Garza Wants to Help Lead Fullerton to Better Times

Chris Garza, a sophomore linebacker at Fullerton College, is a sucker for tradition. It can even bring tears to his eyes.

Tradition was what made playing at Servite, where he was an All-Sunset League selection as a senior in 1992, so special. He can recall his first varsity game as if it just happened.

“It was a pretty special game,” he said. “The first time I played under the lights was at Gahr High School.”

After high school, he had the chance to play at UC Davis and Sonoma State but neither appealed to him that much.

Instead, he went looking for local history and a chance to earn a scholarship to a more traditionally strong Division I college after two years at a community college.

He didn’t have to look further than Fullerton, which was one of the best programs in the nation under Coach Hal Sherbeck. Sherbeck’s teams won three national championships and 16 conference titles.

The problem was that by the time Garza was out of high school, Sherbeck had retired to Montana, and the program was struggling; Fullerton was 1-9 in 1992.

But Garza was persuaded to attend Fullerton anyway.

He made up his mind when he spoke with offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas.

“He sold me on Fullerton,” said Garza, 19. “He said that they had some tough times, but they were going to build it back up and I believed him. You could tell he really meant it.”

Garza was an instant hit with the Hornet defense last season. He played a great deal in every game, starting the last six, and he led the team in tackles. But Fullerton finished 3-7, losing the last five.

“We have guys from Servite, Sunny Hills and Valencia and we’re not used to a season like that,” Garza said. “We just didn’t get the breaks. (Four of the losses were by eight points or less). That’s why we worked so hard in the off-season.”

The Hornets again started slowly this season but have won three of the last four and Garza is leading them in tackles with 48, including 33 solo.

“This is probably the best time of my life,” Garza said. “I know I can’t do this all my life. As I get older, I’ll have a job that isn’t as much fun as 60 minutes of football.”

In today’s Mission Conference Central Division games:

Golden West (2-4-1, 2-1) vs. Fullerton (3-2-1, 2-0), CS Fullerton, 1 p.m.--A Fullerton victory would put the Hornets in a first-place tie with Rancho Santiago. Fullerton’s John Ledieff and Jason Nevadomsky returned fumbles for touchdowns in a 21-13 victory over Riverside last week. Golden West, which beat Southwestern, 49-10, last week, has won the last two meetings with Fullerton. The Hornets lead the series, 16-5.

Orange Coast (0-6, 0-2) at Southwestern (0-5-1, 0-1-1), 7 p.m.--Both teams need a victory more for moral than any other reason. The six-game losing streak is the longest in the 22-year career of OCC Coach Bill Workman.

Riverside (2-4, 1-2) at Saddleback (0-5-1, 0-1-1), 7 p.m.--Andy Osborne, a sophomore linebacker for Saddleback, had 12 tackles in a 31-28 loss to El Camino last week. He has 184 and needs 23 in the final four games to become the college’s all-time leader.

In a Mission Conference game:

Pasadena (2-3-1) vs. Rancho Santiago (5-1), Santa Ana Stadium, 1:30 p.m.--Rancho Santiago has won five in a row and is second in Southern California and 12th in the J.C. Grid-Wire national rankings.