Backup Punter Attacks Starter, Hoeppner Needs Surgery

By The Associated Press

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. He was suspended from the team, evicted from his residence and expelled from school on Tuesday, The Greeley Tribune reported.

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Indiana Coach Terry Hoeppner will undergo brain surgery for the second time in less than nine months, but he hopes to be back with his team in a couple of weeks.

An MRI scan showed "some change in the area" of his brain where surgeons previously removed a tumor in December, the 59-year-old Hoeppner said Tuesday. The test could indicate a recurrence of the tumor, neurosurgeon Marshall Poor said in a written statement.

Poor said he expected Hoeppner to return in two to four weeks after surgery Wednesday in Bloomington, Ind. Hoeppner said he hoped to be back for his team's Big Ten season opener Sept. 30, when the Hoosiers play host to Wisconsin.

Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Bill Lynch will take over in Hoeppner's absence.

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Stanford senior receiver Mark Bradford is out indefinitely because of torn ligaments in his right foot, an injury he sustained in the Cardinal's 35-34 loss to San Jose State…. Utah State receiver Tony Pennyman was kicked off the team, a day after he was arrested for an altercation with his girlfriend.

Florida State defensive tackle Aaron Jones reinjured his right ankle during practice and his status for Saturday's game against Clemson is in doubt…. Iowa quarterback Drew Tate, who sat out last week's win over Syracuse because of an abdominal strain, is expected to start Saturday against Iowa State.


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