Auburn legend Pat Sullivan returns to Plains

AUBURN – Whatever the final score of tonight's game is, Pat Sullivan will be able to take some credit.

The Auburn legend and Heisman Trophy winner was on the selection committee that hired Gus Malzahn in 2012.

Malzahn admitted it'll be a bit "weird" to coach against Sullivan, who returns to the Plains with his Samford team tonight.

"He's one of the true class guys in college football," Malzahn said. "He's respected by everyone. I've never heard anybody say a bad word about him. He's definitely helped me. I lean on him from time to time with advice. He's an Auburn legend."

Though Auburn (7-4, 4-3 SEC) is reeling and in search of anything positive after two weeks of misery, Sullivan knows how good the Tigers are.

"Auburn is very talented and well coached in every area," he said in a statement. "You can see why they were ranked in the top five for most of the year. They are one of the premier teams in the country."

The personal connections for tonight's game go beyond Malzahn and Sullivan. Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was hired by Sullivan in 2011 before rejoining Malzahn at Arkansas State and now Auburn.

"Not only is Rhett a special coach, he is a great friend," Sullivan said. "He was a great person with great values. I was blessed to coach with Rhett, and we were blessed to have him on our staff, even though it was for only one year."

Lashlee is forever grateful to Sullivan for giving him his first full-time coaching job.

"I'm excited," Lashlee said. "I think he was just his fourth straight winning season. He's the winningest coach at Samford, and he's done so much there. He impacts so many lives, not just his players, but everyone he comes in contact with. I've never met a more positive person who just instills that positiveness and confidence in with everyone he comes in contact with."

Sullivan hired former Auburn quarterback and wide receiver Kodi Burns to coach running backs this season after Burns served as a grad assistant at Auburn last season.

Malzahn said Burns is "like a son," and he was very highly thought of on the Auburn coaching staff.

Sullivan has come away feeling the same.

"Kodi is a great young coach," Sullivan said. "He is a perfect example for our kids. He played the game and he has the players' and other coaches' respect. I think Kodi will be a great head coach one day."

It takes one to know one; and Sullivan knows many on the field tonight.