A former college football player was sentenced to life in prison because a jury could not agree on whether he deserved the death penalty for murdering the brother of an Olympic wrestler.

The jury voted 7-5 in favor of the death penalty yesterday for Fabian Desmond Smart, of Clyo, Ga., a former player at Lock Haven University. Death sentences require a unanimous decision in Pennsylvania.

"This certainly is better than the alternative sentence," defense attorney Ronald C. Travis said. "It helps take some of the sting out of their verdict a week ago, but it still doesn't -- at least as far as I'm concerned, and I'm sure Fabian feels the same way -- it doesn't undo what we consider to be a serious injustice."

Clinton County District Attorney Ted McKnight was out of town and could not be reached for comment. Joseph McGettigan, the special prosecutor on the case, did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press.

Smart was convicted last week of the January 1999 murder of Jason McMann, the older brother of Olympic wrestler Sara McMann. Jason McMann was beaten by several men in Lock Haven the night of Jan. 22, 1999.

Smart and another man then drove McMann to a wooded area several miles from town, where Smart tried to shoot McMann. When the gun misfired, Smart beat McMann with the gun and with a large stick, then left him to die. McMann's body was found three months later.

Travis said he planned to appeal the guilty verdict.

Sara McMann won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in the 138 1/2-pound class. Last month, she was charged with careless driving causing death after a crash that killed her boyfriend, Steven Blackford, 28, himself a three-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Arizona State.

Ohio State

With Justin Zwick hindered by a slightly separated shoulder, Troy Smith will start at quarterback for the Buckeyes tomorrow against Indiana. Quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels announced the decision after practice. Zwick, who has started every game for Ohio State (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), has what Daniels termed a mild separation of his left, or non-throwing, shoulder in the Buckeyes' 33-7 loss at Iowa last week -- their third defeat in a row.

Kansas

After nearly two weeks of speculation, Kansas coach Mark Mangino announced that Adam Barmann is still the Jayhawks' starting quarterback. At least for now. Although Barmann will start tomorrow's game against No. 2 Oklahoma, Mangino made it clear he plans to give Jason Swanson some opportunities to play, as well.

Illinois

Two Illinois football players sentenced to jail for fighting with another man near a bar last summer tried to walk away from the altercation, coach Ron Turner said. Because of the circumstances, linebacker Matt Sinclair and defensive tackle Ryan Matha will face no further team discipline beyond what Turner already imposed.