'He loved Auburn': Pat Sullivan's Heisman Trophy, 50 years later

[augolf1716 21,979]

Pat was one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. Never acted like he was special very humble guy. I remember were I was at when it was announced he won the Heisman

 

 

AUBURN, Ala. – For Jean Sullivan, Thanksgiving Day 1971 began in the married student apartment she shared with her husband, Pat, and ended with a celebration at what was then named Memorial Coliseum.

“The first turkey that we had ever cooked ourselves,” remembered Jean, who prepared the holiday meal with Debbie Speigner, whose husband, Auburn offensive lineman Danny Speigner, blocked for Pat from 1969-71.

After the meal, the Sullivans and Speigners planned to watch the Heisman Trophy announcement on ABC during halftime of the Georgia-Georgia Tech game.

When the TV signal at their apartment went out, sports information director Buddy Davidson procured a room at the Heart of Auburn Motel.

Pat’s parents decided at the last minute to drive down from Birmingham. “I think more just in case he did not win it,” Jean said.

 

When Downtown Athletic Club president John Ott announced that Pat Sullivan from Auburn University was the most outstanding player in college football, Davidson suggested the Sullivans go from the motel to the coliseum, at the time the location of Auburn’s football offices.

“It was packed,” Jean recalled. ‘The whole town and student body had turned out. It just erupted when he got there.

“What was wonderful was that all of his teammates were right there. It was very, very special that they shared in the feeling of their participation in him winning the trophy.”

In an era before cell phones and social media, Auburn fans congratulated their quarterback by telegram.

“Western Union telegrams just poured in by the hundreds,” Jean said.

 

In the fall of 1971, David Housel worked in the ticket office while assisting in sports information.

“Buddy brought Pat in, everybody went wild,” said Housel, who would succeed Davidson as sports information director before serving as Auburn’s director of athletics.

One person who did not attend the coliseum celebration was head coach Shug Jordan, who was concerned about the impact the impromptu emotional gathering would have on Auburn’s Iron Bowl matchup two days later.

Jordan’s fears were well founded. In a clash of unbeaten teams, Alabama defeated Auburn 31-7.

“There was so much emotion that night,” Jean said. “Our team, they’d already played their game. So much emotion was put into Thursday night. They were kind of down. I don’t know if it would have made a difference or not. Alabama had a great team.”

“Auburn people were sorely disappointed,” Housel recalled, “but in the long view of history, it might have been more important for Pat Sullivan to win the Heisman than for Auburn to have beaten Alabama.

“Pat winning the Heisman proved you can go to Auburn, and you can win the biggest trophy, the biggest awards, in the land.  Long-term, Pat winning the Heisman added more value to Auburn’s growth as a football program than a one-year win over Alabama or a shot at the national championship.”

 

For the Sullivans, the Heisman whirlwind was just beginning.

On Monday, they flew to New York City where Pat and Terry Beasley were part of Bob Hope’s All-American TV special.

Then came two Heisman Trophy dinners; the first featured former winners, the second was the official award presentation. The Sullivans met the first Heisman winner, Jay Berwanger, and the previous year’s winner, Jim Plunkett. John Wayne was there, receiving an award from the Downtown Athletic Club.

Throughout the season, Davidson, Auburn’s SID, sought to walk a fine line between promoting Pat Sullivan without alienating some media members who felt Ole Miss and other reporters had gone overboard the previous season promoting Archie Manning.

Anti-Archie backlash, Housel contends, cleared the way for Stanford’s Plunkett to win the 1970 Heisman.

“Buddy’s job was to promote Pat, but not overdo it,” Housel said.

Fifty years later, Pat Sullivan still epitomizes everything an Auburn guy ought to be.

David Housel

Backlash came anyway in 1971 in the form of media who felt players from smaller schools should be considered for the award. They rallied behind Cornell’s Ed Marinaro, who would finish second to Sullivan.

Auburn’s Gator Bowl matchup with Manning and Ole Miss to conclude the previous season, a 35-28 Tigers victory, placed Sullivan in the spotlight leading up to his senior season in 1971.

“That clearly set up Pat as a frontrunner going in,” said Housel, noting that Sullivan did his part early in the ’71 season by leading Auburn on an 89-yard fourth-quarter drive in a 10-9 comeback win at Tennessee.

“One of the greatest drives I’ve ever seen in Auburn football history,” Housel said.

Auburn’s 31-14 victory at Georgia Tech provided ample storylines, with trophy namesake John Heisman having coached at both schools.

Sullivan solidified his case by leading Auburn to a 35-20 win vs. Georgia in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, giving the Tigers a 9-0 record.

“That was the big one,” Housel said. 

PreviousNext

Auburn commemorated the 50th anniversary of Pat Sullivan’s Heisman Trophy during the Mississippi State game, reuniting many of Sullivan’s former teammates.

“A special team, and he was close to all of them,” Jean said. “Pat felt like they participated in this award as much as he did. They had a really special bond and it carried on throughout his life. I’m excited that a lot of former players are coming back and renewing friendships.”

In the ensuing decades, the Sullivans have remained connected to Auburn, first as part of the radio broadcasting crew, then as an assistant coach before Pat became a head coach at Texas Christian and Samford before passing away in 2019.

