SUNY Cortland Still Awaiting Decision From Jets On Training Camp

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A spokesman for SUNY Cortland says any talk about a petition aiming to keep Michael Vick away from campus is "premature" because the school still doesn't know if the New York Jets are coming for training camp.

"We have not received an official decision from them or an unofficial decision from them and they have not made any announcements," SUNY Cortland public relations director Frederic Pierce said in a recent phone interview with 104.5 The Team in Albany, according to the station's website.

Jets general manager John Idzik praised the college in January but acknowledged the team would explore other options.

Last month, the New York Daily News reported that the Jets planned to return to Cortland, where they've held training camp four out of the past five years. Fans -- and apparently the school -- are still awaiting word from the franchise.

"At this point, we don't even know what our relationship with the New York Jets is," Pierce said. "We certainly hope we have a relationship with them this summer and would like to host camp."

As for Vick, a petition on Change.org to keep the quarterback off campus property now has more than 11,000 signatures. That's up from about 1,600 on Monday afternoon.

Vick served 19 months in prison after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge in 2007. The 33-year-old was signed this offseason to mentor -- and challenge -- incumbent starter Geno Smith.

"We don't know who started it but if you look at the people who are signing, it's really all over the globe," Pierce said of the petition. "I don't know of any alumni or students that have signed it. It does not to appear to be a local phenomenon."

SUNY Cortland doesn't have "a relationship with Michael Vick and it's not our place," he added. "It's premature for us to really get involved."

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