John Sidney Acosta (December 13, 1898 – July 18, 1929) was a

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

player and coach from Jacksonville. He was a

guard Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison ...

for the Yale Bulldogs, selected first-team All-American in 1920 by

Walter Eckersall Walter Herbert "Eckie" Eckersall (June 17, 1883 – March 24, 1930) was an American college football player, official, and sportswriter for the ''Chicago Tribune''. He played for the Maroons of the University of Chicago, and was elected to the C ...

. Acosta was born by parents Tracy L. Acosta and Cora Acosta. He grew up in a democratic household with three siblings by the names of Tracy, James Bailey (who died at the age of three), and Katherine. He came to Yale from the Lawrenceville (New Jersey) School. He went out for football and track; was captain of the Freshman Football Team, and in 1919 and 1920 was on the University Football Team. In Freshman year he was on the Freshman Team, and in the Sophomore, Junior and Senior years belonged to the University Track Team. He was a member of the Sophomore German Committee, the Junior Promenade Committee and the Student Council. He belonged to the Lawrenceville School Club, the Southern Club, of which he was treasurer in 1920, the Sword and Gun Club, Delta Kappa Epsilon and Skull and Bones, being the only Florida born man who ever received that honor. Mr. ACOSTA joined the Yale R.O.T.C. in October 1917, and served with it at New Haven and Camp Jackson, South Carolina, until September 13, 1918, when he was commissioned second lieutenant of Field Artillery and assigned to the Thirty-ninth Training Battery at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky. He remained with that unit until he received his discharge on December 4, 1918. After graduation he joined his father in the insurance business in Jacksonville, Florida. He then took up coaching. Acosta was the freshman coach for the

Florida Gators The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Florida, located in Gainesville. The University of Florida, its athletic program, its alumni and its sports fans are often collectively referred to as t ...

1922 Events January * January 7 – Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic), Dáil Éireann, the parliament of the Irish Republic, ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64–57 votes. * January 10 – Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dáil Éirean ...

, leading them to a southern title. He later died at age 30, in an automobile accident.

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* Florida Gators football coaches Yale Bulldogs football players All-American college football players American football guards 1898 births Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida 1929 deaths Road incident deaths in Georgia (U.S. state) {{collegefootball-player-stub