2018 Samford vs. Shorter Football Game Program

2018 FOOTBALL

THURSDAY, AUG. 30

SAMFORD VS. SHORTER BIRMINGHAM, AL

#AllForSAMford 1

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2018 FOOTBALL

Head Coach Chris Hatcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Assistant Coaches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Football Support Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Returning Players. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Signees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 National Honors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Today’s Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Around the SoCon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Fall Sports Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Football Feature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Rosters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Depth Charts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Sports Feature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Historic Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Seibert Stadium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Sullivan-Cooney Family Field House. . . . . . . . . 46 Academic Enhancement Program. . . . . . . . . . . 48 Andrew Westmoreland, President. . . . . . . . . . 54 Martin Newton, Athletics Director. . . . . . . . . . 56 Athletics Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Coaches/Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 NCAA Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Samford University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Athletics Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Southern Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Bulldog Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Players in the NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Hall of Fame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Editor: Joey Mullins Senior Graphic Designer: Scott Camp Contributors: Kevin Young, Austin Scott, Kallee Taulbee Photographers: Bill Dorsten, Marvin Gentry, Caroline Summers, Jimmy Mitchell, David Johnson, contributing NFL Teams Produced by Samford Division of Marketing and Communication

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samfordsports.com

VAN WAGNER SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment (VWSE) and Samford University athletics announced a long-term partnership naming VWSE as the athletics department’s exclusive multimedia rights partner and sales agent for the department’s corporate sponsorship program in the summer of 2017.

As part of the agreement, the VWSE Collegiate Services division oversees the locally based operation, Samford Sponsorships, which will work with university leadership to enhance the overall gameday experience, and create unique and meaningful opportunities for the program’s sponsors, business partners and a growing and dedicated Bulldogs fan base.

The VWSE team, in collaboration with the Samford athletics department, handles management, sales and integration of corporate sponsorship on all levels within multimedia resources, including the Bulldogs’ digital assets, venue signage, marketing, promotional rights to athletics marks and hospitality.

For more information please contact General Manager Leon Ryan at 205-726-4717.

SOCIAL MEDIA Samford fans can keep up with the Bulldogs 24/7 through the following social media outlets: SamfordSports samford_sports samfordsportsnetwork samfordsports INTERNET The official website of Samford University athletics is samfordsports.com. A partnership of Samford athletics and SideArm Sports, the internet home of the Bulldogs, is full of the most up-to-date information on football and Samford’s 16 other varsity sports. With news stories, coaches’ and student-athletes’ biographies, plus team rosters, statistics, schedules, game notes,

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results and video, the most comprehensive coverage of the Bulldogs can always be found online at samfordsports.com.

BROADCASTS For the fourth-straight season, Samford’s home games will be broadcast live on ESPN platforms. Four of the five home games during the 2018 season can be seen on ESPN+, while the home game versus Western Carolina will air on ESPN3. For the ESPN broadcasts, Curt Bloom will handle play-by-play duties, Chad Pilcher will serve as color analyst, and Macy Marin will be the sideline reporter.

Both ESPN3 and ESPN+ can be accessed via the ESPN App across most internet-connected media devices or on ESPN.com.

ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.

Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and multiple other sports from more than 15 conferences), exclusive Top Rank boxing, UFC (beginning in 2019), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby, cricket, new and exclusive documentary films and series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s awardwinning 30 for 30 films.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time. It is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App, the leading sports app and the premier allin-one digital sports platform for fans, and is also be available through ESPN.com.

2018 FOOTBALL

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BULLDOGS HEAD COACH

Chris Hatcher

Chris Hatcher was named Samford’s 36th head football coach on Dec. 11, 2014. Now entering his fourth season at Samford, Hatcher boasts a career record of 142-71 in 18 years as a college head coach, having previously coached at Murray State, Georgia Southern and Valdosta State.

Hatcher has led the program to back-to-back NCAA Division I-FCS Playoff appearances for the first time in 25 years. The 2016 team finished 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Southern Conference play, and the 2017 team posted a record of 8-4 overall and 6-2 in SoCon play. The program has had sevenstraight winning seasons, the longest streak in program history.

The team’s 2017 offense led the SoCon and ranked fifth in the nation in passing yards per game (33.4 ypg.), and quarterback Devlin Hodges was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. Hodges also finished fourth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player at the FCS level. Not to be outdone, the Bulldogs’ defense led the SoCon in scoring defense, surrendering 22.2 points per game. Defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in all of FCS football.

