Rafael Mendoza, a starting punter for Northern Colorado, was left with a 3- to 5-inch gash in his kicking leg in the attack last Sept. 11.

Police and prosecutors allege Mitch Cozad, the backup punter at the time, stabbed Mendoza in a bid to get the starter's job.

Cozad, of Wheatland, Wyo., is on trial on charges of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault. His attorney, Joseph Gavaldon, has said another student attacked Mendoza.

Questioned by Gavaldon, Mendoza said Cozad — who lived in a dorm — once told him "he was thinking about moving out, and I had an extra bedroom" in an off-campus apartment.

Asked if he was considering offering the room to Cozad, Mendoza said, "That's right."

Later, Gavaldon asked Mendoza about his previous testimony that he could not see who attacked him because only the assailant's eyes were visible beneath the cinched-up hood of a black sweat shirt.

"It wasn't Mitchell Cozad, was it?" Gavaldon asked.

"I couldn't tell you that," Mendoza replied.

The 22-year-old Mendoza was composed on the stand today, a day after breaking down in sobs as a prosecutor replayed his labored, panting 911 call.

Kyle Oakeson, an employee at Knotty Pine Liquor, also testified today that he saw a fast-approaching car suddenly whip into a parking space as he stared out the store's drive-thru window.

Oakeson noticed two people dressed all in black get out, peel off tape from the license plates, get back into the car and speed off.

He said the license plate was from Wyoming and read 8-KIKR, which later was traced to Cozad's mother. Oakeson called 911 to report what he'd seen, and his 911 call was played for the jury.

Gavaldon has said prosecutors jumped to the conclusion that Cozad attacked Mendoza because Cozad's car was used.

Instead, Gavaldon has blamed the stabbing on Kevin Aussprung, another Northern Colorado student who told police he was with Cozad the night of the attack.

Gavaldon said in his opening statement that Aussprung, a soccer player, was a "football wannabe" who did not like Mendoza.