Champions have long defined the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The list of Hall of Fame athletes who have competed in the annual contest is breathtaking. Heisman Trophy winners, future NFL Super Bowl champions and national championship coaches have made their mark in the annual game that brings in thousands of fans to New Orleans and millions of television viewers. But the list of Sugar Bowl champions extends well past the gridiron. There is a long list of distinguished individuals who have proven themselves to be champions in life as well – the Sugar Bowl has highlighted these lesser known success stories with a series of online stories.
We Believe in Champions
Few, if any, Louisianans confuse football and futbol. The gridiron version of the two sports is king in Louisiana and has been for the duration of the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s existence.
But Patrick Mullins said a passion exists in the Bayou State for soccer. In fact, more boys and girls compete in the world’s most popular pastime in Louisiana than do in American football.
That passion helped drive Mullins, a New Orleans native and Jesuit product, to the upper echelon of soccer. The 24-year-old was an All-American at Maryland in his collegiate playing days and is playing in his third year in Major League Soccer, now for D.C. United.
Mullins, a forward, is one of the all-time top soccer players from Louisiana. He excelled at the high school and amateur level before moving on to Maryland then the MLS. Among the many competitions Mullins played in was the Allstate Sugar Bowl Louisiana State Cup. His club squad, the Chicago Fire, captured state titles in the event from 2007-09.
His development at the club level was key, he said.
“High school soccer has some good memories for me with some success on some good teams,” Mullins said. “But the development I had at the club level, technically, tactically and physically as an individual player, along with the team, definitely built into my success.”
Mullins starred at Maryland where he was the two-time winner of the Hermann Trophy (2012 and 2013), given to the nation’s top collegiate soccer player. During his senior season, he had NCAA Division I highs of 19 goals and 46 points.
He was honored as the Outstanding Male Amateur Athlete of the Year in 2013 by the Greater New Orleans Sports Selection Committee, which is sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
After being taken 11th overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution, he played for New York City FC in 2015 and 2016 before spending three years with D.C. United (2016-18). He has played with the Columbus Crew SC (2018-19) and the Toronto FC (2019-2020).
“Patrick Mullins has ascended to the top of his sport and we believe Louisiana has many first-rate soccer athletes like him,” said Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan. “That’s why we consider it important to sponsor Louisiana Soccer Association events. Likewise, we’re pleased to resume our sponsorship of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association soccer championships in 2017. We’re committed to improving the visibility for not only soccer but for all the sports the Allstate Sugar Bowl backs.”
Mullins’ success in soccer provides a blueprint and inspiration for rec league players in Louisiana who enjoy playing the sport.
From its earliest years, the Sugar Bowl Committee has been honored to provide opportunities for young athletes from around the country, athletes like Patrick Mullins. That’s because, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, We Believe in Champions.
– Story by Trey Iles, December 2016; updated July 2020
Photo Courtesy of the University of Maryland.