In 2016, Hodges set school records for single-season completions (375), attempts (530), passing yards (4,088) and touchdown passes (36). As a unit, the Samford offense ranked third among all FCS schools in passing offense, averaging 349.4 passing yards per game. The offense also ranked sixth in the nation in red zone 4

offense (90.2%), 11th in team passing efficiency (155.24), 12th in scoring offense (35.1 ppg.) and 14th in total offense (446.2 ypg.).

In his first season at Samford in 2015, Hatcher put his stamp on the Bulldog program. Samford finished the season third in the nation in passing offense (332.9 ypg.), seventh in the nation in total offense (479.7 ypg.) and seventh in fourth-down conversions (66.7%). Hatcher’s special teams also stood out, ranking fifth nationally in kickoff return average (24.34 ypr.).

Hatcher led the Bulldogs to a 6-5 record, ending the season with a pair of impressive Southern Conference road wins at Wofford and Mercer. The 2015 team also produced a pair of All-Americans in cornerback James Bradberry and place-kicker Anthony Pistelli.

Hatcher came to Samford after serving as the head coach at Murray State University from 2010 to 2014. In five seasons as the head coach of the Racers, Hatcher’s teams employed the highpowered “Hatch Attack” offense to top the Division I-FCS football charts.

Hatcher is no stranger to the Southern Conference, as he served as the head coach at Georgia Southern from 2007 to 2009.

Prior to his time at GSU, Hatcher molded Valdosta State into one of the most dominant teams in Division II.

The winningest coach in the Blazers’ history, Hatcher was 76-12 at his alma mater. Hatcher led his 2004 team to the program’s first NCAA Division II National Title, and was named National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

The Macon, Ga., native spent one year as quarterbacks/tight ends coach at the University of Central Florida where he worked with future NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper. He then spent three years working with the quarterbacks at the University of Kentucky where he worked under

2018 FOOTBALL

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samfordsports.com former VSU head coach Hal Mumme. During his time with the Wildcats, he coached the number 1 NFL draft pick, All-America quarterback Tim Couch.

While at UK, Hatcher and the Wildcats played in the 1999 Outback Bowl, the program’s first New Year’s Day Bowl in 47 years, then followed that the following year with a berth in the ’99 Music City Bowl. It marked the first time the Wildcats had consecutive bowl appearances in 15 years.

Hatcher carried his success on the playing field to help him develop into one of the nation’s winningest coaches. A two-time All-American quarterback at VSU (1993 and 1994), Hatcher threw for 11,363 yards and 121 touchdowns during his stellar career. During his senior year in 1994, he led the Blazers to their first postseason berth, advancing to the quarterfinals, and, when it was all said and done, set 29 VSU passing and total offense records.

Among the national records he once set were a 68.5 career completion percentage and a streak of 20-straight completions in a game against New Haven. Hatcher held 14 Valdosta State, 13 Gulf South Conference and 17 Division II national records. He also started 41 consecutive games, posting a 29-10-2 record.

Not only did Hatcher excel on the field, he was just as successful in the classroom.

Twice he received the Gulf South Conference’s Commissioner’s Trophy which is awarded to the league’s Most Outstanding Student-Athlete. He finished his senior year by winning several national honors including: the NCAA Top Eight Award, the CoSIDA Academic All-America National Player of the Year and a postgraduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.

At the time when Hatcher won the Harlon Hill Trophy, he won by the second-largest voting margin in the then-19-year history of the award.

Hatcher was also voted to the GSC Football team of the 1990s.

The honors continued to add up even after 6

his playing days. Hatcher was named to the Valdosta State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, in his first year of eligibility. He was also elected into the Macon Sports Hall of Fame the same year.

In 2005, Hatcher was inducted into the Division II Hall of Fame. Hatcher was also inducted into the inaugural class of the GSC Hall of Fame in 2014.

Hatcher graduated from Valdosta State in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education.

He and his wife, Lori, also a graduate of VSU, are the parents of a son, Ty, and daughter, Talley.

