Suspended Michigan DE Frank Clark waives preliminary exam, due back in court Sept. 11
Michigan defensive end Frank Clark, facing one charge of second-degree home invasion, waived his preliminary exam Thursday in Ann Arbor's 14a District Court according to multiple reports.
Clark is accused of stealing a MacBook Air laptop from a Stockwell Hall dorm and has been suspended from the Wolverines.
Frank Clark
His next court date is a pretrial hearing Sept. 11, according to the Detroit Free Press, which jeopardizes his status for Michigan's games against Alabama on Sept. 1 and Air Force on Sept. 8.
Michigan coach Brady Hoke said last week he hasn't yet determined whether Clark and tailback Fitz Toussaint, suspended after a drunken-driving arrest last month, will practice when the team opens its preseason camp Monday.
Clark was expected to contend in camp with sophomore Brennen Beyer for the starting job at weak-side end. He finished strong last season, highlighted by a pivotal interception in the Sugar Bowl that led to one of the Wolverines' two touchdowns.
It's unclear who would back up Beyer if Clark misses game time.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
OldBittyBates
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 3:27 a.m.
Since the author of this article prefers to see Frank Clark as in the past tense, why not discuss who Michigan might be able to use as his permanent replacement? Is the cupboard truly bare? Have the Wolverines managed to dig themself into a hole they can't get out of? Will Brady Hoke and his staff find a reasonable athlete to play the role of fill in guy? I guess there truly is no way out. No sunny future awaits this great college football team. So sad!
heartbreakM
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 7:20 p.m.
Just a picky point about the article: Waiving the court date to Sept 11 did not jeopardize his status for the Bama or Air Force game. Being accused of theft and home invasion jeopardized his status for these games, and membership of the team more generally. (And if proven guilty, membership of the general university community). I don't know the facts, but waiving the court date certainly is not the cause for his missing time or possible expulsion.
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
Frank Court?