Clash Of The Huskies -- Gobrecht `Dismisses' Merlino, Redshirts Mcintire

Laurie Merlino was devastated. After almost four years of dedication to the Husky women's basketball team - after 121 games, 1,264 points and about that many postgame interviews - the University of Washington senior felt crushed because she thought she deserved better.

Better than being dismissed from the team that had been her passion at UW.

It has been learned that Coach Chris Gobrecht dismissed Merlino, 22, after Merlino and a teammate drank some beer following the Huskies' 73-47 loss to Stanford March 21 at the NCAA Tournament in Las Vegas.

It was Merlino's last game.

Gobrecht reportedly told Merlino that it didn't matter that the season was over or that her career was over; that she still represented Washington.

The postseason suspension of Merlino, along with the season-long clash of wills between Gobrecht and junior point guard Jocelyn McIntire, were believed to be at the root of a brouhaha that surfaced yesterday following the publication of a column in a Tacoma newspaper.

The columnist described an atmosphere of "open hostility" and "a rising tide of unrest" by players upset with, among other things, the way they had been treated during practices by Gobrecht. It was reported that players considered boycotting the annual team banquet.

Gobrecht said the newspaper column contained "a tremendous number of inaccuracies." In response to criticism that some of her players consider her practices "brutal," she said:

"When you run a demanding, high-expectation program, a situation such as this is inevitable."

Gobrecht declined to elaborate on the off-court events.

"Some things occurred that weekend," Gobrecht said. "I let people know about it. I don't want to talk about it."

Although clearly a key figure in the team's unrest, Merlino took a conciliatory attitude last night in declining to comment.

"I would just want to say that the positives of the program outweigh the negatives," Merlino said. "I don't want to expand on the unfortunate incident that occurred because I have too many good feelings about the program."

Merlino's dismissal was thought to be at the root of a threatened boycott of the team banquet by the players. It never materialized but not, said Merlino, because Gobrecht coerced them into going.

"The decision was ours," said Merlino, who agreed with the suggestion that she and the other co-captain, Karen Deden, encouraged attendance.

McIntire? It was jointly announced yesterday that she will redshirt next season. She will not play in any games, nor will she practice with the team. She will, however, retain her scholarship.

Because McIntire is on course to graduate in June 1992, chances are considered likely that Husky fans have seen the last of her.

"For anyone not close to this situation, it will be difficult to understand why this decision has been made," Gobrecht said in the statement. "I truly hope that our fans can accept it as a joint decision that was made in the interest of the team, Jocelyn McIntire and the coaching staff."

McIntire, of Lake Oswego, Ore., said in the statement:

"I want to be sure the fans know how much I've appreciated their support during my career here. Husky basketball fans provide us outstanding support. This has been a difficult decision on my part because of the feelings I have for the team. I look forward to getting my degree as a Husky."

Chuck Armstrong, interim athletic director who moderated the settlement, chose no sides.

"I have only good things to say about Jocelyn and I have only good things to say about Chris and her program," Armstrong said.

Gobrecht said two other members of the team - freshmen Chris Pagano and Sarah Talmadge - will not return next season.

Pagano, a scholarship player from Lakeside, plans to transfer to another school, Gobrecht said. Talmadge, of Sultan, was a walk-on. Both saw limited playing time.

The departure of three seniors - Merlino, Deden and Karen Bryant - plus the loss of McIntire, Pagano and Talmadge leave Gobrecht with a nucleus of eight players for next season.

Four high-school seniors have been signed to letters of enrollment intent, as has Tatia Foucade of Paris, who was recruited off the French junior national team.