Auburn football: Jarrett Stidham looks ready to break school passing records
By Rob Maxwell
Pat Sullivan
It wouldn’t be an Auburn quarterback list without Pat Sullivan.
The beloved Auburn football player became the first Tiger to win the Heisman Trophy when he brought it home in 1971.
Here’s a look at his progression in yards per game passing, completions-attempts, completion percentage, TD passes and interceptions:
1969 (10 games): 1,686, 123-257 (47.9), 16, 16
1970 (10): 2,586, 167-281 (59.4), 17, 12
1971 (11): 2,262, 182-325 (56.0), 21, 13
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It would be easy to simply look at Sullivan’s numbers and dismiss them as good, but not great. But you have to remember that passing games weren’t nearly as developed and sophisticated as they are now. Teams ran the ball first, passed second. In 1970 and 1971, Auburn had the No. 5 and No. 12 scoring offenses in the country and went 9-2 both seasons.
Also keep in mind that when Sullivan threw for 2,586 yards — the sixth-best season in Auburn history — he did that in just 10 games. Craig threw for 3,000 yards in 12 games and Stidham needed 14 to reach 3,000 last season.