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Duke Lacrosse Team Returns To Practice, Tries To Move On After Rape Case

Jan 7, 2007

DURHAM, N.C. — Five months after its season was canceled because of a scandal surrounding an alleged rape, the Duke men's lacrosse team returned to practice Monday.

The Blue Devils opened a five-week fall training camp under new coach John Danowski. Everyone involved with the team said they look at the new season as a fresh start, and they're so focused on the future that they adopted a Latin phrase for "When cut down, grow back stronger" as a team motto.

A 27-year-old North Carolina Central University student told police she was beaten and raped by three lacrosse players at a March 13 team party while performing as a stripper. All but one of the team's players gave DNA samples to investigators and were considered suspects for weeks until a grand jury indicted three on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual offense: juniors Reade Seligmann, 20, of Essex Fells, N.J.; and Collin Finnerty, 19, of Garden City, N.Y.; and 2006 graduate David Evans, 23, of Bethesda, Md.

Lurid details about the investigation prompted Duke President Richard Brodhead to first suspend the highly ranked team -- it had appeared in the NCAA championship game in 2005 -- and then cancel the season. Longtime coach Mike Pressler resigned amid growing criticism of the program and the players' behavior, which included alcohol-related criminal charges.

After an internal investigation, the school reinstated the program in June. The following month, Duke hired John Danowski from Hofstra to coach the Blue Devils.

"I wasn't here last year," Danowski said. "And I don't know these young men yet. ... I guess it's in the back of your mind. It's still something where you move forward. I can't relive the past. I can't rewind the clock, and I wasn't here. This is what I know now, being with them for two meetings and one practice."

Danowski said his goal is to build good players who are also good people. He plans to require everyone on the team to do some volunteer work this year to give back to the community.

Because all of the players could be potential witnesses in a trial that is not expected to begin before next spring, the coach has instructed his players not to discuss the situation with the media.

"Everybody here feels strongly and supports those young men -- David, Collin, Reade -- but they also understand the fragility of the situation. It's a tough situation for college kids to be in," he said.

The case touched off a national debate about sports, race and class. For all the commotion, however, the players appeared at ease Monday morning in a workout that seemed almost routine. The only sign it wasn't was the dozen or so reporters watching from the sideline, a rare sight for a non-revenue program that competes in the shadow of Mike Krzyzewski's basketball team.

"Each day's a challenge. That's how we're looking at it," said Matt Danowski, Duke's All-American attackman and the son of the new coach. "I haven't played lacrosse with those guys in six or seven months. You can see there's a lot of excitement."

Finnerty and Seligmann remain suspended from the team until the charges against them are resolved. The players said they felt the absence of their two teammates, but had to move on without them.

"I wish with all my heart Collin and Reade were here," player Ed Douglas said.

"They're great kids. I wish they were here. They're still part of the team," Matt Danowski said.

The team opens preseason practice in January and plays its first game in late February. John Danowski said he hopes to have the schedule completed by Friday.