ahbe 1wibig un l ativ PORTS i UESDAY September2, 2003 13A Knight-time for Richmond; defenseman puts 'M' career to sleep By Michael Nisson Daily Sports Writer For the fifth consecutive season, the Michigan hockey team will be starting its season without one of its key players. Sophomore-to-be Danny Richmond decided to play with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League a few weeks ago. The move comes as a surprise because Richmond had a sporadic freshman year. An offensive defenseman, he struggled with consistency, and by the end of the year, he was making mistakes that were expected to be corrected by that point in the season. One area that might have been a reason for his departure was the battle that Rich- mond would have faced for playing time this season. Michigan's incoming freshman class includes three defenseman, and there are several other defensemen who have a lot of experience. In spite of the competition that surely would have taken place, Rich- mond said that was not on his mind. "I knew I was probably going to play a lot again this year, and the incoming players didn't really have anything to do with (the decision to leave)," Richmond said. "I know how I can play, and I think I would have fit in pretty well this year, and even the coach- es told me I would have had a good year this year, but that didn't really come into my mind at all." Richmond also said that he left mainly because he wanted to play more games and get more experience than he did at Michigan. The Knights will play 74 games this season, compared to the 38 games Michigan will play (not including the postseason). Richmond also noted that he was in no way unhappy with his one year of experi- ence at Michigan. "It wasn't anything about Michigan that I didn't like," Richmond said. "It was more about an opportunity (with London) that I thought that I needed to explore, and think I it is a better situation for me." Michigan assistant coach Billy Powers was disappointed by Richmond's decision, saying that Richmond "has thrown away a great opportunity to graduate from the Uni- versity of Michigan." At the same time, Powers indicated that Richmond's departure will not greatly affect the team and has more impact on Rich- mond's future than the future of Michigan hockey. He said that Richmond has to do what is in his own best interest, and that if it means that the Wolverines are short one defender, then that's the way it is. Richmond can play two years in the OHL before he will exceed the age limit and be forced to take another path. His plan is then to go on to the National Hockey League and play for the Carolina Hurricanes, who draft- ed him with the first pick in second round of the NHL Entry Draft that took place in June. "(The Hurricanes staff) said that they want me to get there as fast as I can ... so I think they want me to be there, and if I'm ready they'll take me there," Richmond said. This might be a bad move for Richmond. See RICHMOND, Page 22A TONY DING/Daily Would-be sophomore Danny Richmond (7) won't be celebrating with goaltender Al Montoya anymore. The defenseman left Michigan to play major-junior hockey for the London Knights. MICHIGAN 45, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 7 jumpstart Offense flourishes behind Perry 0. By J. Brady McCollough Daily Sports Editor Chris Perry has heard all the doubters. He's not durable enough. He fumbles too much. He can't break big runs, and he's certainly no Anthony Thomas. But with the help of a determined and experienced offensive line Saturday at the Big House, Perry took a giant first step toward having a senior season to remem- ber. He led the Wolverines to a 45-7 thumping of Central Michigan, and in the process, silenced his critics, if only for a moment. Perry abused the Chippewas for 232 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, giving him an average of 10.5 yards a pop. His dazzling performance setthe all-time Michigan record for rushing yards in an :opening game, and it was the first time since Thomas' performance in the Wolverines' 35-31 win over Illinois in 2000 that a Michigan runner hit the 200-yard mark in a single game. "I think we had a great time running the ball because our offensive line and receivers kept the holes open for us all day long," Perry said. "I had no other option but to ... but defense str run the ball through the holes they made." The difference between Perry 2003 and Perry before? Even when there wasn't a sign that read "The hole is right here, Chris," Perry created room to run with improved vision and patience. He broke eight runs of 10 yards or more, including gains of 63, 33 and 26 yards. "He's our back," offensive tackle Tony Pape said. "He's a major part of this offense. (Because of his suc- cess), teams are going to try and respect the run and that opens up the pass for John (Navarre)." After a 92-yard touchdown drive brought the Chippe- was to within 17-7 and sucked the life out of the Big House to begin