2018 FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL STAFF

Bill D’Ottavio

Russ Callaway

Shawn Bostick

C.J. Bennett

Darius Eubanks

Justin Hinds

Jamael Lett

Ross Newton

Derrick Sherman

Ricky Turner

Steve Adams Director of Player Personnel

Director of Football Strength and Conditioning

Harris Bivin

James Carlson

Drew Collier

Christian Endrigian

Assistant Head Coach Defensive Coordinator

Safeties

Wide Receivers

Offensive Analyst

Offensive Coordinator

Defensive Line

Special Teams Coordinator/ Tight Ends

Director of Equipment Services

Offensive Line

Secondary

Defensive Analyst

Running Backs

Linebackers/Recruiting

Ben Ashford

Director of Football Operations

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samfordsports.com

SUPPORT STAFF

Dylan Haraway

William Henry Offensive Analyst

Special Teams/Tight Ends Analyst

Jakob Huechtker

Paige Mathis

Matt Price

Andre Roper

Zach Rubinstein

Kyler Russell

Rocky Sabbatini

Nick Serritelli

Austin Westbrook

Wes Wilhoite

Defensive Analyst

Head Football Athletic Trainer

Football Video Coordinator

State Trooper

Not pictured: Carlos Anderson, Defensive Analyst Kurt Kennedy, Offensive Analyst 8

State Trooper

Recruiting Analyst

Offensive Analyst

Director of Academic Services

Offensive Analyst

Assistant Director of Equipment Services

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samfordsports.com

2018 PLAYERS FRESHMAN

27

Kendall Adams

16

Robert Adams

SENIOR

20

Roland Adams

SOPHOMORE

87

Tanner Alexander

JUNIOR

24

Aaron Atkinson

DB

WR

RB

WR

LB

JUNIOR

SOPHOMORE

FRESHMAN

SENIOR

JUNIOR

19

Nick Barton

80

Will Bazemore

90

Garrett Brasher

40

Alfred Brown

23

William Bryant

DB

WR

TE

DL

DB

SOPHOMORE

SOPHOMORE

SOPHOMORE

SOPHOMORE

JUNIOR

20

Clay Buchweitz

30

Jake Burdeshaw

89

Robert Burke

21

Joshua Carter

LB

DB

WR

DB

JUNIOR

SOPHOMORE

SOPHOMORE

FRESHMAN

19

10

35

D’Marcus Crawford

WR

10

JUNIOR

Jai’Rus Creamer

WR

Cooper Cross

QB

45

Tyler Crowder

LB

23

Drew Couto

RB SOPHOMORE

33

Lawrence Dawsey

WR

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samfordsports.com SOPHOMORE

28/66 Pete Dorsten

55

Iba Diop

TE/OL

DL

JUNIOR

SOPHOMORE

86

82

Yassar El-Amin

Sam Fleming

WR

WR

JUNIOR

FRESHMAN

56

Lewis Freeman

58

Jeremy Garth

LS

DL

JUNIOR

JUNIOR

76

George Grimwade

47

Alec Happel

OL

LB

SOPHOMORE

FRESHMAN

15

Ty Herring

DB

12

FRESHMAN

24

Sean Hershey

WR

JUNIOR

71

Anthony Eads

OL SOPHOMORE

26

Tre’Shun Floyd

FRESHMAN

22

FRESHMAN

4

Nathan East

Grayson Edgemon

LB

QB

JUNIOR

SOPHOMORE

81

Justin Foster

10

Koi Freeman

LB

DL

DB

JUNIOR

SENIOR

SOPHOMORE

31

Jamond Glass

99

Ahmad Gooden

95

Brett Granger

DB

DL

DL

SENIOR

SENIOR

SENIOR

34

Aaron Harris

11

2

Andrew Harris

Darius Harvey

LB

WR

DB

JUNIOR

SENIOR

JUNIOR

41

Luke Hill

WR

8

Devlin Hodges

QB

49

Ryan Holcomb

LB

2018 FOOTBALL

Proud Supporter of

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samfordsports.com FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

2

73

Hunter Howell

QB

OL

FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

49

Javier King

LS SOPHOMORE

91

Joshua Long

DL FRESHMAN

13

Jordan Montgomery

DB JUNIOR

79

Matthew Pittarelli

OL

14

Reid Hulgan

48

Jaleel Laguins

SENIOR

78

Antwan Johnson

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

96

94

Nelson Jordan

Mike Kelly

OL

DL

DL

JUNIOR

SOPHOMORE

JUNIOR

77

Nate Lee

75

98

Armond Lloyd

Brendan Loftus

LB

OL

DL

OL

SENIOR

JUNIOR

SENIOR

SENIOR

88

18

84

6

Clarke Miller

Kevin Marion

Christian Matthew

Kelvin McKnight

WR

DB

WR

WR

FRESHMAN

JUNIOR

JUNIOR

SENIOR

14

Adam Moon

43

Jalen Nash

41

57

Nick Nixon

Sam Pettway

LB

DL

OL

S

SOPHOMORE

FRESHMAN

SENIOR

SENIOR

28

Coutrell Plair

DB

37

Tucker Queen

DB

97

5

Tyler Queen

ATH

Horace Roberts

DL

We’re your biggest fan.

