Thirty years ago in 1995, sophomore Carson Palmer was getting ready to play in his first game as a high school QB at Santa Margarita of Rancho Santa Margarita. He went on to win a Heisman Trophy and pass for 46,247 yards and 294 touchdowns over a 14-year NFL career. He’s now about to be the head coach for his first game at Santa Margarita on Aug. 22 vs Mission Viejo.
So what are some of the things Carson was thinking about prior to his first high school season as a player. We happened to have found Santa Margarita’s 1995 Football Media Guide which included a question/answer section for each player. We thought it would be fun to review the future school’s head coach’s responses.
Image from 1995 Santa Margarita HS Football Media Guide.
Note that the head coach of the Eagles for 1995 was Jim Hartigan, who was in his seventh year as head coach at the time. Hartigan is now on staff at the school as Vice President of Athletics.
Palmer had led the freshman team at Santa Margarita to a 9-0-1 record in 1994. The media guide reported that he had won the Eagle Award, had a 4.5 pro agility, a 5.0 in the 40 and a 25-inch vertical leap.
Personal Goals: Be the best leader, competitor and player that I can be.
Team Goals: Win league and win CIF.
Who is your favorite athlete and why? Bo Jackson because he can everything and no one has his talent.
Which game do you look forward to the most in 1995? Irvine.
What is your greatest moment in sports? Being the first to win league as a freshman.
The one thing I like about football is: the competitiveness.
The one thing I dislike about football is: all the time it takes.
The thing that impresses me the most about Coach Hartigan is: how dedicated he is to our program.
My ultimate goal in life is: to get through it with class.
My football fantasy is: to receive a punt and return it over 11 players on my way to a TD dance.
My gameday superstitions/rituals are: to sit down and review all the plays in my head.
The best football advice I’ve been given is: Be the hammer and not the nail.
