Nate Costa
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel William "Nate" Costa (born May 15, 1988) is a former American football
player. He played quarterback at the University of Oregon
from 2006 to 2010 and was a team captain of the 2010 Oregon Ducks football team
.
in 1988. He grew up in Hilmar, California
and attended Hilmar High School. He played quarterback for the Hilmar High School football team. As a junior, he threw for 2,200 yards and 24 touchdowns and also rushed for 700 yards and six touchdowns. As a senior in 2005, Costa gained 3,961 yards of total offense on 2,252 passing yards and 1,709 rushing yards. He totaled 33 touchdowns, 18 rushing and 15 passing that years. He was selected as the Central Valley player of the year and received all-state honors three consecutive years.
Costa was rated by rivals.com as the No. 19 dual-threat quarterback in the country in the recruiting class of 2006. He received scholarship offers from the University of Oregon
, University of Utah
, and Boise State University
. He was also recruited by, and made campus visits to, the University of Iowa
and Northwestern University
. Costa gave his oral commitment to Oregon in August 2005, before the start of his senior season.
in 2006 and played for the Oregon Ducks football
team from 2006 to 2010. As a true freshman in 2006, he appeared in games against Portland State and USC
. He completed all three of his pass attempts against Portland State for 51 yards. Against USC, he completed two passes in two attempts for 22 yards and also rushed for 39 yards on seven carries.
As a sophomore in 2007, Costa suffered a tear to knee ligaments and did not see action as a redshirt. In 2008, Costa was named the Ducks' starting quarterback in the preseason. However, he sustained torn knee ligaments two weeks before the season opener. He underwent the second knee surgery of his college career in the fall of 2008.
Costa returned from the injuries and became a key player on Oregon's 2009 and 2010 Pac-10 Conference championship teams. He also played a pivotal role in helping the Oregon Ducks reach the Rose Bowl in 2010
. During his time at Oregon, he suffered multiple knee injuries which hindered his development as a player. He is well known by the national media as player who refused to give up on his dream and battled back from injury multiple times. In 2009 and 2010, he was elected to the Pac-10 All-Academic team. In 2010 he was chosen as a recipient for the Wil Gonyea Award for the Most Inspirational Player on the team.
Costa's playing career came to an end in November 2010 when he suffered a knee injury upon being tackled in the third quarter of a 53–16 home win over Washington
. Despite the injury, Costa suited up for and hoped to play in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game
. Prior to the game, Oregon coach Chip Kelly
noted:
When Costa took the field in practice prior to the national championship game, his appearance resulted in the first loud ovation from Oregon fans. Although he did not play in the game, Costa said, "Just having the opportunity to be with those guys one last time made everything worth it. It's so tough saying goodbye for the last time. I shed a couple tears, not for me, but because this is the last time that I'll be around these guys." The Portland Tribune
called Costa "the heart and soul" of the 2010 team that advanced to the national championship game.
. In July 2011, he joined the police department in Springfield, Oregon
. After two months, knee injuries forced Costa to retire from the police force in September 2011.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played quarterback at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
from 2006 to 2010 and was a team captain of the 2010 Oregon Ducks football team
2010 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2010 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the 2010 college football season. The team was led by Chip Kelly in his second season as a head coach. The Ducks played their home games at Autzen Stadium for the 44th straight year....
.
Early years
Costa was born in Turlock, CaliforniaTurlock, California
Turlock is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States, part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, Turlock had a population of 80,549, up from 55,810 at the 2000 census, making it the second-largest city in Stanislaus County.-Geography:Turlock lies in the...
in 1988. He grew up in Hilmar, California
Hilmar, California
Hilmar-Irwin is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. The population was 5,197 at the 2010 census, up from 4,807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
and attended Hilmar High School. He played quarterback for the Hilmar High School football team. As a junior, he threw for 2,200 yards and 24 touchdowns and also rushed for 700 yards and six touchdowns. As a senior in 2005, Costa gained 3,961 yards of total offense on 2,252 passing yards and 1,709 rushing yards. He totaled 33 touchdowns, 18 rushing and 15 passing that years. He was selected as the Central Valley player of the year and received all-state honors three consecutive years.
