UZfr *id~igm an T
$ir tSnmeto APs
MAJOR LEAGUE PH LADLIA 3.
BASEBALL Pittsburgh 1
Cleveland 5, Tarm Ba a4,
BALTIMORE 4 CHICAGO 3
Series tied 1-1 ST. LOUIS 3,
Los Angeles 2
PRO N.Y. Rangers 1
HOCKEY CALGARY 1
BUFFALO 5, COLORADO 3,
Washington 2 San Jose 2
loronth at
V~ANCOJVER, inc.
COLLEGE
FOOTBALL
SYRACUSE 50.
Rutgers 3
Friday
October 10, 1997
11
N
Toss has to
take reigns
ofFisker s
future
'ter seven months of intense
investigation and rampant specu-
ation, the mess that is the
Michigan basketball program has fallen
into the lap of one man: Tom Goss.
The decisions sure to face him in
coming days are why, we must assume,
*liversity President Lee Bollinger
selected Goss as the man ultimately
responsible for leading the much-
maligned Athletic Department to higher
moral ground. This is why Goss was
hired to be Michigan's Athletic Director.
The highly anticipated report investi-
gating the alleged wrongdoing of the
Michigan basketball program and Ann
Arbor's least favorite booster, Eddie
Martin, was released yesterday to a
u omful of antsy reporters. But pre-
tably, the hectic press conference pro-
duced far more questions than answers,
and most impor-
tantly, did nothing
to quell rumors
about coach Steve
Fisher's future.
Now, in light of
the commissioned
law firm's inabili-
ty to substantiate
pSE claims of major
violations against
Rose the program, the
Beef decision of what
to do next falls to
Goss.
Yesterday's media feeding frenzy
revealed that nothing "major" arose
from the investigation - nothing, Goss
and Bollinger suggested, that would lead
the NCAA to level harsh measures
*unst the program or its coach.
The violations that were substantiated
there were three were termed
(repeatedly, it might be added) no more
than "minor'' People expecting earth-
shattering news from the report will
likely be disappointed with the findings.
But here's where this gets interesting:
Despite Goss's repeated and vigorous
announcements that the "minor" viola-
ns are unlikely to result in serious
ion by the NCAA against Fisher,
Goss refused to say that Fisher's job was
safe. When asked whether the lack of
major violations served to solidify
Fisher's position, Goss tiptoed around
the question oh-so-carefully.
"I'll be going over this for the next
few days, and doing it with Coach
Fisher" Goss said. "Then we will try to
come to a better understanding of some
of the things in the report."
Goss did not stand up and say, "Fisher
'rimy man" Nor, however, did he imply
that Fisher's days are numbered.
But it sure seems peculiar. On one
hand, Goss was trumpeting the absence
of "major" violations, saying they pro-
vided reason for optimism. But on the
other hand, he was cautious not to vindi-
cate Fisher because of it; rather, he made
certain to avoid giving the impression
that Fisher's job is safe just because a
firm could not persuade a sufficient
number of witnesses to talk.
Curiously, Steve Fisher was not
around for what was supposed to be the
biggest day for his program in quite
some time (he was on vacation). If
everything was as peachy-keen as a cou-
pie of minor violations, you'd think he'd
be shouting from the rooftops -- espe-
cially after the attention this case has
gotten.
Perhaps Fisher's absence has some-
See ROSE, Page 12
Third time a charm?
Declawed 'Cats
. .
still 'M' nemesis
By John Leroi
Daily Sports Editor
Once the easy team on Purdue's schedule and the pur
ple creampuff the Big Ten's better teams used to beat up'
on, Northwestern has turned its program around.
In the process of winning or sharing the conference
title each of the past two years, the Wildcats have'
become something even more unthinkable than Big Tewi
champions: the Wolverines' nemesis.
Twice Michigan has entered the Northwestern game
with an unblemished record and a No. 6 ranking. Both
times the Wolverines were favored. Both games ended in
4 Michigan losses.
In 1995, it was a 19-13 shocker in Michigan Stadiut
that proved that the Wildcats were for real. Last year, it
4Mwas a 17-16 miracle win after Michigan blew a 16-01
lead in the fourth quarter.
Tomorrow, the picture is eerily similar. Michigan (1-0
Big Ten, 4-0 overall) will host Northwestern again unde-
feated and with a No. 6 ranking. For the third-straight
time, the Wolverines are favored to win - and to wir
big
"Certainly, because of what has happened in the past.
this game has a lot of meaning for us," Michigan coach;
Lloyd Carr said. "We're playing the Big Ten champions,
and I expect them to play like the Big Ten champions."