At BBVA Compass, we’re proud to be a part of Birmingham and we’re committed to supporting everything that makes our community a great place to live.

Go Bulldogs!

We’re behind you 110%.

Andrea Smith Birmingham CEO andrea.smith@bbva.com

BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank, a member of the BBVA Group. Compass Bank, Member FDIC.

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samfordsports.com FRESHMAN

22

Jeremiah Roberts

RB SENIOR

25

Christian Stark

36

Conner Rohling

SOPHOMORE

9

JUNIOR

1

39

Chris Shelling

DB

RB

WR

RB

SOPHOMORE

FRESHMAN

JUNIOR

FRESHMAN

33

John Staton

15

93

Champ Stewart

Jes Sutherland

LB

TE

QB

FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

85

64

29

Adam Thomas

Montrell Washington

LS

WR

WR

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

29

FRESHMAN

Moise Satine

DB

51

16

FRESHMAN

3

Harrison Weltlich

Kentre’vious Williams

DB

WR

Kendall Watson

50

Mike Williams

OL

Jordan Weaver

PK

Antwione Sims

69

Emmett Taliaferro

DL SOPHOMORE

7

Liam Welch

QB

2018 FOOTBALL

Will Bazemore

Nate Lee

Marketing Football

Shian Mallory

Accounting Track and Field and Cross Country

Management and Marketing Football

Dean Howard Finch

Brad Cheek

Finance Track and Field and Cross Country

Brock School of Business and Samford Athletics:

A Winning Tradition Innovation

• New data analytics minor and concentration • Student-managed Bulldog Investment Fund valued at $2.3 million • Regions New Venture Challenge business plan competition

Impact

Learn more about the winning traditions at Brock School of Business at

samford.edu/ business

• 97% of students complete academic internships • 99% of graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate programs six months after graduation • Accredited by AACSB—only 5% of business schools receive this accreditation worldwide

Engagement

• Internationally recognized faculty • Professional development opportunities for students • Cutting-edge facilities Samford University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Employer.

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samfordsports.com

2018 SIGNEES FRESHMAN

4

C.J. Ackles

61

Sean Barden

FRESHMAN

44

Tay Berry

FRESHMAN

32

Walter Brooks

FRESHMAN

31

Jacob Carson

DB

DL

DL

WR

WR

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

32

17

Mitchell Fineran

LaVar Gardner

83

Titus Gardner

K

LB

WR

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

80

18

Ty Hatcher

Justin Hayes

11

Will Hudson

QB

DL

QB

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

6

54

Turner Miles

LB

18

FRESHMAN

Jonathan Moore

DB

52

Beau Myers

OL

38

Dorien Gooch

65

Austin Guyse

LB

OL

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

12

Ty King

35

Joseph Mera

WR

DL

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

72

Gavin Orr

OL

14

Torrence Pollard

WR

2018 FOOTBALL

AT RISK FOR

Concussion In case of medical emergency, call 911 or go directly to your local ER

A concussion

is an injury caused by a blow to the head in which the brain moves rapidly and may collide with the inside of the skull. Even a minor fall or collision may be of concern, so be alert to symptoms such as headaches, unsteadiness, confusion or other types of abnormal behavior. Any athlete with a suspected concussion: n n n n

Should be IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM PLAY/ACTIVITY Should be evaluated right away by a doctor/healthcare professional Should not be left alone Should not drive a motor vehicle

Children’s Sports Medicine Behavioral Health

www.ChildrensAL.org/concussion For a Concussion Clinic appointment,

call 205.934.1041

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Outpatient surgery, Pediatric Imaging, laboratory services and specialty care clinics

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Children’s Behavioral Health

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205.638.4800

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samfordsports.com FRESHMAN

67

Peter Renkoski

FRESHMAN

38

Peyton Ringer

OL

68

Scotty Rogers

FRESHMAN

Braeden Royal

OL

DL

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

Chandler Smith

WR

46

27

DeMarcus Ware

RB

FRESHMAN

59

92

WR

21

20

FRESHMAN

Slade Ziegler

LB

Gunnar Sadowey

P

2018 FOOTBALL

Sam works hard...

