Greeley — Mitch Cozad was convicted of second-degree assault in a knife attack on University of Northern Colorado punter Rafael Mendoza, but he was acquitted of a more severe charge of attempted first-degree murder.
Jurors deliberated about nine hours before reaching the verdict.
Cozad was taken to jail because the assault charge is a crime of violence.
His family sobbed when the verdict was read and declared his innocence, saying Cozad had passed a polygraph test.
He will be sentenced Oct. 2.
After the verdict, jury foreman Tim Scholfield said: “None of us are happy we reached the conclusion that we did, but we are satisfied with the information we were given that this was the correct verdict.”
Prosecutors said Cozad stabbed Mendoza in a desperate bid to get the starting-punter job. The defense argued it was another student who attacked Mendoza.
Shortly before stopping for the day Wednesday, jurors sent District Judge Marcelo Kopcow a note asking: “Does intent to cause death need to be present or can it come later?”
After conferring with prosecutors and the defense, Kopcow sent a reply that did not directly answer the question: “The court has supplied the jury with all the applicable law you must apply in reaching your verdict.”
The question apparently troubled Cozad. He has been stoic for most of the trial but appeared shaken after Kopcow announced his response and left the courtroom. The jury was not present at the time.
“He’s scared to death,” defense attorney Joseph Gavaldon said.
Cozad, of Wheatland, Wyo., did not testify.
Mendoza was attacked on Sept. 11 outside his apartment in Evans, a small town adjacent to Greeley. He testified he could not see who attacked him.
He was left with a deep gash in his kicking leg but later returned to the team.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