Three of their grandchildren are current Auburn University students, and one grandson graduated from Auburn in May.

“It continues,” Jean said.

A half-century has passed since that historic Thanksgiving night, but Pat Sullivan’s popularity on the Plains remains undiminished.

“Fifty years later, Pat Sullivan still epitomizes everything an Auburn guy ought to be,” Housel said. “Doesn’t that speak well for him? Fifty years later, you still see kids wearing No. 7. His legacy has lived on.”

When Jean sees those No. 7 jerseys, she thinks about Auburn’s affection for her husband, and his affection for Auburn.

“It makes me feel wonderful,” she said. “He loved the fans. The fans were always supportive and very caring and loving to him. He loved the Auburn people. He loved Auburn.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer

 

 

[gr82be 14,935]

4 minutes ago, augolf1716 said:

Long-term, Pat winning the Heisman added more value to Auburn’s growth as a football program than a one-year win over Alabama or a shot at the national championship.”

Was so excited as a boy when he won the Heisman. He's the biggest reason I became an Auburn fan as a kid. Playing for a NC would have been huge for the program too however. I was 11 when we lost that Iron Bowl. Tears came into my eyes because I didn't think we could lose to Bama. We were 2-0 against them in my awareness of the rivalry. We actually won 3 out of the first 4 IBs of my fandom. The next 9 years were harsh. 

[JDUBB4AU 5,304]

Awesome read thank you for posting 

[SaltyTiger 8,596]

Stopped by the Tiger Tailgate show morning of State game. Live interview with Jean. She was great and looked great. Hard to believe 50 years since Pat. Those were great times.

In New Orleans on Sunday morning two years ago, day after we had won the Iron Bowl. Party at Brennan’s for a soon to be wed couple. Was introduced to Archie Manning and he informed that he had received an early morning call about Pat’s passing. Said they had been dear friends for a long long time.

[im4aual 498]

Pat was a class act and the epitome of an Auburn man. Doesn't seem like fifty years ago.

[Hank2020 3,381]

25 minutes ago, im4aual said:

Pat was a class act and the epitome of an Auburn man. Doesn't seem like fifty years ago.

Amen to this!!

[wde21 344]

What a great article! Thanks for posting!

[Eagle-1 3,821]

Met Pat on the sidewalk at Barons' Corner at the  old Midway Plaza. I was 8 years old at the time. Such a nice guy, and always was total class. Hard to wrap my mind around the fact he is no longer with us. If I ever had a hero growing up he was it. Pat was Auburn to me then, and truly still is to this day.

Edited November 24, 2021 by Eagle-1

[augolf1716 21,979]

3 hours ago, gr82be said:

Was so excited as a boy when he won the Heisman. He's the biggest reason I became an Auburn fan as a kid. Playing for a NC would have been huge for the program too however. I was 11 when we lost that Iron Bowl. Tears came into my eyes because I didn't think we could lose to Bama. We were 2-0 against them in my awareness of the rivalry. We actually won 3 out of the first 4 IBs of my fandom. The next 9 years were harsh. 

You can thank Brother Oliver for the lost he was the D Backs coach at bama and knew Pats tendencies

[Eagle-1 3,821]

1 hour ago, augolf1716 said:

You can thank Brother Oliver for the lost he was the D Backs coach at bama and knew Pats tendencies

I remember something about that. Didn't Oliver leave Auburn for Bama just prior to that season?

[SaltyTiger 8,596]

5 hours ago, gr82be said:

Was so excited as a boy when he won the Heisman. He's the biggest reason I became an Auburn fan as a kid. Playing for a NC would have been huge for the program too however. I was 11 when we lost that Iron Bowl. Tears came into my eyes because I didn't think we could lose to Bama. We were 2-0 against them in my awareness of the rivalry. We actually won 3 out of the first 4 IBs of my fandom. The next 9 years were harsh. 

Recall his freshman team game vs Bammer in 68 Down 27-0 second quarter only to score 36 ( I think) unanswered. Realized as a youngster we had special times ahead. 

[augolf1716 21,979]

37 minutes ago, Eagle-1 said:

I remember something about that. Didn't Oliver leave Auburn for Bama just prior to that season?

Yep

[tigerman1186 537]

The world was a better place because of Pat...

[milehighfan 1,254]

I got to watch Sullivan play against bama in the freshman game I have to admit he didn't look so hot in the first half. But oh my Lord did he put on a show in leading the tigers to a 35-27 victory (I think that was the final)

[woodford 3,751]

Wonderful post. Pat is the definition of what an Auburn student athlete should be.

[CodeRocket 413]

My sister told me a story that happened to her. One day she was climbing some steps going to class in Haley Center. She dropped a couple of books and when she turned to pick them up, Pat Sullivan was already picking up the books. He just handed them to her and smiled. She said thanks and that was it. I guess she was too surprised to say anything else. I think it just shows the kind of person he was, and it certainly created a memory she will never forget.

[homersapien 12,262]

I played against Pat in high school.

Still remember 'Manassas' taking the stage in Auburn and Stephen Stills was wearing a #7 home jersey. We went wild.

[augolf1716 21,979]

16 hours ago, homersapien said:

Still remember 'Manassas' taking the stage in Auburn and Stephen Stills was wearing a #7 home jersey. We went wild.

Was there for it as well