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Virginia Tech report Vick quietly focused on Sugar Bowl
Posted: Saturday January 01, 2000 03:28 PM
NEW ORLEANS (CNN/SI) -- Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick remained very serious throughout Friday's Media Day in the Louisiana Superdome. "This is something I've wanted to do all my life," he said. "I'm going to just try to stay calm during the game and made good decisions. I'm going to try to sit in the pocket for as long as I can." Vick did not stay in his designated area on the Superdome field for very long. After a TV interview, reporters had to follow him out of the arena. Vick's demeanor contrasted with that of Virginia Tech defensive end Corey Moore. On Friday, he already had his game face on, and it was not a pretty sight. "You want to write a story?" Moore said angrily as he faced a circle of reporters at Media Day in the Louisiana Superdome. "Write about how I dissed you guys. Get the hell out of my face!" There was no one question that set Moore off. He arrived in a very foul mood in the first place, but he did not like repeated questions about the West Virginia game. That game was by far the closest shave in the Hokies' 11-0 season. Virginia Tech got by 22-20 on a 44-yard field goal by Shayne Graham on the last play of the game. "No more questions about West Virginia," he ordered. "No more questions about the season. The season's over." Then suddenly, amid a cascade of cuss, he left. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer laughed it all off. "Corey's all right," Beamer said. "He's getting ready to play a football game. He knows practice is next (on the Friday agenda), and that's the only thing he can do that will have an effect on the game. Seriously, Corey Moore's just getting ready to play." Actually, Moore was not serious. Some of his teammates realized it was all a put-on and proceeded to circle him as if they were reporters, and Moore kept on acting up. What will he do Saturday? Beamer also cut off his question-and-answer session when his 18-year-old daughter Casey asked to speak to him. "All right guys, you all are important, but not as important as my family," he said. But minutes later, Beamer was doing an ESPN interview. Graham, who has been overshadowed this week by Florida State All-America kicker Sebastian Janikowski, enjoyed his time under the media spotlight. "I waited four years to have an opportunity to have a game-winning field goal," he said of his kick that beat West Virginia. Graham looks forward to the same situation should it develop Tuesday. "It's what every competitor dreams of," he said. Vick, who set up the field goal that beat West Virginia with a crucial scramble, sees it happening again with Graham. "I love my chances with Shayne Graham," he said. "I'll put money on Shayne Graham any day. Florida State has a great kicker, too, but if it came down to a battle of the kickers, I'd definitely have to put my money on Shayne." Practice report: Virginia Tech held a closed practice after the media gathering as did Florida State.
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