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2018 FOOTBALL

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ALL-AMERICANS AND NATIONAL HONORS All-Americans Austin Barnard 2017, Punter (3rd Team, AP, Phil Steele) Fred Bishop 1999, Linebacker Bobby Bowden 1952, Quarterback James Bradberry 2015, Cornerback (3rd Team, STATS) Wally Burnham 1963, Linebacker Norman Cooper 1936, Center Marcus Durgin 1991, Cornerback (2nd Team, Sports Network; 3rd Team, AP)

1992, Cornerback (3rd Team, AP) Surkano Edwards 1992, Running Back (HM, Sports Network) Cortland Finnegan 2002, Safety; 2003, Safety (3rd Team); 2005, Safety (AFCA) Jimbo Fisher 1987, Quarterback Sam Goldman 1940, End Ahmad Gooden 2017, Defensive Lineman (1st Team, AFCA, Phil

Steele, Walter Camp; 2nd Team, AP, STATS) Karel Hamilton 2016, Wide Receiver (1st Team) Tim Hamrick 1987, Punter Efrem Hill 2003, Wide Receiver; 2004, Wide Receiver Harold Hill 1937, End Devlin Hodges 2016, Quarterback (3rd Team); 2017, Quarterback (2nd Team, AFCA) Scott Holmes 1994, Punter Harley Hopkins 1938, End Bobby Jackson 1962, Quarterback Anthony Jordan 1994, Running Back Jim Lovette 1966, Running Back Kelvin McKnight 2017, Wide Receiver (2nd Team, AFCA; 3rd Team, STATS; 4th Team, Phil Steele) Joe Milazzo 1960, Quarterback Anthony Pistelli 2015, Kicker (1st Team, AP, Walter Camp) David Primus 1989, Kick Returner Shaheed Salmon 2017, Linebacker (3rd Team, STATS; 4th Team, Phil Steele) Justin Shade 2013, Linebacker (1st Team) Bryce Smith 2010, Linebacker Bennie Story 1961, Defensive Tackle James Tarrant 1940, End (Honorable Mention); 1941, End (3rd Team) Jaquiski Tartt 2012, Safety (1st Team); 2013, Safety (2nd Team); 2014, Safety (1st Team) Fabian Truss 2012, Kick Returner (2nd Team); 2013, All-Purpose (1st Team) Mike Williams 2017 Offensive Lineman (Freshman All-American)

Jefferson Adcock Joe Collins Graham Lemmond Ty Levie Michael O’Neal

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Other National Honors 2007, NFF National Honor Society; 2007, FCS Academic All-Star 2011, Capital One Academic; All-District 2006, NFF National Honor Society; 2006, FCS Academic All-Star 2009, FCS Academic All-Star; 2009, ESPN The Magazine; Academic All-District 1991, CoSIDA Academic; All-American (2nd Team)

2018 FOOTBALL

TODAY’S GAME

Samford football opens the 2018 season by hosting Shorter University Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Seibert Stadium. Samford returns 10 starters on offense and six starters on defense from the 2017 team. Last season, the Bulldogs posted a record of 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Southern Conference play.

Shorter posted a record of 0-11 overall and 0-8 in Gulf South Conference play during the 2017 season.

Preseason SoCon Honors Samford was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference in the league’s preseason polls by both the head coaches and media. Additionally, seven Samford players were named to the preseason All-SoCon teams.

Samford players named to the first team were quarterback Devlin Hodges (preseason Offensive Player of the Year), offensive lineman Nick Nixon, wide receiver Kelvin McKnight and defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden (preseason Defensive Player of the Year). Samford’s second team honorees were: wide receiver Chris Shelling, linebacker Christian Stark and defensive back Darius Harvey.

Preseason National Honors Samford was ranked 11th in the nation in the STATS preseason FCS Top 25 poll. Three Samford players were named to the STATS preseason All-America teams. Quarterback Devlin Hodges and defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden were named to the first team, while wide receiver Kelvin McKnight was named to the second team.

The Series Samford and Shorter will meet for the first time ever in football.

