A Tale Of Immense Pressure and Eternal Jealousy

Woe to the special teamers of the University of Northern Colorado football team. No living being should be subject to the horriffic pressures that come with taking the field for 5-10 plays a game in front of manic crowds numbering in the tens of hundreds, overflowing with vigor. Imagine. Being a punter. Psychotic fans amped up on goofballs to either side stressing the aluminum bleachers and in this deranged environment ordinary young men of barely notable athletic means are asked to catch a football following a 12 yard hike and with raging 5'10", 180 pound linebackers getting as close as 8 yards away drop the ball and kick it before it hits the ground with not but adrenaline pumping through their veins. And not only kick it, but kick it longer than 30 yards, at least most of the time. Some crumple under the massive pressure. Others thrive, even become sad, desperate addicts to their weekly pigskin fix. And today's sorry tale is about just that kind of addict.

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.

Punting is a hell of a drug. Could any self-respecting man admit they'd do any less? So then, can we really punish this poor soul?