Duke Lacrosse Team Returns to Practice Field

DURHAM, N.C. — Lacrosse returned to the Duke University campus Friday, as the men's team opened practice for the 2007 season after its last season was canceled amid a sexual assault investigation.

Duke President Richard Brodhead ended the nationally ranked team's season last April, following disclosure that a lacrosse player sent an e-mail in which he threatened to kill and mutilate strippers.

The e-mail was discovered during a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at a March 13 team party. A 28-year-old North Carolina Central University student told police she was attacked by three players at the party.

Juniors Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty and David Evans, a 2006 graduate, are charged with sexual offense and kidnapping in the case. Rape charges against all three were dropped in December after the woman said she was uncertain about certain details of the alleged attack.

All three have denied any wrongdoing in the case, which initially led to a national debate about racism and later prompted questions about prosecutorial misconduct.

Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong recently asked to be removed from prosecuting the case after the North Carolina State Bar filed a complaint against him. The complaint contends that Nifong's initial public statements about the case violated ethical standards. The State Bar this week added to the complaint, alleging that Nifong withheld key evidence from defense attorneys.

Players said they are looking forward to re-establishing the team's reputation on the field after having it thrashed for months off the field.

"It's been a whirlwind of emotions," co-captain Matt Danowsky said. "(We've had our) up and downs, but all we can do is look forward to our future and look forward to the season we have coming up."

Duke recently reinstated Seligmann and Finnerty and invited them to return to campus for the spring semester. Neither has enrolled, but their teammates said they aren't far from their thoughts.

"We wish with all our hearts that Collin and Reade could be here with us," co-captain Ed Douglas said. "We understand that it's a n extremely personal decision for those guys and there are different forces influencing that decision."

Former lacrosse coach Mike Pressler was asked to resign at about the same time that Brodhead canceled the 2006 season for the team. New coach John Danowsky, the father of Matt Danowsky, said the team is working hard to rebuild its public image.

"I asked them to do a lot of community service. They did over 515 hours of community service in the fall," Danowski said, adding that four out of every five players on the team has at least a B average in class.

The lacrosse team opens its season at home Feb. 24 against Dartmouth College.