How to Become a Starting Punter at NCU

All Mitch Cozad ever wanted was to be the starting punter at Northern Colorado University.

And who could blame him?

The Bears were on track to do big things (they ended the 2006 season 1-10, last in the Big Sky Conference), and Cozad wanted to be the guy that pinned the other team deep into their own territory. In short, he wanted to be the commanding officer in the battle for field position.

But Rafael Mendoza was simply better. He could kick it longer and with more hang-time more consistently. And that made Cozad furious.

Extra practice wasn't working, so Cozad stabbed him twice in the leg. Allegedly.

Cozad's trial recessed yesterday, and now the jury is deliberating. After a strong defense, which included a character witness by his aunt -- "He's like a teddy bear. He's not aggressive." -- the jury almost certainly will find reasonable doubt.

I mean, lots of kids at Northern Colorado would have had motive to stab the starting punter in the leg, right? Maybe it was someone from UC Davis or Portland State, formidable foes on the NCU schedule who thought they'd have a better shot if Mendoza wasn't punting.

I'm sure that Cozad wants this all to be over as soon as possible, so he can unburden himself of a terribly nagging question: "Hey Coach, does this mean I'm starting now?"