On the night of the Lancers’ first home football game, a bright red and white jersey gleamed under the Friday night lights.
The framed outfit was held up by former football and golf coach Tim Devaney, athletic director Paul Jones, former athletic director Ralph Trigstead and principal Craig Weinreich.
While some students may have thought that the red and white jersey belonged to a Fullerton Indian player, it belonged to former Ohio State University [OSU] starting quarterback, Jim Karsatos.
“You couldn’t ask for a more outstanding person,” said Devaney, who coached the player starting when he was a high school sophomore. “He was generous, he was outstanding in everything that he did and he treated us and his teammates with respect.”
Karsatos, a Class of 1981 Lancer, was recognized on Friday, Aug. 29, during halftime for his accomplishments during his time at Sunny Hills.
Devaney and Trigstead, Karsatos’ former football coaches, showed up to the commemoration to recognize the achievements of their former athlete.
“I think they wanted someone that was close to Jimmy,” Devaney said. “Not that we were the closest, but you never know where the people are at that time, and we had a very small part [in his life], but he was part of our lives too.”
The announcer read out Jones’ script, which mentioned how Karsatos had set an Orange County single-season passing yardage record and earned the LA Times’ Orange County “Back of the Year” honors. He also led the football and basketball teams to the CIF semifinals and led the badminton team to a CIF championship in 1981.
Devaney, who coached then-tackle Karsatos as a quarterback, said he credits the CIF semifinals in 1979 to the player’s skill and leadership and acknowledges that time as the beginning of SH football’s golden era.
“He is by far the best quarterback that SH has ever had,” the former football coach said. “It was not like I taught him a lot; it was innate with Jimmy.”
Trigstead said he officially met Karsatos when the latter was in his senior year of high school, but had always recognized his talent prior as the offensive line coach.
“He was one of the best football players I’ve ever seen on a high school level to this day,” Trigstead said. “It was just incredible.”
At OSU, he became a starter and captain in 1985, leading the Buckeyes to a 9-3 overall record against then-No. 1-ranked Iowa State University. In 1986, he concluded another successful season with a share of the Big Ten title and a victory over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.
Karsatos was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 12th round of the 1987 National Football League draft. However, Devaney said that his career unfortunately came to an end after a knee injury.
Karsatos passed away on Feb. 8, 2025, at his home in San Diego to natural causes after battling heart disease.
Upon his death, Jones said he was contacted by Karsatos’ college friends and given the football player’s OSU jersey.
“My goal was to have a big halftime ceremony to recognize him,” Jones said. “He’s kind of a legend of his time, so I definitely want to recognize him and make sure people know who he was.”
Jones said that as the only person to graduate from SH and go to OSU, Karsatos was a big deal.
“Nobody has made their mark as much as Jim did,” Trigstead said. “He’s gone further than anybody in SH history.”
Devaney and Trigstead said that they both agree that the event was a great remembrance for the school. Devaney said that once students recognize the OSU jersey, instead of mistaking it for a Fullerton uniform, they’d understand the great achievement Karsatos accomplished.
“When they realize it’s Ohio State, they’ll all know what Ohio State is, that one of our own made it and climbed that mountain as high,” Devaney said. “I hope they’ll get to be as impressed as we did.”
