VT Football: LB Lyndell Gibson arrested, punishment uncertain ...

Here’s the short story I’ve just filed for tomorrow’s print edition of The Pilot ...

BLACKSBURG

Virginia Tech athletics director Jim Weaver on Friday briefly addressed the recent arrest of Hokies linebacker Lyndell Gibson for driving while intoxicated.

“We are handling this matter internally,” Weaver said in a school-issued statement. “As mandated through University Policy 1035, I am currently conducting a review process.”

That was the entirety of the school’s response. The policy he referenced essentially states that any Tech athlete charged with and/or convicted of a misdemeanor will be investigated and sanctioned accordingly by the athletic director. Punishments range from a warning to suspension to removal from the team.

Gibson, a third-year sophomore and Salem High graduate who started every game except the Orange Bowl last season, was arrested and charged with DWI on Feb. 5 in Montgomery County. He has an April 27 court date. This was Gibson’s third arrest in his three years on Tech’s team, which could signal a stiff punishment.

The school policy Weaver referenced indicates that factors to be considered in determining sanctions include prior behavior and whether alcohol and/or drugs were involved.

During Gibson’s redshirt season at Tech, in October of 2008, he was charged in Virginia Beach with misdemeanor unlawful purchase or possession of alcohol and received 12 months of probation.

Then in March of 2009, Gibson and three of his freshmen teammates were arrested for stealing two bicycles from two female Tech students. They were initially charged with felony grand larceny for the theft of one bike, misdemeanor petit larceny for stealing the other and two counts of misdemeanor intentional property damage for breaking the bikes’ locks.

Gibson and his teammates were convicted on reduced charges of “interfering with property rights.” Gibson was punished by sitting out all but the final three days of spring practice in 2009.

Gibson, in a 2009 story about his emergence on the field, told the Pilot, "I had to change a whole bunch of my ways. I just acted like a kid, like I was still in elementary school, but I'm a grown man now."

He said the Hokies' coaches had been hard on him and that he'd needed it.

"In the back of my mind, I'm like, 'You're right. I did make a mistake. Thanks for kicking my (butt). I won't do that again.' "

Gibson, who has played in 25 career games and started 18 for the Hokies, is likely to miss all of this spring’s practice sessions already as he recovers from a December surgery to repair a fractured shoulder blade. Gibson has 119 career tackles, 8.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.

* For instant updates on the Hokies, follow me at twitter.com/kyletuckerVP

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.