Sports Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

FOOTBALL
Redskins Bench Brunell; Jason Campbell Will Start Sunday
Jason Campbell will make his NFL debut Sunday for theWashongton Redskins, replacing Mark Brunell for a 3–6 team apparently heading nowhere and in need of a plan for the future.
Coach Joe Gibbs announced yesterday that Campbell, who has been an inactive third quarterback for all 25 games of his pro career, will start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“We’re going to give Jason his opportunity and see if we can be more productive and see if we can get some more answers,” Gibbs said.
The move comes a day after the Redskins were beaten 27–3 at Philadelphia. Brunell went 16-for-32 for 132 yards and had an interception returned 70 yards for a touchdown.
BASEBALL
Cardinals To Play Mets In Major League Opener
The World Series champion St Louis Cardinals will host the Mets in the 2007 major league opener on Sunday night, April 1.
The game, a rematch of this year’s NL championship series, will be televised nationally by ESPN2 starting at 8:05 p.m. EDT, the Cardinals said yesterday.
After an off day on April 2, the series concludes with games April 3 and 4.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Butch Davis Hired To Coach North Carolina
A Former NFL coach, Butch Davis, will return to the sidelines as coach at North Carolina, which is 1–9 and hasn’t beaten a Division I-A team this season.
He will replace the fired John Bunting, the school said yesterday. The hiring had been widely expected the past week after Davis’s name rose to the top of the list of candidates.
Davis, who will turn 55 on Friday, brings a reputation for orchestrating turnarounds — which is just what the struggling Tar Heels need. North Carolina ranks among the worst offenses and defenses in the country.
TENNIS
Blake Upsets Nadal In Masters Cup
James Blake, the eighth-ranked and last player to qualify for the Masters Cup, beat no. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal 6–4, 7–6 (0) yesterday to improve to 3–0 against the 20-year-old Spaniard in ATP events. He remains the only player in the elite eight-man field to have a winning record over Nadal.
“I’m never going to win a match against him playing really conservative,” Blake, describing his high-risk, low-percentage shotmaking options against Nadal, said.
HOCKEY
Blue Jackets Fire Gallant
Gerard Gallant was fired as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday, less than 24 hours after the team dropped into last place in its division.
No replacement for Gallant was named. Columbus next plays at home tonight against Nashville.
The 43-year-old Gallant had a record of 56–76–10 in one full season and parts of two others as the head coach of the Blue Jackets. The team fell to 5–9–1–0 this season and to last place in the Central Division of the Western Conference after Sunday night’s 1–0 loss at Chicago.
— Associated Press