Costa was rated by rivals.com as the No. 19 dual-threat quarterback in the country in the recruiting class of 2006. He received scholarship offers from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, and Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
. He was also recruited by, and made campus visits to, the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. Costa gave his oral commitment to Oregon in August 2005, before the start of his senior season.
University of Oregon
Costa enrolled at the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 2006 and played for the Oregon Ducks football
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
team from 2006 to 2010. As a true freshman in 2006, he appeared in games against Portland State and USC
2006 USC Trojans football team
The 2006 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in college football season of 2006-2007, winning the Pacific-10 Conference and playing in the Rose Bowl...
. He completed all three of his pass attempts against Portland State for 51 yards. Against USC, he completed two passes in two attempts for 22 yards and also rushed for 39 yards on seven carries.
As a sophomore in 2007, Costa suffered a tear to knee ligaments and did not see action as a redshirt. In 2008, Costa was named the Ducks' starting quarterback in the preseason. However, he sustained torn knee ligaments two weeks before the season opener. He underwent the second knee surgery of his college career in the fall of 2008.
Costa returned from the injuries and became a key player on Oregon's 2009 and 2010 Pac-10 Conference championship teams. He also played a pivotal role in helping the Oregon Ducks reach the Rose Bowl in 2010
2010 Rose Bowl
The 2010 Rose Bowl, the 96th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Friday, January 1, 2010 at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. It featured the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Oregon Ducks...
. During his time at Oregon, he suffered multiple knee injuries which hindered his development as a player. He is well known by the national media as player who refused to give up on his dream and battled back from injury multiple times. In 2009 and 2010, he was elected to the Pac-10 All-Academic team. In 2010 he was chosen as a recipient for the Wil Gonyea Award for the Most Inspirational Player on the team.
Costa's playing career came to an end in November 2010 when he suffered a knee injury upon being tackled in the third quarter of a 53–16 home win over Washington
2010 Washington Huskies football team
The 2010 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Sarkisian. The Huskies played their home games at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington, and were members of the Pacific 10 Conference...
. Despite the injury, Costa suited up for and hoped to play in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game
2011 BCS National Championship Game
The 2011 Tostitos BCS National Championship Game was the final college football game to determine the national champion of the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision season. The finale of the 2010-2011 Bowl Championship Series was played at the University of Phoenix Stadium, the host...
. Prior to the game, Oregon coach Chip Kelly
Chip Kelly
Charles "Chip" Kelly is the head football coach at the University of Oregon. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football today, the 2009 and 2010 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, 2010 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, 2010 Walter Camp Coach of the Year, 2010 Sporting...
noted:
"Nate was one of the real leaders of our football team ... He has been rehabbing just like he has done everything in his life, full speed. He is just a great role model for all of our players. ... To have three (ACL injuries), I don't know who would bounce back from that. ... He is a great person where I can point to some young people in our teams that may be down in the dumps or have a sniffle and say, hey, look at him, look how he approaches life. He has been fantastic. We are here because of our leadership, and Nate's one of our best leaders."
When Costa took the field in practice prior to the national championship game, his appearance resulted in the first loud ovation from Oregon fans. Although he did not play in the game, Costa said, "Just having the opportunity to be with those guys one last time made everything worth it. It's so tough saying goodbye for the last time. I shed a couple tears, not for me, but because this is the last time that I'll be around these guys." The Portland Tribune
Portland Tribune
The Portland Tribune is a free weekly newspaper published each Thursday in Portland, Oregon, United States.The Tribune is part of the Pamplin Media Group, which publishes a number of community newspapers in the Portland metropolitan area, and also owns and operates the talk radio station KPAM, and...
called Costa "the heart and soul" of the 2010 team that advanced to the national championship game.
Later years
Costa currently works as a television sports analyst for Comcast SportsNet Northwest in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. In July 2011, he joined the police department in Springfield, Oregon
Springfield, Oregon
Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area...
. After two months, knee injuries forced Costa to retire from the police force in September 2011.