Interview with Our Lady of the Lakes 2011 QB Mike Sullivan

After being the face of the Our Lady of the Lakes football team for basically his whole career. Quarterback Mile Sullivan has graduated Our Lady of the Lakes and signed to play at Saint Joseph College of Indiana. Sullivan led the Lakers to the regional finals before they were eliminated by Warren Michigan Collegiate in 2010.

For Sullivan it was always his goal and intentions to play football on the next level. Many players come into high school hoping to get interest or any offers from schools as they get older. A lot of times the seniors will want to earn their scholarships and make that a goal. For Sullivan the interest started coming and he would not have to worry about padding his stats to get attention, which is why the Lakers have consistently won every single year Sullivan was there, especially the past two seasons. Sullivan explains he was expecting to play somewhere in college. "I have always planned on playing college football ever since I was a little kid. There was never even a doubt in my mind. As high school came along and I was getting good playing time early and hearing from colleges. I knew it would become a reality."

As Sullivan was tearing the skin off of the football in the Lakers jersey, he also was playing sports every single season, all while taking care of his number one priority, school work. Sullivan responded with a full arsenal of accolades, "As far as academics, I've always had pretty good grades and I've been an honor roll student. Athletically, I played QB in 9 of 12 games as a freshman with one start (Homecoming game). I started sophomore through senior year and threw for nearly 4, 000 yards with 44 touchdowns. I was 2x Metro Detroit All Catholic, 2x Metro Detroit All League, 2x All Oakland County, 2x All Area, Team Captain. For Basketball, Varsity since end of freshman year, started sophomore and junior year. I decided not to play senior year to focus on college football. Then for track - Ran Junior and now senior year. I medaled 4 times in regionals last year in high jump, long jump, 100 meter dash and 4x4 relay."

Sullivan had the chance to walk on at big time schools and even heard from schools like Arkansas in the SEC. Sullivan discussed a few of his other choices, "I had a few D2 offers from schools like Pace University, Lake Erie College, and a couple others. I also had an offer from D3 Mount Union which was the only D3 School I was considering. I had a 1AA offer from Valparaiso and Robert Morris. I had a guaranteed preferred walk on spot at Western Michigan and also talked to Michigan State a lot about walking on there. They visited me; I also visited them a few times. Lots of contact with lots of schools, but the ones I mentioned above were the main ones I narrowed it down to." Since Sullivan had the chance to play for a school in the MAC like Western Michigan, Sullivan explained why he was sold on Saint Joseph College of Indiana, "their coaching staff is what really sold it for me, but I think it’s a great opportunity for me, I get to compete right away and I’m getting a real good scholarship, very good academics there as well. It just seems like the best fit for me down there. I also get to do radio and TV there."

Sullivan has set some goals for his career at Saint Joseph College of Indiana, "as far as football goes, I obviously want to play. I am going to work as hard as I can this summer to see the field. I have a great opportunity to compete right away. I also want to get good grades and I am excited to further my academic career as well." Sullivan also has chosen what he will be studying at Saint Joseph College of Indiana, "I will be going into Mass Communications. I will be broadcasting and doing 3 hours of TV/Radio a week."

With Sullivan playing in over 30 games over the course of his career, he has many memories. Sullivan shared a few of his top memories, "There’s been a couple but I'd have to say the first round of playoffs my junior year against Deckerville. They scored and were down by 1; 26-27 and they went for 2 and converted. They were up 27-28 they kicked off and we got the ball with 1:11 seconds left on our own 30yd line. I had a few complete passes and then got sacked, then converted a 20 yard pass on 3rd and 16 to keep it moving. There was 11 seconds left and we were at the opponent’s 46 yard line and I completed a pass down to the 3yd line. We spiked it, kicked a field goal and won 30-28 and moved on to Districts. Then won districts in probably my second most memorable game against New Lothrop, total shootout. We eventually ended up losing in the regionals against Beal City who ended up winning the state title."