12 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, August 12, 2002 Navarre, Brinton begin competition for starting role Edwards impressing his coaches and teammates; Jackson, Curry and Bracken cleared to practice after injuries By J. Brady McCollough Daily Sports Editor John Navarre and Spencer Brinton may be "best buddies" off the field, but when fall practice began Satur- day, the junior quarterbacks com- menced a three-week battle for supremacy. Michigan coach FOOTBALL Lloyd Carr said that he has made Notebook no decision as to who will be the starter when the Wolverines take the field Aug. 31 against Washington and added that he hopes to make a decision by the mid- dle of the second week of practice. He will try to give each quarterback an equal amount of snaps until he has named his starter. "I'm going to go in there and take advantage of every opportunity that I get," said Brinton, the transfer from San Diego State. "The person that performs well is going to get to play. That is what Coach Carr has said and that's what we believe in." Said Navarre: "I'm going to be a leader, and I want to take care of business, and I'm going to focus on what I'm doing, not how I'm doing it, but what I'm doing. I'm going to run the offense, follow the rules of the play. If I take care of that, every- thing else will fall into place. If Spencer does that better, maybe he deserves to play." Navarre's experience may be too much for Brinton to overcome. He has started 16 games - 16 more than Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady had entering his junior season - and says his experience, while character- ized by inconsistency, has prepared him to lead the offense. "I think I'll be better because I have a season under my belt, and I know what the full season feels like," said Navarre, who has lost 18 pounds and has become much more mobile. "I had a chance to watch the flow of the whole season - ups and downs - and especially in November when the games get tougher." Many fans are wondering if fresh- man Matt Gutierrez will get his shot to win the job, but while he is unlike- ly to win the starting role in three weeks, Carr said he will receive more repetitions than a true freshman would normally get. He has not decided whether or not Gutierrez will receive a redshirt season. SoFT MIDDLE?: If there is a ques- tion about the Michigan defense, which returns eight starters from a unit that finished first in the Big Ten in total and rushing defense, it comes from the inside, where Larry Foote and Eric Brackins no longer roam. Carr expects juniors Zach Kauf- man and Carl Diggs to fill the void. "All of the guys are going to be real good," senior Victor Hobson said. "I'm not worried about any dropoff without Larry. We always have high expectations about the position, so I know these guys will come in here and do the job well." RECEIVING THE HYPE: When new offensive coordinator Terry Malone heard that Carr compared sophomore receiver Braylon Edwards to former standout David Terrell, he expressed some disbelief. "My Lloyd Carr said that?" Mal- one joked. "He is a physical speci- men - a big, fast guy in the mold of Terrell. Braylon has it all ahead of him. He'll get a chance to go out and make a difference." Edwards, who caught just three balls last season for 38 yards, said he accepts the comparison "with open arms." Cornerback Marlin Jackson also got in on the action, calling Edwards the best receiver on the team. When asked what senior Ronald Bellamy would say, he said "that is just my opinion." THE WOUNDED RETURN: Jackson has been cleared to practice after sitting out spring ball with a wrist injury. Markus Curry, who still has a bullet lodged in his back, has been cleared to play and will join Jackson as projected starter in the secondar Also, sophomore Tim Bracken, who was projected to start last season before injuring his knee, will com- pete with Chris Perry and David Underwood for playing time. NOTES: Tight end Bennie Joppru and cornerback Jeremy LeSueur have been reinstated and will practice ... Senior lineman Dave Petruziello hurt his back in spring ball and will be watched closely ... Former defensive lineman Dave Pearson is expected to start at center this season ... Redshirt freshman Tim Massaquoi has moved to tight end from wide receiver ... Sophomore Adam Finley will handle the punting duties, while junior Phil Brabbs is expected to kick off and handle longer field goal opportuni- ties. Junior Troy Nienberg will com- pete for the chance to kick shorter The University of Michigan WHAT'S REC Department of Recreational Sports JSOW INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM HAPPENING NTUANEUIALM THANKS! To all the Students, Faculty and Staff who participated in the Intramural Sports Program during the 2002 Spring and Summer Terms - Enjoy the remainder of the summer. The IM Staff looks forward to seeing you in the Fall. UPCOMING FALL TERM ACTIVITIES Start planning for the 2002 Fall Term activities offered by the INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM. Soccer 3-on-3 Basketball Broomball Track & Field Roller Hockey Softball Tennis- Sgls & Dbls Team Tennis Golf (Two-Person Team Scramble) Flag Football Cross Country Run Pre-Season Flag Football Ultimate Frisbee Wallyball Ice Hockey Wrestling Pre-Season Basketball OFFICIATING OPPORTUNITIES Officials will be needed throughout the Fall and Winter Terms. If you are interested in sports and would like to earn some extra spending money, attend the clinics and become an IM Official. FALL TERM IM OFFICIATED SPORTS Soccer Broomball Roller Hockey Softball Flag Football Ice Hockey Pre-Season Basketball For Additional Information Contact: Intramural Sports Progran, IMSB, 606 E. Hoover, AnnArbor, MI 48109-3717, (734)763-3562 http://ww recsports.umich.edu SCOREKEEPERS X 1.00 CALL B T DRINKS M FRIDAYC2t 27 Taps! Full Menu! 75 cent BOTTLES I.SATURDAY 310MlAYNARD-99.01W(21&0VER WIHPROPER I0) 4