The only problem is the Wildcats (0-2, 2-4) haven't
...played anything like Big Ten champions so far. They
don't even resemble them. Gone are tailback Darnell
Autry, linebacker Pat Fitzgerald, guard Justin Chabot
and quarterback Steve Schnur - all All-Big Ten selec-
tions. To make matters worse, All-Big Ten receiver
D'Wayne Bates suffered a season-ending injury before
the Wildcats' season even began.
So Northwestern coach Gary Barnett, still known as
the savior of football in Evanston, has had little to wort
with and little to show for it. Barnett incited such a rev',
FILE PHOTO olution in Northwestern football that the school rend
own cut the See WILDCATS, Page 11
.A
'~. L
Michigan tailback Chris Howard fumbles the ball on the first play of the first drive after a fourth-quarter Northwestern touchd
Wolverines' lead to 16-8 in last year's game.
Minnesota shares
Blue's ineXperience
By Sharat Raju
Daily Sports Writer
When the Michigan hockey team
takes the ice tonight at thelTarget Center
in Minneapolis for the Hfall of Fame
Game. it should see something rather
familiar.
No. 4 Minnesota - No. 9
Michigan's first opponent in the young
season - is in a similar state of affairs
as the Wolverines. Both teams are
entering the season after the departure
of marquee players, and both have ros-
ters with an abundance of youth.
"We feel we're kind of a little bit like
Michigan," Minnesota coach Doug
Woog said. "Almost all of our guys are
18-year-old freshmen when they came
in. They are still blossoming, and we
feel that some of the kids are still mak-
ing some improvements."
The Golden Gophers are in an unfor-
tunate situation this season. With only a
short time before official practices
began, Woog lost two of his best players
to the professional ranks.
Mike Crowley, a two-time All-
America and a Hobey Baker finalist
last season, left Minnesota to play IHL,
hockey for the Cincinnati Cyclones.
The departure of one of the top
defensemen in the country and last sea-
son's WCH A most valuable player has
left large gaps in the Minnesota
defense.
"On defense this year, we might have
some problems," Woog said.
The other standout Gopher to make
an exodus from Minnesota was Erik
Rasmussen. Rasmussen -- the highest
American-born player picked in the
1996 NHL. Draft at seventh - might be
best remembered by Michigan for his
performance against the Wolverines in
last season's College Hockey
Showcase. He scored three goals and
dominated the ice in a performance
considered one of Minnesota's best
ever.
While the Gophers have lost two key
players, however, the Wolverines have
lost nine since last season. The much
talked-about departure of Michigan's
best class of players has caused a lot of
speculation about M ichigan's ability to
further the legacy left behind by last
year's seniors. Finally, this weekend
will give people an opportunity to see
the 10 heralded freshman.
"We think Minnesota will be in the
same situation as us, trying to find out
what combinations work," Michigan
coach Red Berenson said.
The Wolverines will be unveiling
their new-look team. Unlike previous
seasons, when everyone expected
tremendous blow-out victories by the
potent Wolverines, this season is a little
more uncertain.
Michigan does feature the leading
career point-scorer in the NCAA, Bill
Muckalt, with 159. The senior right
wing will have to spearhead the
Michigan offense, along with the help
of senior captain Matt Herr, who scored
29 goals last season.
"Muckalt will definitely be what the
See GOPHERS, Page 12
FILE PHOTO
Michigan's Bill Muckalt will try to lead the inexperienced Wolverines in their season opener tonight in Minnesota. Faced with)
the loss of last year's star seniors, Michigan features a lineup loaded with 10 freshmen.
Ky
Struggles continue
for M' women s golf
By David Stern
For the Daily
After finishing a disappointing
ninth place last weekend at the
Wolverine Invitational, the Michigan
women's golf team will try to finish
its fall season on an upbeat note this
weekend, at the Lady Kat
If Michigan is to be successful, it
will once again have to rely on the
play of junior Sharon Park, who will
be returning to her home state -
where she was named "Ms. Golf"
her senior year in high school. Park
has led the Wolverines in scoring in
every tournament this year.
A ,ver 'in
f~ DispioY t 'ecudve
illlll, .
The University of Michigan
BASKETBALL BAND
AUDITIONS
Auditions will consist of scales and sight-reading.
Rehearsals for the Men's and Women's Basketball Bands
will be on Tuesday evenings.
Positions open for:
Drum Set
Piccolo
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
-ri .,rn
I