N. Colorado Punter Stabbed (Merged)

[BB73]

usatoday

UNC reserve punter arrested for allegedly stabbing rival in kicking legPosted 9/13/2006 9:52 AM ET


GREELEY, Colo. (AP) ? The University of Northern Colorado's reserve punter was arrested Tuesday, accused of stabbing his rival in his kicking leg.

Mitch Cozad, a sophomore from Wheatland, Wyo., allegedly attacked starting punter Rafael Mendoza in a parking lot in Evans on Monday night, Evans police Lt. Gary Kessler said.

Mendoza, the Bears' first-string punter from Thornton, was treated and released from the North Colorado Medical Center Monday night. Coach Scott Downing said Mendoza will not punt for UNC in Saturday's game at Texas State University.

"I don't know how long he'll be out because I haven't talked to the doctor," Downing said.
Cozad, Mendoza and freshman Zak Bigelow had been in a three-way race for the starting punter's job in preseason training. Mendoza has averaged 37.6 yards-per-punt on nine punts in the two games so far this season.

Cozad is facing second-degree assault charges and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a bond hearing.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

that's stupid......now who is going to punt?

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

that's stupid......now who is going to punt?

Where the hell is Katie Hnida?

 

[Captain Hindsight]

Talk About A Sore Loser...

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;...ap-ncolorado-punterattacked&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

[sandgk]

that's stupid......now who is going to punt?

Bigelow must come up big for N. Colorado.

 

[lvbuckeye]

sounds like he took some friendly advice from Tonya Harding...

 

[sandgk]

In a scenario reminiscent of Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan, the backup punter at Northern Colorado has been accused of stabbing his rival in the leg -- his kicking leg.

Phew, lucky it wasn't his plant leg, he could have been a vegetable for the rest of his career.

 

[Jagdaddy]

Where the hell is Katie Hnida?

Probably trying out for reality shows.

 

[sandgk]

Our long national nigthmare ...

OK - enough of that over used phrase.

The N. Colorado punter wannabe found guily and is looking at 16 years in prison, avoiding the greater charge of attempted murder.

Some cried ..

Yahoo

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) -- Prosecutors said Mitch Cozad was so obsessed with becoming Northern Colorado's starting punter that he plunged a 5-inch-long knife into his rival's kicking leg.
A jury agreed, convicting Cozad of second-degree assault Thursday. But he was acquitted of the more serious charge of attempted first-degree murder.
The 22-year-old from Wheatland, Wyo., now faces up to 16 years in a Colorado prison for the attack on starting punter Rafael Mendoza.
Defense attorney Joseph Gavaldon said he would appeal.
Mendoza was ambushed outside his apartment on the night of Sept. 11. He couldn't say who attacked him in the dimly lighted parking lot. He testified the assailant was dressed in black from head to toe and had a hood cinched up so only the eyes were visible.

His defense attorney believes in cutting edge legal arguments!

Gavaldon argued it was another student at the university who stabbed Mendoza, not Cozad. "Absolute disappointment," Gavaldon said after the verdict was read. He said he advised Cozad to stay strong and told him, "This is not over."

Yer right, it is the beginning of a wonderful 16 years for your client if you keep this up, geez.