Halfback

So now, in the dying hours of the O.J. Simpson murder case, when you think you've learned everything there is to be learned about this man, we have one last bit of evidence thrown at us in the cause of his defense:O.J. Simpson is accused of being a halfback.At such a declaration, the earnestness spills from attorney Johnnie L. Cochran's pores. Halfbacks aren't aggressors, Cochran reminds us. Their job is to avoid contact. Who ever heard of a halfback being a hacker of innocent people? Everybody knows halfbacks don't do such things.

Annapolis Panthers1993 record: 4-8. Coach: Dave Gehrdes.Top players: Ryan Sears, Sr., F; Roger Alfaro, Sr., HB; Andy Holt, Jr., G; Chris Holt, Jr., D; Ryan Little, Sr., D; Kevin Stroop, Jr., HB; Mike Kolb, Sr., D; Brock Nelson, Jr., D.Outlook: The Panthers have a lot of experience up front, but little at fullback. Gehrdes welcomes back eight players who started last year, but several have been moved to defense. At least Andy Holt returns in goal, which is a comfort to Gehrdes. Three newcomers who should make an impact are sophomore halfback Justin Daniel, freshman forward Oscar Alfaro and freshman halfback Mario Lara.

Annapolis PanthersHead coach: Dave Gehrdes (seventh season).Assistant coaches: Thomas Cordts and Tom Cox.1991 record: 7-3-2.Returnees: Seniors Larry Schultz (striker), Ted Bromberg (halfback), Larry Gensler (halfback), Craig Harrison (fullback), Seth Snider (halfback) and Chris Walker (halfback); juniors David Winegrad (sweeper), Reed Simmerman (stopper) and Stefano Terricola (halfback); sophomores Roger Alfaro (striker) and Ryan Sears (halfback).Newcomers: Senior Till Luschert (fullback)

D. Wayne Lukas continues working for that 14th Triple Crown victory, the one that would give him more than any trainer in the history of the sport. He shares the record with Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons. Having already announced that Derby starters Oxbow (sixth) and Will Take Charge (eighth) will run in the 138th Preakness on May 18, Lukas on Tuesday added Titletown Five to the mix. Titletown Five is owned by Paul Hornung, the pro football hall of fame halfback who grew up in Louisville and sold programs at Churchill Downs as a kid. Another former Green Bay Packer, defensive end Willie Davis, is a co-owner.

For four seasons at Maryland State College and three years with the New York Jets, Emerson Boozer and Earl Christy were teammates and friends. They lived in the same apartment complex as rookies and Christy even sold Boozer his Great Dane when they were in New York. Looking back on their seven years together, Christy remembered Boozer, the Hawks' powerful, record-breaking halfback, as an accessible star that was friendly to everyone … so long as any encounters took place off the field.

COLLEGE PARK -- Barring a major recovery, injured University of Maryland senior quarterback Jim Sandwisch will not play in Saturday's game against West Virginia at Byrd Stadium.Also, senior starting halfback Troy Jackson is questionable after slightly pulling a left hamstring in practice yesterday.Sandwisch, the Terps starter, practiced only lightly yesterday and did not throw for the third time this week. Head coach Joe Krivak said Tuesday that if Sandwisch did not practice yesterday, he probably would not play.

It will be halfback by committee for the Ravens this season.It's not exactly what the coaching staff had in mind, but none of the three halfbacks on the roster created any distance from the others during the preseason."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jay Graham made his fourth straight start in the Ravens' 14-6 exhibition victory over the Giants last night.Time's up.Errict Rhett, not Graham, should start at halfback when the Ravens open the regular season against the Steelers in eight days.Rhett is more experienced, more accomplished, and had a much better preseason.It's an obvious call, a no-brainer, but Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda said after last night's game that Graham would start against the Steelers.Huh?

[ Editor's note: This blog post initially included Joshua Davis as one of six Dunbar football players signing national letters of intent to play football on scholarship. Davis, who will play at Morgan State, is not receiving an athletic scholarship. He is receiving need-base financial aid, which allows Morgan to not use one of its football scholarships on him, Dunbar coach Lawrence Smith said.] Dunbar football coach Lawrence Smith is getting used to sending a lot of players to college, but he continues to make signing day an special event for the Poets.

Oakland Mills, Howard, Centennial and Atholton dominate the selections in The Howard County Sun's 1990 All-County Boys Soccer Team.Oakland Mills, the state Class 3A champion with a 14-2 record, placed three players on the first team and three on the second team.Howard, the county champion for the second straight year with an 11-1-1 record, placed four players on the first team and one on the second team.Centennial, compiling an 11-2-1 record with the toughest schedule in the county, placed two players on the first team and two on the second team.