Michigan Loses Top Receiver

Michigan receiver Mario Manningham will miss the fourth-ranked Wolverines’ conference game at Penn State on Saturday after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday.

The Big Ten’s leading receiver appeared to injure his knee in Michigan’s 31-13 win over Michigan State last Saturday.

“We got great news as far as the injury,” Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said during a conference call. “He’ll miss this week, but we’re very excited about the news we’ve received.”

Carr did not describe the injury further, and refused to discuss a timetable for Manningham’s return.

The sophomore leads the Wolverines, 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten, and the conference with 527 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.

With Manningham out, Carr said freshman Greg Mathews would be counted on to make plays, but he said it should not alter the team’s overall offensive strategy.

“I don’t think it’s going to change what we do, because we do have a number of receivers who are very capable,” Carr said, adding that Carl Tabb would also play a role.

The game will be the 12th meeting between the schools, with Michigan holding an 8-3 series advantage. The last time the Wolverines played at Penn State was five years ago in a game they won, 20-0. Carr is 7-2 lifetime against Penn State (4-2, 2-1).

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Five Connecticut players were dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules while in Tampa, Fla., according to the Hartford Courant.

Defensive end Harold Stanback, safety and linebacker Ricky McCollum, receivers Nollis Dewar and Todd Dorcelus and linebacker Carl Teague were dismissed by Coach Randy Edsall.

The players purchased beer at a store across from the team’s hotel the night before the Huskies’ 38-16 loss to South Florida.