Sick of the pain college football had visited upon his body, embarrassed by the myriad off-field incidents that poisoned his team and frustrated he could do nothing about it but sit and watch, Andy Birkel wondered if enough was enough.

With one highly productive season under his belt amid a college career otherwise marked by injury and disappointment, Birkel considered hanging up his cleats.

It was a serious consideration, if only for a few minutes.

Returning from a knee injury that kept Birkel sidelined throughout the University of Northern Colorado's chaotic 2006 season, the receiver has returned to the Bears with an eye on capping his injury-plagued collegiate career with one more season he hopes will be more like his stellar 2005 campaign.

"It crossed my mind," Birkel said of his thoughts about leaving football. "But in the long run I knew it wasn't what I wanted to do. I knew I would regret it the rest of my life. I knew I would miss it.

"I've had a long year of hard work. Now I'm ready to go, and for all of us it is a huge relief to have last season behind us."

Last season hardly was the first in which Birkel weathered disappointment.

A native of Lincoln, he was named the Nebraska high school athlete of the year by the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal-Star before fulfilling a lifelong dream by joining the hometown Cornhuskers.

Recruited, in part, by present Northern Colorado coach Scott Downing, then an assistant with Nebraska, Birkel was limited to four games as a freshman because of a foot injury and appeared in only one game in an injury-riddled sophomore season.

Disillusioned and suffocating under the hometown pressure, Birkel transferred to UNC. In 2005, one season before Downing followed him to Greeley, it seemed like a perfect fit.

Birkel had 50 receptions for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2005, becoming the only Bears player to earn preseason all- league accolades when UNC joined the Big Sky Conference in 2006.

It was a short-lived honor, though. Birkel suffered a season- ending knee injury during the Bears' first scrimmage, forcing him to watch helplessly as UNC went 1-10 while the program was rocked by a series of off-field incidents highlighted by, but certainly not limited to, the stabbing of punter Rafael Mendoza by his backup, Mitch Cozad.

It was enough for a guy to forget about football, but it wasn't the way Birkel wanted to go out.

"It's a fresh start," he said. "There are a lot of new coaches and players here. "We have a lot of younger guys that will have to step into their positions, but we'll be faster and have more energy. We're looking to open some eyes in the Big Sky."

Depth chart

OFFENSE Pos Starter Backup Comment

QB Dominic Breazeale Mike Vlahogeorge Vlahogeorge will push Breazeale.

RB Jeff Vaden Andy Muns Tailback by committee this season. David Woods

WR Brian Barmann Jason Caprioli Barmann is top returning receiver.

WR Andy Birkel Sam Sewell Birkel hopes to regain all-league form.

WR Cory Fauver Brent Brown Fauver appeared in five games in 2006.

TE Clint Wright Ryan Chesla Depth and experience at this position.

T Eric Christensen Ryan Kemp Christensen rebounding from injuries.

G Mark Rodden James Zapp Rodden played in five games in 2006.

C Jake Gable Tim McGraw Gable had seven starts at right guard.

G Chris Jones Joel Fassler Jones should make leap.

T Jacob Thornbrue Andrew Dunkley Thornbrue most experienced lineman.

PK Zak Bigelow Michael York Lack of experience at this spot.

DEFENSE Pos Starter Backup Comment

DE John Eddy Josh Mack Eddy made 12 tackles in eight games.

DT Vinny Pallone Amal Gumbs Pallone has started 22 games in row.

DT Ben Sibert Martin Awachie Sibert recorded 15 tackles.

DE Joe Silipo Beck Easton Bears expect big things from Silipo.

LB Casey Herron C.J. Stemo Herron led with four sacks.

LB Cristian Sarmento Matt King Sarmento is one tackle short of 100.

LB Joe Kenney Chris Schardt Kenney has four career interceptions.

CB Quincy Wofford Colby Riggins Both youngsters must grow quickly.

CB Myles Hayes Korey Askew Aaron Henderson starts when healthy.

FS Stephen Michon Eric Brown Brown coming back from injury.

SS D.J. Craft Ryan Lutz Craft has played 24 games. Max Hewitt

P Rafael Mendoza Cameron Kaman Mendoza hopes focus is on punting.

Getting to know Andy Birkel

• The first football jersey number you wore was . . .

"I think it was 49 in my first year of midget, peewee football. I wanted to play linebacker because that's what my older brother played, and I think he wore it."

• Your favorite receiver currently in the NFL is . . .

"Reggie Wayne. I'm a big Colts fan. He's so smooth. I just like his style and the way he carries himself."

• Your pregame routine is . . .

"I don't really have any superstitions. I just keep focused on the game. If I listen to music it's rap, just to get me pumped and get me going."

• Your favorite sports movie is . . .

"Hoosiers. It was on TV the other night, and I had to watch it."

• Your ideal job a year from now would be . . .

"I have been contacted by a few scouts. If all goes well, hopefully, I'll try to play at the next level. If not, I've always told my brother I'd move to Chicago with him. I'm a business major, which is kind of broad, so, hopefully, I could find something. It's all kind of up in the air."

Three things the Bears must prove

1 That 2006 is officially over. The Bears encountered one miserable problem after another on the field and off a year ago. Making sure there are no lingering headaches from last season's 1-10 record will be the first step toward whatever success the Bears achieve.

2 That the Bears can protect the ball. Though overmatched in many games, the defense still recorded 20 takeaways, but 26 turnovers negated that effort and left the Bears in poor field position for much of the season.

3 That the Bears can develop a running game. The Bears averaged 3.3 yards a carry last season and lost all-time leading rusher Andre Wilson to graduation as well as last season's second- leading rusher, Patrick Ealy, who left the program.

Schedule, forecast

Date Opponent Time Last year Pick

Sept. 1 at Hawaii 10 p.m. Did not play Hawaii

Sept. 8 CHADRON STATE 1 p.m. Did not play UNC

Sept. 15 at San Diego 7 p.m. Did not play San Diego

Sept. 22 at Northern Arizona 4 p.m. Lost 54-3 Northern Ariz.

Sept. 29 at Cal Poly SLO 7 p.m. Did not play Cal Poly SLO

Oct. 6 at Idaho State 3 p.m. Lost 41-13 Idaho State

Oct. 13 WEBER STATE Noon Lost 26-21 Weber State

Oct. 20 at Montana 1 p.m. Lost 53-21 Montana

Oct. 27 MONTANA STATE Noon Lost 13-10 Montana St.

Nov. 3 at Eastern Washington 3 p.m. Lost 34-0 Eastern Wash.

Nov. 10 SACRAMENTO STATE Noon Lost 14-9 UNC

Nov. 17 PORTLAND STATE Noon Lost 45-3 Portland State

• NOTE: Home games in CAPS. All times Mountain and subject to change. • RADIO: All games aired on KFKA-AM (1310) in Greeley and KRKS-AM (990) in Denver. • TICKETS: 1-970-351-4849 or at www.UNCO.edu/tickets.

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