[Quack Attack]

Sun Devils' Sullivan waits patiently



by Christopher Ramirez - Aug. 9, 2008 08:19 PM
The Arizona Republic

For 31 consecutive games, Rudy Carpenter has been the starting quarterback for Arizona State. No one knows this better than junior Danny Sullivan, who since coming to Tempe in 2006 has been relegated to second string for 26 games. "To know that it's going to be my third year being the backup (is frustrating)," Sullivan said. "But I got to take it in stride and just got to go with it. Hopefully my time comes, because he's (Carpenter) the guy right now, and I got to support him."

Sullivan has used his time wisely. He has improved mechanically, no longer looks uncomfortable and has taken advantage of the few times he has spelled Carpenter. Sullivan guided the ASU offense to scores twice against Texas late in the 2007 Holiday Bowl. The first was a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Michael Jones.

To some it was a hollow achievement because it came against the Longhorns' backups with the outcome of the game decided. But to Sullivan, who heard from plenty of detractors, it still was success.
"Everyone can say that it was meaningless," he said, "because I don't know how many people have told me that. Well, shame on you. I'll take it as a real personal issue, because I'll strive off that if you think that."
Sullivan is realistic when it comes to his role this season. "Might as well be looking forward to next year," Sullivan said. "This is his (Carpenter) time, and it's his time to take that final step of building this program."
Sullivan became Carpenter's backup as a freshman in 2006 after former starter Sam Keller transferred to Nebraska.

As a result, Sullivan has yet to use to his redshirt, leaving open the possibility that he could do so this fall with Chasen Stangel and Samson Szakacsy coming off redshirt seasons. Sullivan said there has been some discussion of him redshirting this season, which is an idea he would support if it works for the team. "It would be cool," said Sullivan, who could play at ASU until 2010 if he were to redshirt. "But I got to do what's best for the team, because I can't think about myself."

The decision is coach Dennis Erickson's, but with Stangel and Szakacsy being inexperienced, it isn't a difficult one. "That's entered my mind many times, but I just don't feel like we can do that," Erickson said. "Something happens, he's (Sullivan) heads and shoulders the No. 2 quarterback."

What do you think Sun Devil Fans? If Carpenter gets hurt, can Sullivan handle the job?