[Video] Emotional Sullivan nearly the hero for ASU

When ASU’s offense sputtered in their first four possessions, head coach Dennis Erickson didn’t sit idly by.

Starter Samson Szakacsy was replaced by senior Danny Sullivan midway through the 2nd quarter with Arizona State trailing 7-0.

There was an uneasy feeling among the maroon and gold-clad fans in attendance in Tempe on Saturday when Sullivan stepped on the field. A three-year backup to Rudy Carpenter, Sullivan was by far the most experienced quarterback on Erickson’s roster heading into the season, and started the first nine games of the season.

He was booed heartily by Sun Devil fans who bothered to show up to games, and his ineffectiveness was a major topic of discussion on sports radio shows (and podcasts too), and in newspaper columns.

Sullivan hadn’t played since being yanked after throwing two interceptions in the first half of a 14-9 loss to USC.

But in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss to Arizona, Sullivan, especially in the 4th quarter, looked comfortable under center. The senior from Los Gatos, California engineered two touchdown drives in the fourth, pulling the Sun Devils even at 17-17 with just over 2 minutes to play. He, along with Kyle Williams, was slated to be the hero if the Sun Devils could pull the upset against their bitter rivals.

It wasn’t to be.

An emotional Sullivan spoke to the media following the game, and talked about his performance on Saturday, and his topsy-turvy senior season in Tempe.

Danny Sullivan’s postgame press conference following loss to Arizona

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