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I WAS ONE OF THOSE TEENS WHO WOULD SPEND countless minutes in the mirror evaluating the progress of my facial fuzz.

While some of my peers were shaving already, I was furiously thumbing my chin for something worthy of a razor.

Sooner or later, I had to fess up to the fact that I just can̢۪t grow a beard. Even now, the best I can hope for is a five o̢۪ clock shadow.

Sadly, I think my adolescent enthusiasm was a little premature because it seems you just don̢۪t see beards like you used to. I̢۪m talking real beards. Not goatees, or chin strips, or mutton chops but real bonafide beards; maybe not ZZ Top, but at least Mr. T.

I still remember an episode of “Beavis and Buttheadâ€Â where the two idiots had the genius idea of cutting some of their hair and gluing it to their chins to attract women.

Not only did their pseudo-beards look awful, but they found out that beards were out of style. Their far from potential mates walked away telling them to come back in 10 years when beards were back in style.

So beards had their heyday back in the 80s and they became rarer as the 90s rolled around. But I have the distinct suspicion that they are on the rise again.

Since I have always been under the impression that most trends start in our nation̢۪s colleges, I asked random students at Fresno State what their take on the issue was.

For the females, because their opinions might be the most relevant, it was often a conditional acceptance.

“It depends on if it’s well cut,â€Â said senior Meghan Sanchez. “Not full; no mountain man beard.â€Â

Others had less positive things to say about the chin scruff.

“My fiancé likes to grow it out every winter, so I look forward to when he shaves it,â€Â said graduate student Alicia Gonzalez who added that beards make for bad kissing.

Sophomore Rebecca Mabe said beards were most likely a college thing that guys attempt for a while, but eventually grow out of.

It was no surprise that the men had more favorable estimations of the bearded look.

“Usually what I do is grow it out full and then trim it,â€Â said sophomore Junior Mendoza, “It makes you look older.â€Â Mendoza said his girlfriend also liked the fuzz.

On the other hand, some men are just lazy, like sophomore Kory Boran who simply didn̢۪t want to deal with it.

“I didn’t shave for awhile,â€Â said Boran, “and I looked in the mirror one day…â€Â

The rest was history.

Graduate student Craig Kellogg only kept his beard for a month before shaving it. For him, it was not only uncomfortable but he got some negative reviews as well.

“I’d never done it before,â€Â said Kellogg who grew it out full, “just to try it out.â€Â

If I had to project my findings upon the entire campus, I would say most women do not prefer beards on a guy and most guys are very hesitant to grow one.

I can respect that but at the same time, I got the sense that a lot of men don̢۪t give their whiskers a chance. Perhaps it̢۪s too late for me but I gave it a shot at the very least if only to emulate some of the greats.

I mean, think of all the celebrities who are known for their beards.

What would Sean Connery be without his beard?

Conan O̢۪Brien improved his look with one, as did George Clooney for awhile.

And maybe it̢۪s a stretch, but it seems to me that Abraham Lincoln has become synonymous with a thick, respectable beard.

So at the risk of sounding like Ernest Hemingway, I say be a man. Even if it̢۪s not coming back in style, grow a beard. You̢۪ll never know what suits until you try it.

Furthermore, you̢۪ll never know what attracts the opposite sex until you change up your look every now and then.

Who knows? You may be the next Johnny Depp.