Patrick J. Sullivan
Football
b. Jan. 18, 1950, Birmingham, AL
In three years as starting quarterback at Auburn University, from 1969 through 1971, Sullivan guided his team to a 25-5 regular season record and victories in two of the three bowl games in which they appeared. He passed for more than 100 yards in 28 games, more than 200 yards in 18 games, and more than 300 yards in 4 games.
Sullivan led the nation in total offense with 2,856 yards in 1970, when his average of 8.58 yards per play set an NCAA Division I record. He won the Heisman Trophy as the nation's outstanding college player in 1971. During his career at Auburn, he completed 454 of 817 passes for 6,284 yards and 53 touchdowns. He also scored 18 rushing touchdowns.
Because he was only 6 feet tall, Sullivan was not considered a major NFL prospect and he wasn't chosen until the second round of the 1972 NFL draft, by the Atlanta Falcons. He played as a backup for the Falcons through the 1975 season. During his NFL career, Sullivan completed 93 of 220 pass attempts for 1,155 yards and 5 touchdowns.
After working in business for a time, Sullivan began a coaching career as quarterbacks coach at his alma mater from 1986 through 1991 and then became head coach at Texas Christian University. He had a 22-42-1 record there in six seasons.
From 1999 through 2006, he was offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and he has been head coach at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2007. He compiled a 15-18 record in his first three seasons there.