By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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Samford University announced earlier today that Pat Sullivan would be stepping down as head coach of the football team and moving to another position within the university.

Samford University announced earlier today that Pat Sullivan would be stepping down as head coach of the football team and moving to another position within the university. The legendary athlete and coach will cease to be the face of the football program but will still be involved on campus as a special advisor to the president and will be one of the people charged with finding his replacement. Whomever that replacement ends up being will have huge shoes to fill.

Sullivan led the Bulldogs to their first ever SoCon title last year and will retire as Samford’s all time leader in wins. He also led Samford to three straight seasons with at least seven wins for the first time since 1962.

Few can say they’ve accomplished as much as Pat Sullivan has accomplished in the game of football. As quarterback of Auburn University, he started for three years, and shattered multiple NCAA records. In 1971, he won college football’s most coveted individual award, the Heisman Trophy, to join an exclusive fraternity of the only the very best to play the game. His number seven jersey has been retired by Auburn and he went on to play in the NFL for six years with the Falcons and Redskins, respectively.

Pat Sullivan is a legend in the South. He transcends the game. Aside from his numerous awards and accolades is the impact he has had on the young men that have grown up under his tutelage. The former All-American and CFB Hall of Famer excelled at molding his players not only into great athletes, but superb human beings as well, an even more worthwhile task.

In this day and age, and football win at all costs culture, coaches like Sullivan are a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately it is increasingly rare to find coaches that still place a premium on character building, yet are talented enough to build their programs at the same time.

Citing health issues and an urge to spend more time with his family, Coach Sullivan has decided that it’s time for him to step out of the public eye. The legacy he leaves behind will live longer than Sullivan, his former players, or anyone reading this. Pat Sullivan was an excellent coach, but he is an even better man.