Paul Koch, a Nebraska strength and conditioning coach from 1987-96, regards Sullivan as one of the giants of Husker football during the glory years.

"You have Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne, George Sullivan, Milt Tenopir and Charlie McBride," Koch said. "You did not want to get on their bad side if you wanted any future at Nebraska. George definitely was right up there."

In pondering Sullivan's impact on the program, Koch said, you have to consider the importance of "physical touch."

"We're talking about young kids still learning their way in the world, and they think they're invincible, and all of a sudden their body tells them, 'Uh, dude, there's a line you don't cross and you crossed it and now you're hobbling,'" Koch said. "So there are damaged psyches going through that process."

Sullivan helped players through those tough times.

"I think the thing a lot of people don't realize is a trainer sometimes has as much or more impact than a coach," said Tom Osborne, Nebraska's football coach from 1973-97. "The trainers are with players early in the morning — George was usually in the office at 6 a.m. and sometimes wouldn't leave until 6 at night or even later than that.