Nate, it's time to hang it up.

If you haven't already heard from the overnight news, Oregon QB Nate Costa will now miss the entire season, after finding in surgery that there is more damage to his repaired ACL and meniscus than intially thought.

As soon as I heard a few days ago, that Costa was expected to miss 8-10 weeks of this season, I figured that there wasn't much chance of him coming back this year at all. I told a friend of mine (then) that this could be it for Nate. Now we know for sure.

Nate, I know what you're going through. I know what it's like to have this kind of injury....

That was me (in the middle) in June 2004. I had a blown out knee here, after playing in an Aussie Rules Football game, a sport I love almost as much as college football. My knee has never been the same since, even with surgery. And, after three surgeries yourself, Nate, I don't think it'll ever be the same for you either.

So I say this with a heavy heart, but Nate, the time is right for you to find something else to do in life (coaching, maybe?). I know the road to recovery will be difficult, but the rest of your life is in front of you, and you'll be a stronger person in the long run.

Good luck to you, and GO DUCKS!