Samford Against Gulf South Conference Teams Samford has an all-time record of 35-34-5 against the current members of the Gulf South Conference. Samford has played the following Gulf South teams: Delta State (7-4), Mississippi College (14-22-4), West Alabama (11-6-1) and West Georgia (3-2). Samford’s last game against a Gulf South team came in last season’s 49-41 win over West Alabama.

Samford in Home Openers Samford has an all-time record of 66-27-7 in home openers. Last season, Samford won its first home game, earning a 28-23 win over Kennesaw State.

Over the last 10 years, Samford is 8-2 in the first home game of the season. In home season openers, the Bulldogs are 34-13-2. This marks the fourth-straight season Samford has opened the season at home.

Samford in Season Openers Samford has an all-time record of 46-52-4 in season-opening games. Last season, the Bulldogs earned a 28-23 win over Kennesaw State in the season opener for both teams. Entering this season, Samford has won five of its last six season openers. Over the last 10 seasons, Samford is 6-4 in season openers. The Bulldogs are 6-1 over that stretch in season openers played at home.

Statistical Comparison (2017 statistics)

SAM SHO Points Scored* 28.0 11.8 Total Offense* 412.9 269.5 First Downs 262 151 Rushing Yards* 79.5 65.5 Passing Yards* 333.4 203.9 Time of Possession* 28:03 29:04 Third Down Percentage 40% 32% Points Allowed* 22.2 43.8 Yards Allowed* 386.0 493.0 Rushing Yards Allowed* 195.8 247.6 Passing Yards Allowed* 190.2 245.4 *per game

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Around the SoCon

SOCON OVERALL TEAM RECORD PCT HOME AWAY NEUTRAL RECORD PCT HOME AWAY NEUTRAL The Citadel 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 ETSU 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 Furman 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 Mercer 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 Samford 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 Chattanooga 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 VMI 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 Wofford 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 Western Carolina 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 .000 0-0 0-0 0-0

26

CHATTANOOGA (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last season: 3-8, 3-5 SoCon This week: vs. Tennessee Tech (Thurs.)

SAMFORD (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last season: 8-4, 6-2 SoCon This week: vs. Shorter (Thurs.)

The CITADEL (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last season: 5-6, 3-5 SoCon This week: at Wofford

VMI (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last season: 0-11, 0-8 SoCon This week: at Toledo

ETSU (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last season: 4-7, 2-6 SoCon This week: vs. Mars Hill

WESTERN CAROLINA (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last season: 7-5, 5-3 SoCon This week: vs. Newberry

FURMAN (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last week: 8-5, 6-2 SoCon This week: at Clemson

WOFFORD (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last season: 10-3, 7-1 SoCon This week: vs. The Citadel

MERCER (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) Last season: 5-6, 4-4 SoCon This week: at Memphis

For the latest in standings, log on to soconsports.com

2018 FOOTBALL

SAMFORD FALL SPORTS FOOTBALL Aug. 30 (Thurs.)

Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17

Shorter at Florida State Mercer (Family Weekend)* at Chattanooga* at Kennesaw State Western Carolina* VMI* at Furman* Wofford (Homecoming)* at The Citadel* at ETSU*

6:30 p.m.

6:20 p.m.

2 p.m.

6 p.m.

5 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

1 p.m.

2 p.m.

1 p.m.

12 p.m.

*Southern Conference game All times are Central

SOCCER Aug. 16 Aug. 19 Aug. 24 Aug. 26 Aug. 31 Sept. 3 Sept. 7 Sept. 9 Sept. 13 Sept. 15 Sept. 21 Sept. 23 Sept. 28 Sept. 30 Oct. 5 Oct. 7 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 21 Oct. 27 Nov. 2 and 4

Auburn at Baylor at Alabama State at UAB Rice Memphis at Jacksonville State at LSU Kennesaw State at College of Charleston The Citadel* Mercer* at Furman* at Wofford* ETSU* Western Carolina* at Chattanooga* at VMI* at UNCG* SoCon Tourn. First Round$ SoCon Tournament!

L, 0-4 L, 1-6 7 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

4 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

3 p.m.

1 p.m.

