Part I
p rep yourself for Michigan's second -
and likely last for a long time -
meeting with Rice by reviewing last
year's c(-ntest on the Daily Sports
Website.
michigandaily.com/sports
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FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 8, 2000
13
ee ns ninw a a
Owls offer
final tuneup
for Blue
By Mark Francescutti
Daily Sports Editor
Want to look really smart on Saturday morning?
Every time Rice snaps the ball on offense, predict that
they're going to run.
Yes, the last Hostess cupcake in the 2000 package is
ready to be eaten, as No. 3 Michigan (1-0 overall) takes
on the Owls tomorrow for a 12:10 matchup (ESPN+,
Channel 7 in Detroit). A nice four-letter word to say
around the Michigan lockerroom, Rice was manhan-
dled by the Wolverines last year 37-3.
And the Owls passed all of four times out of 56
plays, completing one pass for 15 yards.
Rice ran 52 times for 142 yards, mustering only a
Derek Crabtree field goal with 30 seconds left in the
game.
Which means a lot of run stopping for Michigan's
young defensive line, which showed promise last week-
end, holding Bowling Green to only 58 yards on 28 car-
ries.
"They are happy with a three-yard gain," Michigan
coach Lloyd Carr said Monday. "A three-yard gain in
the wishbone is money in the bank. They can average
four yards a crack. They are very content to be third-
and-two.
"They will run the football on fourth down because a
lot of the time they want to possess the football, which
puts more pressure on your defense."
Yes, the wishbone offense may run rampant on
Saturday, but the Wolverines also have a key opportu-
nity to prepare for the trip to No. 16 UCLA (1-0 over-
all).
Michigan must find a key replacement for senior
defensive end Jake Frysinger, who will miss at least the
next two games after reinjuring his right foot.
Also, Carr has to replace Shawn Thompson at tight
end.
"Ben Joppru will become the starting tight end," Carr
said. "Because of a pulled groin muscle, Bill Seymour
missed (last week) and Eric Rosel has missed a lot of
training camp with a pulled hamstring. Hopefully, we
will get those guys back."
Joppru played in nine games last season and had four
receptions, including two touchdowns.
"Joppru is a guy with good ability, athletic. He has to
step up now and take over for a guy that really brought
a lot to our offense. We have to get some help from
Seymour and Rosel."
Redshirt freshman quarterback John Navarre will get
See RICE, Page 16
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o disontent
Larceny allegations surface, but
experts doubt transfer to UNLV
By Raphael Goodstein
ID)aily Sports Viter
Kevin Gaines' bad week continues. Michigan's point guard
was dismissed from the team for breaking team rules on
Tuesday.
Now Michigan basketball officials confirm that Gaines is
facing larceny charges stemming from a June 16th incident
in which Gaines allegedly stole a professor's pen.
Ellerbe justified Gaines' dismissal by calling it "a culmi-
nation of things." The larceny charge, followed by Gaines'
arrest on DU I charges, were likely the final straws-in
Ellerbe's decision.
Monday night, Gaines and incoming freshmen
Bernard Robinson and Avery Queen were charged wi4h
disorderly intoxication and minors in possession of ale-
hol, at least in part a result of party-hopping earlier in
the night.
"The most important thing here is not basketball," Ellerbe
said Tuesday, "its Kevin's life, and if you knew what I know,
you'd understand that more"
If convicted, Gaines might face a year in jail, fines anda
revoked driver's license. The other charges would be misdd-
meanors, each carrying up to 90 days in jail.
Monday afternoon, Ellerbe reached his limit with
Gaines, who was also involved in the theft of a student s
Palm Pilot in November. Shortly after that incident,
Gaines was benched for the start of Michigan's gamic
against Oakland.
In spite of his dismissal from the Wolverines, Gained'
scholarship was not revoked.
College basketball guru Clark Francis said he doubts the
prospect of Gaines returning home to Las Vegas to play for
the UNLV, though he says Gaines may indeed transfer awav
from Michigan.
"I'd be surprised," Francis said. "UNLV was not a finalist
(when Gaines made his decision to come to Michigan). Hts
AAU coach doesn't like UNLV I would guess he still h4s
some sway with Kevin, and if he does, there's no way ... Tht
would raise some eyebrows."
