University of Virginia Library

Dave Sullivan Eats For Football

Cavalier Profile

By BILL BETLEJ

Number 44 lines up wide to
the right. The ball is snapped
and Number 44 streaks down
the sideline. Fifteen yards
down, he fakes to the outside,
then darts inside toward the
goal post as the quarterback
lofts a pass to him.

Number 44 has another
touchdown to his credit to
cheers of "Way to go, Silky,"
"What a Hot-Dog," and "Look
at that big showoff."

"Silky", "Hot-Dog",
"Showoff", "Sugar-Boy",
"Coaches Pet". I had heard all
the names. But the one name I
had never heard used when
talking about Dave Sullivan
was "Dedicated". Dave
Sullivan is dedicated to
football. He talks football. He
thinks football. He even eats
for football.

"We have to eat here

[Open-Square Cafeteria]
during the season. But the food
is so bad. It's not very
nourishing for an athlete. It's
the only place I know where
you can eat till you're full, but
still want some food."

Dave is a fourth-year
wide-receiver for the Cavs, and,
like all the fourth-year men on
the squad, is facing his third

losing season in college ball. In
terms of winning, it has been a
disappointing career for the
Steelton, Pennsylvania native.
But he is optimistic when
talking about the final three
games.

"If we get our stuff together,
we can beat them. We play the
toughest two teams in the ACC
in our next two games and it
doesn't look good on paper.
But we can do it. It's just like
at the beginning of the season
when we were 2 and 0 facing
West Virginia. We were playing
for national recognition. Well,
it didn't turn out. It's like that
now. For all the
fourth-year men, this is all
that's left. We really want to
do well. And we can do it if we
get our stuff together."

Sullivan especially wants to
have a good game this weekend
against N.C. State. However,
improving on his record will be
a little hard. He led the ACC in
receiving in his sophomore year
and was ranked second in the
league as a third-yearman to his
teammate Bill Davis. He has set
career records in most
receptions (109), most yardage
(1,143), and most touchdown
catches (13). He has
established himself as the
greatest end in Virginia history.

Yet, Sully feels that a few
good games will improve his
chances of being drafted by the
pros.

"That is the way my life is
pointed right now. I'm pretty
confident I'll be drafted.
Whether it's the third or fourth
or the eighth or ninth round,
you never can tell. I've had
feelers. Most of the
fourth-yearmen do. The pros
get your name, size, and speed.
For me that becomes a
problem, my speed."

Of course there is the big
possibility that Dave won't be
drafted. However, he has
looked at it realistically, and
has decided to take everything
in stride. Even though he really
hasn't thought about what he
would do if all his pro hopes
fell through, Dave suggested he
might want to stick around
here. Chances are it wouldn't
be to study.

"the life of a student doesn't
turn me on. I'll graduate with
my Masters from the
Education School in June.
That will be enough. I've been
very happy here, though, and I
like the football program."

The football program here at
Virginia has often been
criticized, but Dave has
nothing but praise for it.

"The program has improved
since I've been here. We had a
7-3 winning record when I was
a freshman. Because of that the
facilities here were improved.
Well, we haven't had a winning
season since then. That's all we
need. A recruit would be crazy
not to go here. You get a
top-notch education. Most
guys don't look at that. They
look at the record."

"You know, so many great
things have happened to me
since I came here. My life has
really been fantastic. The
people I've met. The things
that happened. I really can't
ask for more." Except
maybe being picked in the
professional draft.