Keeping the Dream Alive

July 2, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release


Wichita, KS -When Will Sullivan returned to his hometown to play professional football, the excitement throughout the football community was buzzing. Sullivan was a standout at Wichita Southeast High School, and set the record for most receptions in a single season, a record that still stands today. Sullivan ended the 2001 season with the Stealth, and returned for his first full year expecting to be the best defensive specialist in the league. "I get excited to play every game. Knowing every game there would be someone from your family or one of your close friends cheering for you was great. I got the biggest fan club, and critic club all at the same time," said Sullivan.

Sullivan spent three months preparing for this season with trainer Brett Fischer in Phoenix, Arizona. He saw first hand what it would take to play at the next level as he trained with Shawn Springs and Mario Bates of the NFL, and Travis Moore from the Canadian Football League. Sullivan's dream is to make it to the NFL. After being waived by Saskatchewan of the Canadian Football League, Sullivan began a steep uphill climb to make it back to where he wanted to be. "I was so depressed. I thought I did everything right there. I realized that it wasn't about the way I play football. It was business and I just didn't fit their system. That didn't make it any easier to take," says Sullivan.

Last week Sullivan moved one-step closer to achieving his goal of playing in the NFL. Sullivan attended a two-day workout with the Buffalo Bills. "I somewhat expected to get another shot, but I was still excited and surprised when I got the call." Sullivan had received an offer earlier in the year for a workout with another NFL team but didn't feel he was healthy enough to go. Sullivan had recently suffered a mild concussion after a goal line collision against the Fresno Frenzy. "These guys want to see you put out everything you've got. You can't hide injuries. You have to perform when you get the chance, and I didn't think I could." Although he thought he was more ready for this tryout, the bumps and bruises showed, and Sullivan was not satisfied with his performance during the Bills two-day workout. "I didn't do everything I needed to do to catch their eye that day," said Sullivan.



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