Photo by Steven St. JohnTribune

Tribune

Lobos kicker John Sullivan lines up for a field goal. With 24 makes in 27 attempts, Sullivan's conversion rate — 88.9 percent — is best in the nation. With one game to go in this season, the Lobos' finale against UNLV, he already holds the Mountain West Conference single-season record for made field goals.

More LoboZone

• Richard Stevens: Faces I'll remember are the smallest ones
• Michael Garcia: Here's to you, athletes, coaches and friends. These memories - and lessons - will last forever.
• Tribune sports: Five faves

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

John Sullivan's life as a college football star didn't exactly begin on the golf course, but the parallels — or is it the intersections? — are unmistakable.

The Lobos' you-da-man place-kicker possesses a sweet 4-handicap on the links — a sure sign that he's well-versed in golf-speak: muscle memory, intense concentration, fanatical devotion to ritual.

Put it this way: Sullivan's probably one of the few people on the planet who could facilitate a discussion between NFL All-Pro kicker Adam Vinatieri and a golfer you may have heard of, Tiger Woods.

Golf and football, more or less, have made Sullivan the University of New Mexico's red-headed hero this season. Though the Lobos fumbled their way out of opportunities in a 28-10 loss to Utah on Saturday, The Sully Story may have become lore when he booted a 43-yarder as time expired to give the Lobos a 26-23 victory over Colorado State. It was his fourth game-winning kick of the season.

With 24 field goals in 27 attempts, Sullivan's conversion rate — 88.9 percent — is best in the nation. With one game to go in this season, the Lobos' finale against UNLV, he already holds the Mountain West Conference single-season records for made field goals.

With a splat of curly, red hair sitting atop an unimposing 5-foot-10, 159-pound frame, he's UNM's BMOC — big man on campus. Go figure.

The Trib asked Sullivan to go through his process as he boots field goals. Sully's Swing Thoughts, as it were, go like this:

• When it becomes apparent that UNM may need his services during the game, Sullivan does about three or four practice kicks into a net on the sideline.

• He then takes his mouthpiece out of the crook of his face mask and plants himself next to head coach Rocky Long.

• Once Long calls, Sullivan heads to the field, where he practices the kick once. Just once.

• As he waits for the ball to be put in play by the referee, the only words spoken to or by Sullivan come from this exchange with his holder, backup quarterback Brian Clampitt.

Clampitt: "You're money."

Sullivan: "Good hold."

• Sullivan then steps back and awaits the snap, delivered to Clampitt by Jon O'Brien, Sullivan's high school teammate in Tehachapi, Calif.

Like a lot of good golfers (and good free-throw shooters in basketball), Sullivan visualizes only one thing in the seconds leading up to showtime: success.

In his mind's eye, the attempt does not veer left or right, or come up short. It is always straight down the middle — true as a child's Christmas wish. As he "sees" this happen, Sully says no noise — either inside or outside his helmet — is allowed to sully his concentration.

• And then he kicks.

As Bill Murray said in "Caddyshack," it's in the hole.

As the Lobos like to say these days: You're money.