Gaines' freshman year was a promising one. He averaged
11.7 points per game and 4.6 assists as well as leading the
team in sieals and minutes played. Gaines was the
Wolverines' co-MVP with fellow freshman LaVell
Blanchard.
Francis did not rule out the possibility that Gaines could sit
out a year and return to the team after "staying out of trou-
ble."
"Sure, that could happen," Francis said.
The Michigan basketball coaching staff has said that
Gaines will never play for them again, but there is precedent
for a player being kicked off the team only to return later.
Telephone calls to Gaines were not returned.
Senior Anthony Thomas and the Michigan offense hope for a repeat performance of last year's annihilation of Rice, a
37-3 blowout.
M1ch1gan's outi
By David Den Herder
Daily Sports Editor
Michigan fans are holding their collective breath.
Do the Wolverines have the drive? The skill ?.The focus
to avoid a letdown this week - after such an emotional-
ly exhausting opener?
Okay. That's out of the way - and no more jokes about
Michigan's indolent early schedule. Keep in mind
Bowling Green was a quick fix to replace Oklahoma
State and Rice had already signed on for two.
Well, tomorrow is number two - and with a little help
from Touchdown Jesus. Michigan might end up No. 2 as
well.
Michigan PASSING vs. Rice passing defense:
Now is the time to get David Terrell the ball, if he
wants to pad those Heisman-hopeful stats. Last week
Michigan spread the field - two touchdowns to Ron
Bellamy, one to Marquise Walker and one for Terrell.
That stratev. which is essential to execute when the
UCLA/Big len schedule starts up, might be the best rea-
son why Terrell may not be a contender in the late oing.
Rice's top D from Part I of the Michigan-Rice series
is back atain - Jason Hebert had seven solo tackles last
year in the Bi3 House. But Adrian Sadler was the only
man who could cet a hand on the ball last year. He had
two breakups, and he'll be back, but it won't matter.
Advantage: Michi-an
Michigan RUSI9NG xs. Rice rushing defense:
Rice may look half-way respectable here. The Owls
held Houston to 45 yards rushing last week on 23 carries.
Of course, Anthony Thomas racked up 87 by himself last
year, and this season Michigan is complemented by
See MATCHUPS, Page 16
t
tymnasts sweat, save AD cash
By Sarah Ensor
Daily Sports Writer
It is often said that to solve a problem,
one must take matters into his own
hands. This summer, the Michigan men's
and women's gymnastics teams stuck to
at mantra quite literally, saving the ath-
ic department tens of thousands of
dollars with their efforts.
Last week, coaches and athletes from
both teams gathered together to build by
hand three crucial but expensive pieces
of equipment for their practices and
competitions.
A year and a half ago, the teams'
equipment manufacturer developed new
specifications for its floor exercise appa-
*tus in order to soften the impact of
gymnasts' landings. But the new floors
cost S15,000 apiece, an expenditure that
would not fit within the constraints of
the department's budget. While this may
have seemed like an insurmountable
obstacle to some, Michigan men's coach
Kurt Golder and women's coach Bev
Plocki knew what they had to do.
"With the budget constraints, we felt
that such spending wouldn't be
approved," Golder said. "We bought the
conversion materials, and the coaches
and athletes from both teams put in the
labor and saved the athletic department
almost S35,000."
Working together over three long
days, the teams converted their three
original floors - one floor in each
team's practice facility and a shared
competition floor in Cliff Keen Arena -
to fit the new specifications, adding
53,500 worth of plywood, springs, and
hardware to each piece of equipment.
The entire exercise cost the department
only S 10,500, a great improvement over
the potential S45,000 expense.
"It was really important to us to
change to the new floor for the sake of
the athletes," Plocki said. "We saved the
department money, vet were still able to
get the floors we wanted."
Both coaches agree that the activity,
though physically demanding, was a
worthwhile experience in more ways
than one.
"It was a bonding experience," Plocki
said. "It's nice to be able to spend time
with the athletes outside of a competitive
gymnastics atmosphere. It definitely put
evervone on the same level."
"IlThere was a good cohesiveness
between the men's and women's teams."
Golder concurred. "Coaches were work-
ing with athletes and athletes were work-
ing together across gender lines to make
their sport better, their facilities better,
and to help the university."
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