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*Comrie to Michigan: C
Seeking earlier start to his NHL career,
Hobey Baker finalist bids Blue adieu
Gaines'
ouster
By Joe Smith Comrie was
Daily Sports Writer Oilers, but thin
tunity to fulfill
Playmaker Mike Comrie will no longer be daz- NHL with a tea
zling Yost Ice Arena crowds. Not even in the annu- "The main
al alumni game. was to do it fo
On August 16, Comrie told Michigan hockey different option
coach Red Berenson, along with the rest of the Oilers," Comrie
country that he will forego his junior season as the Originally, a
Wolverines' star center to play major juniors for drafted him wi
the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League. put back in th
Comrie took the CCHA by storm the past two holds the rights
years, notching 103 points in 82 games as a bility is up.
Wolverine and earning second team All-American But an arbi
honors. Wolverine Mik
But the Hobey Baker Award finalist feels that it these rules an
would be more beneficial to play a year of major of college hock
juniors in an attempt to become an unrestricted Van Ryn, a I
NHL free agent rather than return to the Maize and sey Devils, lef
Blue.
Johnn
drafted in 1999 by the Edmonton
nks that he will have a better oppor-
his lifelong dream of playing in the
am other than his hometown Oilers.
thing that influenced my decision
or my future and so that I can have
,s if things don't work out with the
e said.
player must sign with a team that
thin two years, or else he would be
e draft. NHL rules state that a team
s to their draft picks until their eligi-
tration ruling regarding former
ke Van Ryn on June 23 challenged
d dramatically changed the options
ey players around the country.
998 first round pick of the New Jer-
ft the Wolverines before his junior
See COMRIE, Page 4B
leaves
M'
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r
on
the
spot
reeling
By Raphael Goodstein
Daily Sports Writer
"Judge them after four years."
Michigan basketball coach Brian Ellerbe repeatedly
refused to say that last year's five incoming freshmen
would signal a return of the fabulous success that Michi-
gan was accustomed to earlier in the decade.
Unfortunately for Ellerbe and the basketball pro-
gram, the majority of those freshmen won't be
around to be judged two years later, let alone four.
Jamal Crawford left after half of one season to
"fulfill his dream" and play in the NBA. Crawford's
season was marred when it was discovered that he
violated the NCAA's amateurism rule. The NCAA
suspended Crawford on two separate occasions for a
total of 14 games.
Leland Anderson transferred this summer over
concerns about playing time. Anderson was involved
in a robbery incident last season that resulted in
Ellerbe pleading with a University student not to
press criminal charges.
Yesterday, Gaines became the third freshmen to
leave the team when he was dismissed for "repeat-
edly breaking team rules," Ellerbe said last night.
Gaines' final rule infraction was on Monday night,
when he was driving freshman Josh Moore's car with
freshmen Bernard Robinson and Avery Queen in
Taylor, Mich. with a .17 blood alcohol level.
Later on that night, the three got out of the car -
on U.S. 24 - and wrestled in the middle of the
expressway.
Ellerbe placed Robinson and Queen on probation.
Queen was already on legal probation for assault
and battery. Queen beat a 16-year old student with a
belt and punched him in the face several times.
Queen was sentenced this past May to one year's
worth of probation and 50 hours of community ser-
vice.
"People say that this is a problem, and they're
right," athletic director Bill Martin said about the
basketball program's repeated negative incidents.
"This isn't good."
The bad news came as a shock to Ellerbe, who was
at home cooking for the team's annual barbecue, a
tradition he has before the first day of school.
"We're human beings and we're dealing with
young kids," Ellerbe said. "You're going to have
incidents."
Gaines' departure leaves the Wolverines without
an established point guard.
Nonetheless, Ellerbe is hopeful that Gaines' dis-
missal will not ruin the team's chances of competing
for an NCAA bid.
"Basketball is a team sport," Ellerbe said. "We
have some capable guys who will get the chance to
do some things they came here to do."
Gaines averaged 11.7 points points per game and
led the team in steals, assists and minutes played.
Freshman Maurice Searight will compete with
Queen and junior Leon Jones to start at the one.
Jones was a bench player last season who played
both guard positions as well as small forward.
M- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily
Redshirt freshman John Navarre (16) threw no interceptions In Michigan's debut Saturday. Sophomore tailback Justin Fargas (34) returned for 70 yards on eight carries.
Four TDs for Navarre as Varsity slaps Bowling Green
By Mark Francescutti
Daily Sports Editor
INJURY UPDATE
The cupcake didn't come without some
frosting falling off.
Michigan's 42-7 whipping of Bowling
Green may have been a good romp in the
play room for redshirt freshman John
Navarre to learn and discover new skills.
The creamy filling of Lloyd Carr getting
good rotation on defense and on special
teams to build up a good idea of his lineup
was beneficial.
But a tasty treat doesn't come free, as
the Wolverines couldn't escape without
two tough players falling out of the lineup.
Tight end Shawn Thompson will be lost
for the season after blowing out his knee
on his only catch of the game. And senior
defensive lineman Jake Frysinger, one of
Michigan's only experienced defenders,
reinjured his right foot, which he broke
last season. Frysinger will likely be out for
1-3 weeks.
Still, Navarre showed plenty of poise,
touchdowns in a starting quarterback
debut.
"At first, I was nervous," Navarre said.
"I just wanted to make my assignments
and run the right plays. But like high
school football games, you start to get in a
groove after the first couple of series, and
that's what I did (today)."
All in all, the offense looked just like on
paper, strong on all ends. The Wolverines
pounded the ball on the ground, despite
two fumbles, with almost 300 yards, while
the offensive line gave Navarre enough
time to shave and recite the dictionary.
"I think the backs did a good job run-.
ning the football for the most part. You
can't turn the football over twice in big
games and hope to win. (The offensive
linemen) are at their peak as far as
strength, knowledge and confidence. I do
not think they are intimidated by anything
they see up there"
Even some of the penalties, which
coach Lloyd Carr emphasized his distress
call there. Some of that is first game for
officials as well as players. That did some-
what negate my feeling about the penalties
we had."
Under the hot sun and muggy 90-plus
degrees on field temperatures, the Wolver-
ines weren't able to cool down their nerves
for at least the first quarter.
Sophomore running back Justin Fargas,
returning from a season-ending injury suf-
fered against Wisconsin last year, fumbled
on his first carry. Fargas later rebounded to
net 70 yards on eight carries.
Still trying to muster a good combina-
tion on punt and kickoff returns, David
Terrell looked a little awkward, as he
struggled with the decision to field a punt.
Terrell got back to the ten, but not without
a look from Lloyd Carr.
Terrell made up for it with a touchdown
reception and six receptions total for the
day.
But Ron Bellamy stole the show at
receiver. His first catch - a touchdown,
Junior Drew Henson will remain out of the
Michigan lineup against Rice and most likely
against UCLA. Henson's rehabilitation is
aoinsi well according to coaich Llovd Carr.
AWAY
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