TBD TBD

*-Southern Conference Game $-SoCon Tournament First Round (Campus Sites) !-SoCon Tournament Semifinals and Finals (Macon, Ga.) All times are Central

VOLLEYBALL

Aug. 24 McNeese State% Aug. 24 Loyola% Aug. 25 Kennesaw State& Aug. 31 at Ole Miss% Aug. 31 vs. Little Rock% Sept. 1 vs. Ohio State% Sept. 1 vs. Southern Miss% Sept. 7 at Ohio# Sept. 8 vs. Virginia Tech# Sept. 8 vs. IUPUI# Sept. 11 at Alabama Sept. 14 vs. Air Force@ Sept. 15 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore@ Sept. 15 at Denver@ Sept. 21 Furman* Sept. 22 Wofford* Sept. 28 at ETSU* Sept. 29 at UNCG* Oct. 5 Mercer* Oct. 6 The Citadel* Oct. 10 at Chattanooga* Oct. 12 at Western Carolina* Oct. 19 at Furman* Oct. 20 at Wofford* Oct. 26 UNCG* Oct. 27 ETSU* Nov. 2 at The Citadel* Nov. 3 at Mercer* Nov. 7 Chattanooga* Nov. 10 Western Carolina* Nov. 16-18 SoCon Tournament! *-Southern Conference Game %-Courtyard by Marriott Samford Invitational &-Mississippi Invitational #-Ohio Invitational @-Denver Challenge !-SoCon Tournament (Greensboro, N.C.) All times are Central

12:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

3 p.m.

10 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

5 p.m.

6 p.m.

11 a.m.

4 p.m.

7 p.m.

8 p.m.

4 p.m.

8 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

4 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

5 p.m.

5 p.m.

6 p.m.

5 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

TBD

CROSS COUNTRY Aug. 31 Sept. 15 Sept. 29 Oct. 12 Oct 27 Nov. 9 Nov 17

Mississippi College Opener Commodore Classic JSU Foothills Invitational Blazer Classic (Montevallo, Ala.) SoCon Championship (Cullowee, N.C.) South Regional (Tallahassee, Fla.) NCAA Championships (Madison, Wisc.)

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Ahmad Gooden: Dealing with High Expectations

by Joey Mullins, Samford Athletics Communication Samford senior defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden enters his final season in a Samford uniform with high expectations. After being named the Southern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year last season, he was tabbed as the league’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year prior to this season.

He is also a first team preseason All-American, and is on the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in all of FCS football.

Gooden is not letting the attention go to his head. Instead, he is using it as motivation to make his senior season his best season as a Bulldog.

“I kind of use it as motivation because it reassures me of the player I can be and the potential I have,” Gooden said. “I try to stay as humble as possible and my main focus is just getting better every day, despite how good people say I am, or how the media portrays me. I just try to be humble and down 28

to earth. I just want to be with my teammates and help make them better, because getting them better is going to get us better as a team.”

Entering his senior season, Gooden said he just wants to have a good season for the team, and for himself.

“Personally, I want to have the best season I can, a healthy season,” Gooden said. “I am aiming to break a few records. That’s something that would be icing on the cake, along with a SoCon championship for the team.”

Gooden got his start playing football like a lot of little kids, playing in his backyard.

“My first time ever playing football was just in the back yard, kind of rugby style, I was probably about five years old,” Gooden said. “All the kids were outside and my mom wouldn’t let me stay in the house, so I had to go outside and do something.”

Gooden’s uncles, Joseph Coleman and Terrance Coleman, and his brother Courtney Gooden had played football and inspired the young Ahmad to try his hand at the game. The members of Gooden’s

2018 FOOTBALL family also had a jersey number in common, the number 32.

“It’s kind of like a legacy-type deal, passed down,” Gooden said. “My uncles, they played football and both of them were really good running backs, and they wore 32, so it just passed down to my brother and then it came to me. So, it was just my turn to hop into 32 in middle school and high school, so that was kind of my motivational factor.”

In his early playing days, Gooden played every position except quarterback and safety. Once Gooden got to high school he realized defense was his strong suit.

“I just thought I was a better defensive player,” Gooden said. “I started out playing tight end and then they moved me my freshman year to linebacker. When I started playing linebacker, that’s when I started to develop those certain skills to be better.”

As a player at Talladega High School, Gooden went on to have a stellar career. He was a three-time All-County selection, and he earned All-State honors as well.

Gooden, who now wears number 99 as a defensive end at Samford, said it was late in his high school career when he really started to think playing college football was a realistic possibility.

“My junior year when I made the All-State team was when I started to think about it,” Gooden said.

