Despite losing a heated competition to Darron Thomas before the season, fifth-year senior quarterback Nate Costa has found ways to contribute to Oregon’s No. 1 ranking. Whether it be playing admirably in relief of Thomas in the Washington State game, tossing several two-point conversions or just being a veteran presence, Costa helps the Ducks win. The Oregon Daily Emerald caught up with Costa after practice this week to pick the signal-caller’s brain on everything from football to Halloween costumes.
Oregon Daily Emerald: Let’s start with the two-point conversion you scored against USC. Take me through that play.
Nate Costa: It was something we practiced all week. It’s a numbers thing. They gave me numbers one way, I’m going to run it there, they give me numbers another way, I’m going to run it there and I kind of just got lucky. They overloaded the middle, left Brandon kind of on an island. He ran a good little route, I threw it up high where he could get it and he made a great catch on it.
ODE: In your last year here at Oregon, how tough has it been being on the bench behind Darron Thomas?
NC: It’s always tough when it initially happens, so when they named Darron the starter it was tough, but the next day at practice I’m already over it. I’m pretty strong mentally and it’s something that’s just the way the game is. I knew I’m going to get opportunities here and there. I’m going to play, I’m going to get in on special teams. I have my little niche that I work with. It’s not tough because we’re winning. I’m happy, there’s nothing for me to complain about.
ODE: For as much time as you’ve spent in the program, on the field and in practice, I’d think you’re probably more familiar with what makes this offense tick than almost anyone. From your vantage point, how is the offense so successful?
NC: Execution, speed and our execution of play, just the way we practice. We practice at our game speed and we carry it over to our games. We don’t make very many mistakes as far as assignments go and when you’re doing that in this offense, great things are going to happen.
ODE: I’m sure having such a strong offensive line also helps. From what I’ve seen, they might be the best line on the West Coast, if not the entire country. But, still seem underappreciated. Talk about how they’re able to play so well as a group?
NC: Time together — those guys have been together. They had last year and they really came together last year, and this year is just a continuation of that. And those guys have been for the most part, they came in with me, we’re fifth-year seniors, most of them, and we’re all together, We’ve been here for quite a long while and its kind of cool to see it come together the way it has. Because we’ve dreamed of these things when we were freshmen hanging out in Barnhart. To see it all come to fruition is pretty cool. And you can’t say enough about those guys. They are very underappreciated and I hope they get some accolades towards the end of the year because they’re doing a great job.
ODE: Moving on to some lighter topics, if you could be any other position than quarterback, what you would play?
NC: I think I’d be probably a center. I’m definitely undersized, but if I had the size I’d probably play center just because in my opinion the center is the quarterback of the offensive line.
ODE: Did you do anything for Halloween? Dress up as anybody?
NC: I didn’t. I went to sleep at 9 o’clock.
ODE: Did any of your teammates have top-notch costumes?
NC: I know Bo, Bo Thran was Kenny Powers last year, because last year we played on a Saturday. Halloween was on a Sunday, so we could go out but this year — nobody went out because it was on a Sunday and it was kind of tough with our practice schedule — but his Kenny Powers last year was top-notch. He shaved a mullet, it was great.
ODE: If you had to pick a teammate, who do you think would come up with the best Halloween costume?
NC: Maybe Cliff Harris, that’s a tough one. I think Cliff could probably come up with something good because he does a lot of good impressions of people. Terrance Mitchell would probably do a good job too; he’s a funny guy.
ODE: What’s Cliff’s best impersonation?
NC: He does this one where he does like a Spanish rapper and I think he calls the guy like Pablo Maladeno or something like that. It’s pretty funny because it’s Cliff, so it’s funny.
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