01:00 AM EDT on Friday, October 14, 2005

College athletes may be game-day gladiators, but the rest of the time many are just kids trying to grow up and keep up with all the demands made of them.

Some, however, are wrestling demons of which those of us sitting in the grandstand or press box are totally oblivious.

That point hit me in the gut yesterday morning when I read about Kyle Ambrogi, the University of Pennsylvania football player who committed suicide Monday at his parents' home outside Philadelphia. He was 21, a senior, only a semester away from becoming an Ivy League graduate with its encumbent privileges. But he also was suffering from depression, family members told the Phildelphia Daily News.

This should have been a thrilling week for the Ambrogi family. Kyle, a backup running back, scored two touchdowns in a rout of Bucknell at Franklin Field last Saturday, and probably was going to see action tomorrow at Columbia. Kyle's brother Greg, a sophomore defensive back, also scored a touchdown in the Bucknell game. Two brothers scoring in the same game made headlines in the Ivy League.

But instead, the Ambrogis are mourning the loss of their son and brother, the Quakers a teammate. Kyle's death hit opponents hard, as well.

"I'm devastated by it," Brown coach Phil Estes said. He gathered his team at practice yesterday for a moment of silence and offered his sympathy in a message to Penn coach Al Bagnoli.

Brown recruited both Ambrogi boys, Estes said, but they made it clear early that they wanted to go to Penn.

"They are great kids, great players," said Estes.

Estes is amazed at how much college athletes go through these days. He doesn't remember his four years at the University of New Hampshire as being riddled with the stress he sees athletes coping with now.

"Not just in school, but at home -- socially, emotionally. I see it in our kids sometimes."

He, his assistants and athletic trainer Russ Fiore are always on the lookout for changes in behavior that may signal a concern. Estes has had players who are depressed, who can't sleep, who are worried about problems unrelated to football. He has had players break down and cry in his office, and has told players to take time off because football isn't that important. He has arranged psychological help for four or five players over the years.

"I worry about it all the time," he said.

Estes and the Bears had to cope with emotional stress a year ago when Lawrence Rubida was being treated for Ewing's sarcoma before dying of the cancer.

"That was different because Lawrence was confident he was going to beat this. For us, it became a fight for Lawrence. It became a quest. In this case, it's done. It's over."

The anguish in his voice came through loud and clear.

Coaches who are fathers relate to sad incidents such as this on another level. They think of their own children. So, yesterday morning, Phil Estes, the dad, called his daughter Meaghan at the University of New Hampshire, where she is a freshman, a volleyball player, a kid growing up. He wanted to make sure she was OK. And to tell her that he loved her.

THE PICKS

PRINCETON at BROWN -- Bears' passing game could be the difference if the turf is soft from a week of rain. QB Joe DiGiacomo must bring his "A" game. Kickers Steve Morgan of Brown and Derek Javarone of Princeton also could play important roles.

BROWN, 27-24

URI at NEW HAMPSHIRE -- Rams' defense has slipped the last two weeks and will struggle to stop QB Ricky Santos and WR David Ball. Rhody running game might get bogged down in Cowell Stadium mud.

NEW HAMPSHIRE, 42-28

BRYANT at SAINT ANSELM -- Bulldogs can win their fifth game and tie school record for victories in a season.

BRYANT, 28-17

SALVE REGINA at ENDICOTT -- All you need to know about Endicott is that it is battling Steve Nelson's Curry College for the NEFC Boyd lead.

ENDICOTT, 24-14

MIT at UMASS-DARTMOUTH -- If the 1-5 Corsairs keep improving and winning, they can salvage a .500 season.

UMASS-DARTMOUTH, 21-14

USC at NOTRE DAME -- Game of the day. Picking the Irish is tempting, but the Trojans are just too strong on offense.

USC, 38-28

WAKE FOREST at BOSTON COLLEGE -- So many morsels to savor: ACC's best rushing offense (WF) vs. best rushing defense (BC); Eagles can become bowl eligible for record seventh consecutive year; WF has won last two meetings; BC QB Quinton Porter is the ACC co-player of the week.

BOSTON COLLEGE, 30-17

UCONN at CINCINNATI -- Huskies will make it 6-0 vs. Ohio teams since they joined the I-A ranks in 2002.

UCONN, 31-21

COLORADO at TEXAS -- Buffaloes are 4-1 and ranked (24th) again but are not in Longhorns' (2nd) class yet.

TEXAS, 38-21

MICHIGAN STATE at OHIO STATE -- Buckeyes bounce back from their road loss at Penn State.

OHIO STATE, 28-21

PENN STATE at MICHIGAN -- Michigan RB Mike Hart must find seams in tough Penn State defense for the Wolverines to spring this upset.

MICHIGAN, 23-21

FLORIDA at LSU -- No. 11 at No. 10 is too close for me, so I'll take the home team.

LSU, 27-24

MIAMI at TEMPLE -- UPSET SPECIAL! Just kidding. Hurricanes are favored by 41. They could leave the starters home and still win by five touchdowns.

MIAMI, 56-6

JAMES MADISON at UMASS -- Huge test for 13th-ranked Minutemen (4-1) against fourth-ranked Dukes (4-1).

JAMES MADISON, 24-21

DARTMOUTH at HOLY CROSS -- Crusaders' big-play guy, Steve Silva (East Providence), is second in the nation in all-purpose yardage and an addition to the Payton Watch list.

HOLY CROSS, 27-13

THE RECORD

Last week, 9-6, .600. Season, 65-25, .722.