GREELEY - Rafael Mendoza, the University of Northern Colorado punter who was stabbed in the leg last fall, was on the witness stand again Thursday and could not identify the man sitting at the defense table as his attacker.

The man - Mitch Cozad - is charged with attempted murder and assault of Mendoza.

Thursday's short cross-examination of Mendoza was in marked contrast to Wednesday, when Mendoza broke down while reliving the night of Sept. 11, 2006, when he was stabbed in the right leg.

Defense attorney Andy Gavaldon wanted to know one thing. Could he identify Cozad as the attacker? "I couldn't tell you that," Mendoza said.

Cozad was mostly expressionless during the long day of examinations, which included law officers explaining technical details of collected evidence.

Some of that evidence included fingerprints lifted from Cozad's car, the black sweatshirt allegedly worn by Cozad and a series of phone records documenting calls between Cozad and Kevin Aussprung.

Aussprung, who has not been charged with any crime, is the man Cozad's lawyer is trying to pin the assault on.

Mendoza and others have described him as a "groupie" who couldn't make the UNC football team because of a back injury.

Former Evans Police Detective Angie Quinn testified she looked at Aussprung as a possible suspect, but he began to cooperate by taking her to the crime scene. It is believed Aussprung and Cozad were together at the time of the attack.

Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said Aussprung is expected to take the stand today or Monday.

monterod@RockyMountainNews.com or (303) 954-5236