the third quarter, it was Perry and the offensive line - which did not allow a sack or a lost yard all game - that ended any hope of a Central come- back. The fifth-ranked Wolverines embarked on a seven- play, 70-yard drive, highlighted by Perry hurdling two Central Michigan defenders for an 11-yard gain. Perry finished the drive with a 26-yard touchdown run, as he darted through a huge hole up the middle and kicked it outside to beat several Chippewas to the left pylon for a See CHIPPEWAS, Page 18A uggles to stop run KYLE O'NEILL The Daily Janitor Faulting a defense when it gives up just seven points usually means an overcritical eye is nitpicking over minute details that mean absolutely nothing in the long run. In that case, paint me overcritical and nitpicky. On the surface, Michigan gave up 368 yards in a home opener that fea- tured one team destined for great- ness and the other for a mediocre finish in the.Mid-American Confer- ence. And for most who just read the box score, it would be easy to think that most of Central Michi- gan's yards came when the Wolver- ines' first-team defense was off the field. In reality, the Chippewas exploited some weaknesses in Michigan's defense and possibly uncovered some new ones. Before I begin with the bad, though, there were some good sur- prises seen from the defensive half of my pick to be national champ. First, the secondary survived without Marlin Jackson. I know it's true that Central Michigan hardly boasts the best passing offense in the nation, but no big plays were allowed. Coverage was so good that anything over 20 yards was not even attempted. So credit the Marlin-less crew of Jeremy LeSueur, Markus Curry, Jon Shaw, Willis Barringer and Jacob Stewart for stepping up and showing that there is life with- out the preseason's Big Ten Defen- sive Player of the Year. And if that crew with Marlin can keep plays of 20 or more yards from happening, then it will make my first gripe of the defense futile. Inside position was lost to Central Michigan's receivers much too easi- ly. And too many short passes were completed on second or third down to keep drives alive (eight times by my count). While there are a number of reasons why this could have hap- pened - possibly zone or soft cov- erage to prevent any deep balls - it See O'NEILL, Page 16A TONY DING/Daily Senior running back Chris Perry hurdles two Central Michigan players on his way to an 11-yard gain in the third quarter Saturday. Michigan scored a pivotal touchdown on that drive, taking a 24-7 lead and control of the game. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE After a year's vacation, Cheryl Burnett's dream has come true By Megan Kolodgy and Ellen McGarrity Daily Sports Writers Judging by the appearance of the office this summer, Michigan's women's basketball team looked as if it was without leadership. The shelves were empty except for dust collected over the summer. The desk and sitting area were stark with few signs of use - no magazines, playbooks or tro- phies. Pictures from last year's team lined the walls. Appearances, howev- er, can be deceiving. Chervl Burnett had long since of the summer. Not on vacation, but on recruiting trips and marketing campaigns to promote the coming season. In a two-week span, Burnett and some of her coaching staff trav- eled to Virginia Beach, Va., Indi- anapolis, Koko Beach, Fla., Orlando, Fla. and Washington, D.C. Burnett was hired last April after former head coach Sue Guevara resigned following a less-than-pristine 2002-03 season (3-13 in the Big Ten, 13-16 overall) that included friction between her and some of her players. Burnett comes to Ann Arbor with an impressive resume - she is for- Missouri State in 2001, and was hired at Michigan in the Spring of 2003 The Michigan Daily sat down wyith the new coach to discuss her year off and her plans to get the Michigan program back to the top of the Big Ten. The Michigan Daily: You resigned as coach at Southwest Mis- souri State in 2001, and it took you over a year to find a job. Cheryl Burnett: That was my plan actually. When I resigned, the perfect scenario was: Have one year out, and then hopefully my resume was good enough to get a wonderful job - and coached for 21 years on the fast track in Division I. (During the break) I did a lot of basketball stuff, but different kinds. I went and watched a lot of men's practices - (former Kansas men's head coach) Roy Williams being one of them. I went to the lake and spent time with family. A perfect scenario. TMD: Why did you decide to move on from Southwest Missouri State? CB: I think at some point you take a program as far as it's going to go, and I did, and I was so emotionally tied there. I'd been there for 18 years, loved it, loved the people that built the i +. t . t i i , : ,.rit : x,[ik ;t+.,n, lt ..,!.. . n ys t z i i 1 z_ t ., "} .. , u , i ...:..il, + . T. i ., -t z,.,TZ., ' : .t'",:xzF }tti 1 11,4 t t T. .}t. v .;k. .. ., ., x . v ..., ss: v .... ......... ... _..