GREELEY - The punt was wobbly, shorter than he would have liked and well short of the end zone.

But Rafael Mendoza was all smiles anyway.

For the first time since last football season, he could kick with a clear mind. The only things weighing on him were the mechanics of planting his leg and sending the football as high and as far as possible.

"It feels better today," he said, sweat already beading on his forehead while the sun cooked the field temperature to well above 100 degrees.

Thursday was his second practice back with the University of Northern Colorado football team. The first practice Wednesday had gone well, but Mendoza was still troubled.

He was still wondering about who stabbed him in the back of his kicking leg the night of Sept. 11. Still a little fearful when he would get out of his car after dark. Still feeling a little like his life was on hold.

Then 12 people solved the mystery for him and gave him his life back.

Thursday morning, the man who attacked Mendoza was convicted by a jury of second-degree assault, though he was acquitted of attempted first-degree murder. Mitch Cozad, the 22-year-old who was a walk-on to the UNC football team and wanted to be the starting punter last season, never looked at Mendoza when the verdict was read. Mendoza didn't look at him from the seats in the Weld County courtroom, either.

Instead, he looked around at his massive family, who had shown up to support him. He looked forward, dabbing at his eyes. His life could go back to normal - the nine-day trial finishing just in time for the start of Mendoza's passion - the football season that begins Sept. 1 against the University of Hawaii.

"I hope to win a lot of games," he said. "I want to be a leader on the team - to step up since I'm a senior. I want to be a role model for the freshmen - somebody to look up to, even though I'm only the punter."

And beyond that, he confessed, a chance to make it to the pros.

"I'm thinking about it and am definitely going to try it," he said. "But at the same time, I know the odds of somebody going pro. I'm not getting my hopes up, but it's something I want to try and do."

He still has a ways to go.

Kin make way to court

The courtroom was packed. After deliberating all day Wednesday, the six-man, six-woman jury returned at 8:30 a.m. Thursday to continue where they left off. District Court Judge Marcelo Kopcow, who had kept a tight schedule during the entire trial, never asked the jury how far along they were just before he dismissed them Wednesday night.

Had Kopcow done so, he might have had a clue that the jury would come back in less than 30 minutes with a verdict.

Cozad's family, which had been at the trial every day, filed into the courtroom along with the accused - dressed as he always was, in a dark suit with his hair spiked and gelled.

His mother, Suzanne Cozad, held hands with Cozad's fiancee, Michelle Weydert.

And then they waited. And waited. For more than an hour. According to state law, the verdict could not be read until the victim was present. Isabel Mendoza, Rafael's 21-year-old sister, said that getting the 14 family members to the courthouse that quickly was "chaos."

But they made it. Rafael's older brother, Phillip, said that they all wanted to be there. When they came in, they filled three rows of seats. Mendoza held his fiancee's hand. The jury came in quietly - never looking at Cozad - and Kopcow asked everyone in the courtroom to contain their emotions and that, if they couldn't, they should leave.

Nobody did.

When the not-guilty verdict on the attempted first-degree murder charge was read, Suzanne Cozad trembled, her hand gripping Weydert's tightly. When the guilty verdict on the assault charge was read, she shook while Weydert began to sob.

"Oh God," she said. "Oh God."

According to Colorado law, Cozad had to be taken into custody immediately.

Weld County sheriff's deputies put the handcuffs on, each click eliciting more tears from Weydert and more anger from Cozad's mother.

"You all know he passed the polygraph. You all know it," she said, her voice rising. "The DA has known it since February."

Mendoza was shaking. His family left the courtroom, while Weydert was so overcome, she couldn't stand on her own. Cozad's father, Richard, left quickly and angrily.

Afterward, Mendoza and the family met with Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck. Dave Medina, Mendoza's uncle, said that before Buck addressed them all, they asked for a moment alone.

"We gathered around and prayed for the (Cozad) family," he said. "It's hard for them because they're suffering, too."

Punter assisting backup

UNC head coach Scott Downing gathered with Mendoza and backup punter Cameron Kaman on the practice field and watched the two of them take snaps and kick high, spiraling balls into the blue sky.

Each time Mendoza shanked one, he would make a disgusted sound. Then he kicked one down the sideline about 50 yards.

"It's all right," Downing told him as he patted him on the back. "I'll take that."

Kaman, a freshman from Kansas, said that Mendoza has been helping him out, giving him pointers on kicking technique. There is little doubt that Mendoza will be the starter, though Downing allows that Mendoza isn't where he needs to be quite yet. But he isn't worried.

"For the second day of camp, I think we'll be OK," he said.

Later at practice, Kaman and Mendoza were resting in the shade. Mendoza smiled and laughed with Kaman about his love of the Kansas City Chiefs. Then Downing told them to get ready to kick some more in formation.

As they ran onto the field, Mendoza said that Kaman has the skills to be a good punter. But that isn't what matters most. He stopped in mid-jog, turned his head and smiled again.

"He's a nice guy."

Mendoza put on his helmet, and the special teams lined up. He barked out the signs. The ball was snapped, and he boomed a 60-yard punt while his teammates cheered.

He's back.

monterod@rockymoutainnews.com or 303-954-5236

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