by Tim May, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH , The Columbus Dispatch

"This is where I reported for spring training for four years, and I keep seeing places I remember, running into some old baseball buddies," Cosby said. "My old equipment manager came to the hotel to visit for a while, and that was cool."

He must have felt right at home then in his final college football game.

Cosby caught 14 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, including the winner with 16 seconds left, to help the Longhorns rally for a 24-21 victory over the Buckeyes.

As Cosby wrapped up his college career last night, he could boast that he already has embarked on three adult lives, and he's just 26.

On his way out of high school in tiny Mart, Texas, Cosby was taken by the Anaheim Angels in the sixth round of the 2001 major league draft. With a hefty signing bonus, he gave it a serious shot as an outfielder, toiling for four years in the minors, but he never rose above class-A.

His struggle was the same Michael Jordan encountered when he pursued his dream of major league glory.

"He couldn't hit the curveball," Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis said.

That turned out to be a good thing for Davis and the Longhorns. Cosby gave up on the major league dream and turned his pursuits to a college degree and Texas passes.

"I think he made the right move," Davis said.

Then came the third life. Cosby married his sweetheart, Stasia, and they have two young children.

"We call him the old man," Texas quarterback Colt McCoy said. "We were calling him that when he first showed up, actually. While a lot of the rest of us are going back to our apartments or dorms at night, he'd be going home to his wife and kids."

Davis has enjoyed watching all three chapters of Cosby's adult life.

"First seeing him as an 18-year-old senior in high school, and then seeing him four years later when he came to join us, and now four years after that, married with two children -- you can just see the maturity," Davis said.

"And he brought a workmanlike attitude to practice every day, and I am sure that is from being a professional baseball player. He has been a great source of leadership for the whole team, but especially for the wide receivers."

Cosby hopes his football career is just getting started. He has shown a center fielder's acumen for running down deep passes, and he's considered to have some of the best hands in the Big 12.

"I have been very fortunate and blessed," Cosby said. "I've had a lot of people help me along the way, like coach (Mack) Brown, who stayed loyal to me even when I went off to try baseball for a few years.

"Now four years later, being back out here, I thought it was pretty ironic to be playing my last college football game in the same area where I spent a lot of time playing baseball. It's pretty sweet."

tmay@dispatch.com

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