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Virginia Tech Announces 2017 Hall of Fame Class

By Grant Atkinson

Michael Vick was the top pick by the Atlanta Falcons and the
Michael Vick was the top pick by the Atlanta Falcons and the /
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The Hokies recently announced the 2017 Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame class. Lead by Michael Vick and Zabian Dowdell, they will be honored at the Hokies’ home game against Old Dominion on September 23. 

While Michael Vick is undoubtedly the most well known name on the list, others certainly made a lasting impact on Hokie Sports. As Seth Greenberg’s first official signee of his Hokie coaching career, Zabian Dowdell helped turn Virginia Tech basketball around.

After only one year of experience, Dowdell and the Hokies made the transition to the ACC. Alongside James Gordon, though, Dowdell quickly gave Virginia Tech one of the most formidable backcourts in the conference. 

In his career at Virginia Tech, Dowdell totaled 1,785 points, 380 assists, and 241 steals. He was a two time All-ACC honorable mention, two time All-ACC Defensive Team, one-time All-American honorable mention, and one-time first team All-ACC award recipient.

The next 2017 inductee is Tim Buheller (baseball). Buheller was a four-year starter for the Hokies. In his senior season, he batted .335 with 78 hits and 72 runs. What’s more, this wasn’t even his best season batting average (.351 in ’83, .362 in ’85).

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Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times reports that Buheller still has at least a share of nine school records, including hitting safety in a record 32 straight games.

Thirdly, the Hokies will induct softball’s Megan Evans into the Hall of Fame. She was arguably the best batter in Tech history. Aside from maybe Angela Tincher, she is probably the most well known softball player the school has had.

Evans’ 50 career home runs, 161 RBIs, and .609 slugging percentage over her career are all school records. She also has many other records, such as RBIs in a single game, with an astonishing 8 against NC A&T in 2004.

Alongside Michael Vick, Virginia Tech will induct a second football star in Ben Taylor. A linebacker, Taylor’s first year as a starter came in 1999, which also happened to be Tech’s perfect regular season.

Starting ten games for a Hokie team appearing in the National Championship, Taylor racked up 71 tackles that year. This included 3 games with nine or more.

He went on to record over 100 tackles in both his junior and senior seasons, and is one of only three Hokies to make an All-American team in more than one season.

Last but not least, the man, the myth, the legend: Michael Vick. Vick was not only the best player in Hokie football history, but also one of the best college quarterbacks ever.

In just two seasons with Virginia Tech, Vick tallied 3,299 passing yards, 1,299 rushing yards, and 38 total TDs. Vick was also on that 1999 team along with Taylor, and he won the Big East Offensive POY that year as well.

Vick holds numerous single season records in both the Big East and NCAA, including an NCAA Best 11.3 Passing Yards per Attempt in 1999. After his sophomore season, Vick entered the NFL Draft and was selected first overall by the Atlanta Falcons.

In his 143 total NFL games with the Falcons, Eagles, Jets, and Steelers, Vick totaled 169 TDs, 22,464 passing yards, and 6,109 rushing yards, by far the most of any NFL QB. After officially retiring just this year, Vick takes his lawful place in the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.