“Electric.” It’s one of those descriptions that sportscasters use too often. It’s supposed to represent, in a single word, a style of play, a feeling, an aura that virtually emanates from a player when they’re on the field. It’s used for athletes whose performance entertains even those spectators who know nothing about the game…for players who seem to explode from the TV screen into your living room…for those who look like they’re moving at a different speed…that the game is easier for them.

It was January 4, 2000. College football’s biggest stage. Undefeated Florida St. versus undefeated Virginia Tech for the Sugar Bowl trophy - and the national championship.

Michael Vick and Peter Warrick were electric.

I remember thinking about the game beforehand. I’ve always loved college football but this was 2000. I was a wee buck. Less than a year out of school. Fairly oblivious to the real world. Reveling in the joy of drinking beers and watching every college football game broadcast on any network, and day, whatever the time. During the 1999 season, I’d followed the jaw-dropping highlights of the dynamic freshman quarterback. Michael Vick was being labeled the next coming. He was a weekly SportsCenter feature. And watching him play, there wasn’t much reason to doubt the hype. He led the NCAA in passing efficiency that season and ran circles around everyone. He did flips into the end zone. The Virginia Tech Hokies team went 11-0.

But Vick had also run wild against a schedule of opponents that included James Madison, UAB, Rutgers (they used to be really bad) and Temple (still really bad). Their Sugar Bowl opponent was Florida St. (used to be really, really good). I remember thinking…if this Vick kid is for real, let’s see how he does against the fastest defensive team in the country.

Michael Vick was still a relative novelty. Perhaps it was some sort of freshman magic and defenses would eventually “figure him out.” Peter Warrick was a no-doubter. He was a Biletnikoff Award semi-finalist his sophomore year. Following his junior season, he was a consensus All-American but declined to enter the NFL Draft and returned to Tallahassee for his senior season. Warrick returned kicks. He took direct snaps. He made spectacular catches deep down the field. He turned people around in the open field like Barry Sanders used to do. He was Reggie Bush before Reggie Bush.

On that night in January of 2000, neither Vick nor Warrick disappointed. The game - and its stars - were spectacular. After falling down by 21 points early, Vick led the Hokies back to score 22 unanswered and go ahead 29-28 towards the end of the third quarter. His stats were impressive, but not awe-inspiring (23-97 rushing, 15-29-0-225 passing), and the Hokies would eventually lose 46-29 after getting blanked in the fourth quarter.

But the world had been introduced to Michael Vick. The freshman had gone up against mighty Florida St., and he hadn’t looked slow. They had. Following the season, he would appear on the cover of ESPN the Magazine donning the title "Human Highlight.” He was on his way to becoming the Michael Jordan of football. He would change the quarterback position forever.

Warrick was also ok that night. Actually, he was a little better than that. The speedy Seminole receiver dominated. He had six catches…for 163 yards. Three touchdowns. A 64-yard TD grab in the first quarter and a 43-yard reception in the fourth. Oh yea, he also had a 59-yard punt return for a score. He was undeniably the most unstopabble player on the field and named Sugar Bowl MVP.

A year later, Warrick was selected #4 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2000 NFL Draft. Vick would go #1 the next year to the Atlanta Falcons. At the time, SI football writer Peter King said this (San Diego doesn’t look so foolish now, huh?).

Fast-forward to July 2007. Warrick, after four disappointing seasons in Cincinnati and an 11-catch campaign in 2005 with the Seattle Seahawks, was cut and failed to impress an NFL team in 2006 enough to make a roster. Earlier this year, he signed with the Las Vegas Galaxy of the Arena Football League. Weeks into the season, he went A.W.O.L. citing the desire to give the NFL one more shot.

Vick, although more successful, hasn’t lived up to his billing. He’s been consistently, and fairly, critiqued for his ability to read defenses, his decision-making (go, figure) and his throwing accuracy. More importantly, over the past three seasons, the Falcons have compiled a 26-22 record. And, of course, there was the finger thing…and the marijuana thing…and, now, the dog thing.

Oh, how the once-mighty have fallen. Not that they deserve much sympathy. Both were paid amply for their services. Vick’s lucrative contract and bevy of endorsement deals make him one of the highest-paid athletes in all of sports. This also not a rarity. This happens. Highly-touted players who simply never pan out. There are thousands of examples - many whose back story is tragic, unfathomable, unconscionable. Not the case, here.

But for the football fan who truly loves the game, it’s a bit bittersweet…that for these two gifted athletes, the light has come so close to flickering out, so soon.