The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 6, 1996 - 17

'M' rugby battles growing
pains in season opener

Richard Shin
ly Sports Writer
In its infancy, the Michigan men's
rugby team has seen the good, the bad
and the ugly.
Fortunately for the Wolverines, they
have only seen the good lately because
their first match of the season is tomor-
row at noon at the east end of Mitchell
Field.
Most recently, in the Michigan Union
Tournament last spring, the Wolverines
laced third in a competitive field, los-
ig an 8-0 match to eventual champion,
Central Michigan. The finish represent-
ed quite an accomplishment for the
Wolverines, after they endured a rough
fall season.
Last fall, the Wolverines played
many local experienced teams and took
their lumps in their first season in the
collegiate league division of the Rugby
9ootball Union.
"We had a lot of people just come out
and fill the ranks," Michigan Collegiate
A coach J. R. Hagerman said. "It was
like a new baby trying to crawl.
"It was kind of tough"
At times, even the victories were
tough. The Wolverines escaped with a
10-6 win over Central Michigan B in
the first round of the tournament.
But that wasn't the toughest match to

swallow.
The Wolverines opened last season
with a devastating loss to rival Michigan
State, 85-0. The match marked the first
fall match for the Wolverines in the col-
legiate league division. This season, the
Wolverines open with the Spartans
again, but they're are playing for more
than just revenge.
Men's rugby
schedule
Home matches in bold
Date Opponent
9/7 Michigan State RFC
9/14 Central Michigan RFC
9/28 University of WindsorFRFC
10/5 Ferris State RFC
10/12 Northern Michigan RF C
10/19 Bowling Green of Big Ten
Tournament
10/26 Michigan Olds Blue
"The loss was quite an embarass-
ment," Hagerman said. "This year,
revenge does play a factor. But more
importantly, we want to make a state-
ment that we are ready to play."
And at times, the Wolverines have
shown that they are.
The Wolverines posted an impres-
sive 24-0 win over Western Michigan
last season, beating the Broncos in all

phases of the game.
This year, senior center Jason Wolff,
sophomore center Tomas Grigera, and
versatile captain Mike Springs anchor a
team that includes 14 newcomers.
Wolff is one of the more dangerous
players in the Michigan lineup,
Hagerman said.
"He hits like a college or pro line-
backer," Hagerman said. "When he
has the ball, he's extremely dangerous,
and he can power his way through peo-
ple."
Fellow senior Springs brings leader-
ship and experience to each match.
"Mike is a prety solid and stable
player," Hagerman said. "He's willing
to play wherever we put him."
Although the Wolverines practice
only twice a week, Hagerman said the
Wolverines are ready and eager for
competition to begin.
"We've been looking forward to the
fall," Hagerman said. "Last year was a
new experience for us, but this year we
know what to expect.
"We're hitting the ground running."
Even though the season opens tomor-
row, the Wolverines are still open for
potential members.
"We definitely welcome all newcom-
ers regardless of size or shape,"
Hagerman said. "Come by to practices
and bring your spikes"

The battle for the ball has been difficult for Michigan In the past, but the Wolverines' new coach looks for a change.
New beginingS for Panratz
at hel-m of Blue field hockey,
New coach looks for Olympian effort in her first campaign

!faulk's one-game suspension
overturned, will play in LSU opener

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU
running back Kevin Faulk,suspended
for the Tigers' opening game against
ouston following a fight with
police, will play after all.
Coach Gerry DiNardo told the
team of his decision before practice
yesterday. He said Faulk's apology to
the police who were involved was a
major factor in his decision.
Police in Carencro, where Faulk
was involved in an altercation Feb.
19, recommended this week that the
case be dropped.
"When I suspended him, I was crit-
*al of his lack of respect for author-
ity," DiNardo said. "The charges
weren't necessarily the deciding fac-
tor.
"When he went back to the police
and he apologized ... and I talked to
them and they felt he was sincere,
they felt it was a good meeting ... 1

