily development drills feature some of the best high-school, college and NFL coaching staff and current NFL players as instructors. The campers receive individual instruction from a 10:1 camper- to-coach ratio, with a minimum of seven hours per day of football skills enhancement.
“I was inspired about football ever since I attended the Bruce Smith Camp when I was a kid,” says Vick. “It is one of the few camps that I could attend in my area. In creating the Michael Vick Camp, I wanted to give kids the same opportunity I had to learn the fundamentals of the game. I visited other football camps in the area and decided I wanted to raise the bar for the kids, offer them an experience they would never forget.”
”My appreciation for the game is what drives me; I learned and continue to learn from the great quarterbacks that came before me.”
Though he is obviously a gifted athlete, Vick wants to pass on more than just sports skills to the young campers. He says, “I credit my parents for giving me a strong foundation in life.” In an attempt to recreate that positive influence, campers can attend a “life skills seminar”, where a panel of current NFL players and coaches lecture each day on personal life experiences. Lectures cover topics including being a complete student-athlete, self- discipline and the rewards and consequences of making the right and wrong choices in life.
Vick readily acknowledges how he benefited from the guidance of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) when he was growing up. From the time he was seven years old until high school, he attended the Club in his hometown of Hampton almost every day.
“The Boys & Girls Club was an instrumental part of my youth,” says Vick. “It was a place that allowed me to grow in a safe environment and at the same time provided guidance to the positive things life has to offer. I encourage all kids to check out and take advantage of their local Boys & Girls Club.”
During the 2004 season, Vick initiated a monetary donation through a player performance pledge to the local chapter for every touchdown pass he made. He also invited more than 100 kids from the local Boys & Girls Club to the Falcon’s facility after a practice for a “punt, pass and kick” competition, and a flag football game.
Last September, BGCA inducted Vick into its prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame, which recognizes former members who have gone on to make major contributions to their respective fields, from sports and entertainment to business and medicine. In May 2003, Sports Illustrated named him among the “101 most influential minorities in sports”.
During last December’s game against Carolina, Vick scored a touchdown by diving for the goal line, his body parallel to the ground as he flew through the air. While his football career allows him to fly every now and then, he always returns to earth. His good judgment may be his most valuable asset, both on and off the field. The goalpost prodigy has come of age, and it’s only a mater of time before we see him flying for Atlanta at the Super Bowl.
For more information, visit www.michaelvickcamps.com