Auburn Football: Why the Game Against Samford is Important

Aug 30, 2014; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Samford Bulldogs quarterback Carson Barnett (14) during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The Horned Frogs defeated the Bulldogs 48-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Pat Sullivan Will Be There

The Auburn family has its fair share of heroes, and one returns to the Plains Saturday.

Pat Sullivan is the head coach of the Samford Bulldogs, and he also happens to be Auburn’s first Heisman Trophy winner. His statue welcomes friends, family and fans to Jordan-Hare Stadium each and every fall Saturday and his accomplishments on the football field for the Tigers can be celebrated this weekend with him in attendance.

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Sullivan is also a pretty good coach. Samford had fallen on hard times prior to his arrival, and in his six years at the helm the Auburn football legend has righted the ship. He even led the program to its first Southern Conference championship in 2013.

“In every respect, Pat exemplifies the qualities that are important to Samford,” Samford President Dr. Andrew Westmoreland says in Sullivan’s bio. “People are drawn to the strength of his character, his commitment to his student-athletes, his emphasis on performance in the classroom as well as on the field and his faith. In addition, his teams win. What more could we ask?”

His team has won seven games this season, and they’ll finish in second place in the league at 5-2. They’ll pose a threat to Auburn as well. Sullivan’s teams have won games 52-0, 63-21, 45-0 and 55-0 this season.

But most importantly, they’ll have an Auburn legend, and a former assistant coach for the Tigers, on the sidelines of Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Next: Why the Game Against Samford is Important, Continued