felt that was a show of respect to the
same people that he had shown a sign
of disrespect.
"The other thing is it is now six
months later. I now know that guy for
12 months.
"I know the good he's done and the
bad he's done. You know only the bad
he's done, it was only the one inci-
dent. That's the only bad thing that's
happened."
Faulk, who rushed for 852 yards
and six touchdowns in his freshman
year, was arrested Feb. 19 outside a
bar and was charged with four misde-
meanor counts, including two counts
of battery on a police officer.
Faulk was trying to break up a
fight between his girlfriend and
another woman outside the bar.
DiNardo suspended him on Feb. 27.
One of the officers sustained knee
and foot injuries and did not work for

four months. He has since returned to
duty.
Faulk, now a sophomore, met with
Carencro Police Chief Jerry
Arceneaux and the arresting officers
Monday night.
Arceneaux agreed to recommend
to District Attorney Mike Harson that
the charges be dropped.
After apologizing to the four offi-
cers involved, Arceneaux said Faulk
agreed to enter a program that
includes at least 30 hours of commu-
nity service.
He will ride on patrols with the
arresting officers, and being on call
for speaking engagements at schools
in Carencro.
"Kevin apologized, and 1 really felt
he was sincere," Arceneaux said. "I
think the meeting had a positive
impact on everyone. Kevin's a good
kid. Life goes on."

By James Goldstein
Daily Sports Writer
When Marcia Pankratz hears her
name introduced by the public address
announcer this weekend at Phyllis
Ocker Field, she may feel like taking
the field.
But not this time for the ex-lowa and
1996 Olympics field hockey star.
She's the coach now. The former mid-
fielder has the sidelines as her stomping
ground this time. That's where she will
be for Michigan's opening home con-
tests against two top-20 teams -
Temple tomorrow at 12 noon and
Boston College on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Pankratz became Michigan's field
hockey coach one month after Patti
Smith resigned. Last year, Smith guid-
ed the Wolverines to a 12-9 overall and
4-6 Big Ten record, good enough for
fourth place in the conference.
Smith's Michigan squads had a 4-6
conference record each of the past three
seasons and went 3-7 in 1992. She com-
piled a 74-60-4 overall record in seven
years as coach.
Then Pankratz came along after play-
ing in her second Olympics for the
United States.
Pankratz is not talking about the
Olympics to her team, though. She's got
more important things to do - like
preparing her squad for the 1996 sea-
But this summer's Olympic experi-
ence has established one thing.
"It does tend to make it easier, jump-
ing into a new program, having come
off the Olympics, because the kids trust
your ability," Pankratz said. "They trust
what you are talking about"
Pankratz is trying to teach some
international styles of play to the
Wolverines, who lost last year's top
scorer, Sherene Smith (19 goals) and
the team's second leading assist player,
Gia Biaggi (13 assists) to graduation.
Senior attacker Michelle Smulders,
1995 All-Big Ten second team, looks to
be one of the prime candidates replac-
ing Smith. Smulders totaled eight goals
last year. Pankratz says that Smulders'
fellow attacker, Meredith Weinstein,
should complement Smulders nicely.

Pankratz likes the effort she has seen
in preseason scrimmages. She was
happy with the way the Wolverines
played against a men's Detroit club last
week. But she sees a part of the game
that the Wolverines must concentrate on.
"As always, corner execution is
important, execution in general, being
able to finish," Pankratz said. "We need
to be able to finish in the circle and put
the ball in when we have a chance."
The defensive unit, led by seniors
Meredith Franden and Bree Derr and
junior Sandra Cabrera, back up
Michigan's attackers and midfielders.
Amy Helber will take the field
between the posts. She replaces last
year's standout goalie, Rachael
Geisthardt, who had a 1.70 goals-
against average in 20 of 21 starts.
"(Helber)had a great game against

the Detroit club last week," Pankratz
said. "I expect her to continue that, be
solid and keep us in all of the games"
But what the coach has been most
excited about is her senior class. Derr,
Franden, Smulders and midfielder
Selina Harris make up the senior crew.
For a first-time coach, Pankratz couldn't
be happier with the way the foursome
has handled themselves on and off the
field.
"The seniors have done an amazing
job" Pankratz said. "They are excellent
leaders and great role models. Th'ey
have incredible positive energy.
They've done everything that seniors
are supposed to do."
Pankratz knows everything she is
supposed to do. She's just not a player
anymore. The sidelines arc hers starting
tomorrow.

