Sullivan boiling to skewer critics

You hear it in the clang of the weights. You feel it in the pounding of the treadmill. You see it in every pass.

Danny Sullivan is angry.

Arizona State's senior quarterback knows what you think of him. He's too slow. He's too erratic. He can't play in the Pac-10.

Well, he's out to prove you wrong. And shut you up.

"Yeah, I'm angry," Sullivan said Wednesday after the Sun Devils completed a spring practice. "It's so painful to hear what people are saying about me. That's probably why I'm working so hard. I'm trying to get respect around here and nobody is giving it to me yet."

There's a good reason for that: Sullivan hasn't earned any respect. Last year, he completed just 34.9 percent of his passes (15 of 43), with two interceptions and one touchdown. He was 1 of 8 in the season opener against NAU, then was fed to the sharks in ASU's 28-0 loss to USC, completing 4 of 17 passes for 28 yards after replacing the injured Rudy Carpenter.

Sullivan looked overmatched. Hopeless, even. ASU fans couldn't wait for the arrival of 6-foot-8 freshman Brock Osweiler or the maturation of sophomore Samson Szakacsy.

And yet, if the season started today - and most likely when the Devils open against Idaho State on Sept. 5 - the 6-foot-5, 238-pound Sullivan will be behind center, firmly established as the No. 1 quarterback.

"Is it clear cut? Yeah, right now," coach Dennis Erickson said. "Danny's got the experience, the accuracy. He's throwing the football right now better than I've ever seen him."

But what if Szakacsy or Osweiler closes the gap in the fall?

"The way it looks right now," Erickson said, "I don't think it will get to that."

As it turns out, Sullivan's horrendous performance against USC may have been the best thing that happened to him. The Sun Devils had a bye week after the game, and Sullivan went home to Southern California. He called his Los Gatos High School coach, Butch Cattolico, and vented.

"He said, 'Coach, I don't know if they (the ASU coaches) have any faith in me,'" Cattolico recalled. "He was a little down. We talked for a while and I told him, 'Danny, people will find out how good you are when your chance comes.'"

That chance has arrived, and Sullivan isn't about to let it go. He said he's worked harder this off-season than he ever has in his life. Once allergic to the treadmill - "as we all know, I'm not the quickest guy out there" - he now runs for 20 minutes after every weight room session. He's devoured the playbook and impressed the coaching staff with his attitude and leadership.

Cattolico isn't surprised. He saw the same work ethic - and productive anger - when Sullivan had to follow Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards at Los Gatos. Then, Sullivan was criticized for, well, not being Edwards. All he did in response was lead Los Gatos to the Central Coast Section Medium School title while throwing 24 touchdowns with only six interceptions.

"He's had this chip on his shoulder for a long time," Cattolico said. "People will find out this year what a quality kid and quality quarterback Danny is. He has all the tools. Anyone who doesn't think Danny can handle this, I'm telling you, his numbers will be incredible."

Anger, of course, doesn't make a quarterback. Neither does the blessing of a high school coach. Sullivan still has to prove he has the mobility to evade Pac-10 defenders and the accuracy to thread a throw into coverage. (His arm strength isn't a question; Erickson said he has a gun).

But Sullivan wouldn't be the first quarterback to languish in the shadow for years, then emerge his senior season. Sometimes, all it takes is an opportunity.

"It's a little different when you know you're the guy," Erickson said.

Sullivan is ready. You can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He's out to skewer his critics.

"It's a sore spot," he said. "I'm not afraid to admit it."