Published on April 16, 2024  
Sullivan to Beasley 5K to End CTE

The Center for Sports Analytics in Samford University’s Brock School of Business will host the inaugural Sullivan to Beasley 5K Fun Walk to end CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) on Samford’s campus this Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m.

This race was organized by Jean Sullivan, board member for Brock School of Business sports marketing and analytics advisory board and wife to the late Pat Sullivan, as well as alumnus and Samford donor Gary Cooney to remember Terry Beasley and Pat Sullivan. Sullivan was the head football coach for the Samford Bulldogs for eight years and both Beasley and Sullivan are iconic figures in college sports. They both suffered from CTE at the time of their passings.

By honoring their memory through this race, organizers hope to spark conversations about the importance of preserving the health and well-being of athletes throughout their careers and after they leave the field. Members from the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Birmingham Quarterback Club and Samford students will also be supporting this event.

The race will begin at the soccer stadium at 10 a.m. with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Registration is free to all participants. An anonymous donor has pledged give $100 for every person that attends this event to support the Concussion Legacy Foundation. The Concussion Legacy Foundation promotes awareness and supports research to diagnose, treat and one day end CTE. Read more about the center’s work to help make sports safer for student-athletes.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.