U U

,Lancaster county attorney looks
to revoke Phillips probation

The Air Force needs over 700 new
pilots in 1999 & 2000.
Plan your Future NOW!
Call Air Force ROTC at 764-2403.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A county
attorney said yesterday he will ask a
judge to revoke football star Lawrence
Phillips' probation in last year's assault
i n fellow Nebraska student Kate
4cEwen.
Phillips was sentenced to one year
probation last December for the misde-
meanor assault charge that caused a
great deal of negative publicity for two-
tine defending national champion
Nebraska.
Phillips, who now plays for the St.
Louis Rams, also was arrested in June
on suspicion of drunken driving.
"He was ordered by the court to not
gage in unlawful acts," Lancaster
'County attorney Gary Lacey told The
Associated Press Thursday. "He signed
the probation order and agreed to its
terms."
Phillips has not been convicted of
drunken driving in California. Lacey
said he originally planned to wait until
the California case was decided before
asking to revoke his probation, but

delays in the court system there changed
his mind.
Lacey said if the judge agrees to hear
the motion, Phillips would have to
appear in Lancaster County Court. If a
judge believes there is reasonable evi-
dence that Phillips may have violated
his probation, a new arraignment and
trial could be ordered.
If Phillips' probation is revoked,
Lacey said, he must be resentenced by
the judge. Punishment could include a
fine, up to six months in jail or a com-
bination of the two.
The Nebraska case stems from the
September 1995 assault of McEwen,
who had dated Phillips for about two
years. Phillips was suspended from the
Nebraska team last season for six
games.
He originally pleaded innocent, but
changed his plea to no contest and was
found guilty of misdemeanor third-
degree assault.
Under Phillips' probation order by
Judge Jack Lindner, Phillips paid $248

in restitution to McEwen for medical
expenses. ie also paid SI1 1 in property
damage that occurred during the assault.
Lindner also ordered Phillips to attend a
domestic violence prevention class.
Phillips' probation was scheduled to
expire Nov. 29. A motion in the proba-
tion order said Phillips could be
required to spend the last 30 days of the
sentence in jail. However, the judge said
at the hearing last December that the jail
sentence would be waived if probation
was completed successfully.

First Baptist Church

i

,.. ,

Np
I C P
e i
1111

Original work in many media to be exhibited by
members of the congregation from 11:15 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 8 at the church,
512 East Huron between State and Division.
Free admission, free refreshments, free parking on
streets and in the Liberty Square parking structure
across from the Washington Street entrance.
Display only, no sales.

HarrqfHour 3-8 6
" ..BoTTIes Bus/Bu LrLTe
IMpoRT BoTTLes/Well DRinks
V-P.14 4emum PIcheRS SIERRA NEVADA/WIDMER
MUSIC BYA J. SOUNDS
Jerry ; prg tie es uOtnbi ers
Friday Fiesta
$1 Coronas Cuervo shots rozen Margareias


JOIN THE KROGER TEAM
We are now hiring for the following
positions:
CASHIERS " DAY & NIGHT GROCERY
DELICATESSEN * MEAT * PRODUCE
HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE
COSMETICS * VIDEO * FLORAL
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
* Flexible Hours
" Four Paid Days Off Per Year
After Qualifying Period
" Regularly Scheduled Raises
* Paid Vacations After One Year
" Great Environment

U

{;;r ?'f/