Hartwell Brown

Somewhere in a closet at home, tucked away with baby shoes and prom photos, is the videotape of Hartwell Brown's first college football game. Stanford vs. Washington, 1990. On it, you can see Brown play nervously after being sent in at linebacker for the Cardinal. You can see his confidence rise as the game goes on. And you can see that block, the one that reduced the ligament in his right knee to fettuccine. You can see that and cringe. "It's pretty sickening," Brown said.

Somewhere in a closet at home, tucked away with baby shoes and prom photos, is the videotape of Hartwell Brown's first college football game. Stanford vs. Washington, 1990. On it, you can see Brown play nervously after being sent in at linebacker for the Cardinal. You can see his confidence rise as the game goes on. And you can see that block, the one that reduced the ligament in his right knee to fettuccine. You can see that and cringe. "It's pretty sickening," Brown said.

Orange County high school players have been selected to play for the South team in the 39th Shrine All-Star football game July 28 in the Rose Bowl. Heading the list of selections is defensive back Tim Manning, who was named The Times' Orange County back of the year after leading Trabuco Hills to the Division VIII championship for the second consecutive season and setting a county career interception mark.

Top teams: Esperanza, San Clemente, Saddleback. Top sprinters: Erik Mitchell (Los Alamitos), Roshawn Sims (Esperanza), Tim Martin (San Clemente). Top hurdlers: Adrian Brown (Huntington Beach), David Fair (El Toro), Damon Richardson (Esperanza). Top distance runners: Mark Gonzales, Tim Mahon (La Habra); Daniel Niednagel (Dana Hills); Mike Farrell (San Clemente); Robby Price, Eddie Salinas (Saddleback); Alan Grant, Brian McCaffery (Marina); Mike Terry (El Modena); Linh Le (Los Amigos).

Trabuco Hills High School defensive back Tim Manning, the county's career interception leader, and Los Alamitos quarterback Todd Gragnano, the county's third-leading career passer, head the list of 1989 National Football Foundation scholar-athlete selections. Members of the county chapter selected 26 prep players and former Rancho Alamitos running back Sean Cheatham, now playing at Golden West College. David Morris, a wide receiver at Saddleback High, heads the list of scholars with a 4.

Hartwell Brown, a defensive end at Los Alamitos High School, said Monday that he has orally committed to Stanford. Other Orange County players who made oral commitments were Fountain Valley lineman Scott Wohrman (Cal State Long Beach) and Mission Viejo linebacker Chris Wild (University of the Pacific). The first day football players can sign letters of intent is Feb. 14. Brown, one of the top recruits on the West Coast, also visited USC, UCLA, California and Nebraska.

There was redemption for Los Alamitos High School kicker Eric Wallace and some recognition for the Griffins' defense. There was a morale victory for Loara tailback Coy Collins as he outgained Los Alamitos' Erik Mitchell by 37 yards in the battle of the running backs. But above all, there was a 16-14 victory for Los Alamitos over rival Loara Thursday night at Gahr High that puts the Griffins in an excellent position to win their third consecutive Empire League title.

Los Alamitos High School quarterback Todd Gragnano and running backs Brian Pizula of Sunny Hills and Coy Collins of Loara head the list of nominations for the North team that will participate in the 31st Orange County All-Star football game July 6 at Orange Coast College's LeBard Stadium. Gragnano led Los Alamitos to the Southern Section Division III championship game as a sophomore and junior and was twice named the most valuable player of the Empire League.

He was called to the principal's office at 10 a.m. Wednesday, but he wasn't in any trouble. Erik Mitchell and three other football players at Los Alamitos High School crowded into the small office, surrounded by parents, faculty and football coaches, and signed away the next four years of their life to college. Mitchell was among at least 35 Orange County football players to sign national letters of intent Wednesday. Mitchell, one of the top running backs in the county, signed with Colorado.

He was serenaded by the Trojan marching band and wooed by UCLA Coach Terry Donahue and several other of the best college football programs in the country. For the last month, Hartwell Brown of Los Alamitos High School heard more recruiting pitches than a potential Marine. Football coaches and recruiters called day and night. Letters flooded his mailbox. Then, it all came to an end last week.