Thomas Sullivan (American football)

Thomas Talbot Sullivan (September 14, 1892 – November 30, 1958) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at George Washington University in 1916, Bates College from 1919 to 1920, and St. Lawrence University from 1925 to 1937. Sullivan played college football as an end at Colgate University.^[1] He also coached baseball at St. Lawrence.^[2][3] Sullivan returned to his alma mater, Colgate, in 1921 as an assistant football coach under head coach Ellery Huntington Jr.^[4] He died on November 30, 1958, at Massena Memorial Hospital in Massena, New York, after suffering a heart attack.^[5]

During Sullivan’s tenure as head baseball coach at St. Lawrence University, one of his most notable players was Hal Schumacher, a standout pitcher who would go on to achieve national fame. After honing his skills under Sullivan’s guidance in Canton, New York, Schumacher signed with the New York Giants of the National League, where he quickly became a key part of their pitching rotation. Upon returning to SLU to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in 1933, while still a member of the Giants, Schumacher and his teammates played the St. Lawrence team in an exhibition game, which drew 8,000 fans.^[6] Nicknamed “Prince Hal” for his poise and presence on the mound, Schumacher earned All-Star honors and played a vital role on Giants teams that captured National League pennants and won the World Series.^[7] Schumacher’s success in the major leagues stood as a testament to Sullivan’s impact as a coach and mentor, and his legacy lives on as one of the most accomplished athletes to emerge from St. Lawrence baseball.