“It wasn’t really something that I was focused on, playing collegiately. I felt like, after I started getting visits from coaches, that this could be a reality.”

Gooden had several options when deciding where to attend college. Among others, he looked at Georgia Tech, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama and Kennesaw State. But in the end, he wound up picking Samford for a very simple reason.

“It was closer to home,” Gooden said. “I don’t think I was ready to be away from home yet. It was far enough, but not too far where I couldn’t travel back and forth just in case something happened or if I needed something.”

After being redshirted in 2014, Gooden played in all 11 games, starting seven contests in 2015. He tallied 53 tackles, including 23 solo stop, 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks as a redshirt freshman. Gooden said the redshirt year helped him get used to the college game before actually playing in a game.

“It was a wake-up call,” Gooden said of when he first got to college. “Guys are bigger and faster.

I’d never really seen anybody over 270 or 280 pounds who moved as quickly as some guys did.

Coming to Samford and seeing guys like Quas (Jaquaski Tartt) and Blue (James Bradberry), guys that are in the league and had NFL potential. I didn’t even know what that looked like until I got here.”

As a sophomore in 2016, Gooden finished with 70 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks. He followed that up with a junior season in which he tallied 101 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

After his junior season performance, Gooden was named the SoCon’s Defensive Player of the Year, and finished seventh in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award.

The last two seasons, Gooden and his teammates have reached the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs. Gooden said the experience of the last two seasons makes him even hungrier to get back to the playoffs and advance in the postseason.

“We just know how it feels to be in the playoffs,” Gooden said. “I had never been in the playoffs before until a couple of years ago at Youngstown State. That was a really overwhelming experience for me. But I think we are comfortable, knowing how it feels to be in the playoffs, and knowing there are a lot of talented teams outside the SoCon. So, we’re just going to use that experience to propel us through.”

This season, Gooden heads up a defense that must replace five starters from last season. He says he has accepted the role of being one of the leaders of the unit this season.

“Whether it’s consciously or not, I know the players look up to me, and I know that I have to have a vocal role, as well as my actions,” Gooden said. “Everything I do, everything I say, guys pick up on, so I have to lead the team in a positive way that is only going to encourage people, motivate and push people towards their potential. I just want to bring out the best in the team.”

Samford was picked to win the SoCon in the league’s preseason polls prior to this season. Gooden and his fellow seniors hope they can close out their careers with a conference title and a playoff run.

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SAMFORD NUMERICAL ROSTER NO 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 26 27 27 28 28/66 29 29 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 30

NAME Chris Shelling Darius Harvey Hunter Howell Kentre’vious Williams Grayson Edgemon C.J. Ackles Tyler Queen Kelvin McKnight Jonathan Moore Liam Welch Devlin Hodges Moise Satine Chase Volpi Koi Freeman Cooper Cross Andrew Harris Will Hudson Ty King Jordan Montgomery Daniel Leuze Torrence Pollard Adam Moon Jes Sutherland Ty Herring Robert Adams Devan Walker Mitchell Fineran Ty Hatcher Christian Matthew Jai’Rus Creamer Nick Barton Roland Adams Clay Buchweitz Joshua Carter Chandler Smith Nathan East Jeremiah Roberts William Bryant Drew Couto Aaron Atkinson Sean Hershey Christian Stark Tre’Shun Floyd Kendall Adams DeMarcus Ware Coutrell Plair Pete Dorsten Harrison Weltlich Kendall Watson Jake Burdeshaw Jamond Glass Jacob Carson LaVar Gardner Walter Brooks John Staton Lawrence Dawsey Jr. Aaron Harris Joseph Mera D’Marcus Crawford Conner Rohling Bryce Davis Tucker Queen William Roseman

POS WR DB QB WR QB DB ATH WR DB QB QB WR DB DB QB WR QB WR DB RB WR LB QB DB WR RB K QB DB WR DB RB LB DB WR LB RB DB RB LB WR DB LB DB RB DB TE/OL DB WR DB DB WR LB WR LB WR LB DL WR DB DB DB K

HT 5-8 5-11 6-3 6-1 6-3 6-2 6-1 5-8 5-11 6-2 6-1 5-9 5-11 6-1 6-3 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-1 5-8 5-7 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-3 5-9 5-10 5-6 6-3 6-3 5-10 5-10 6-0 6-1 5-9 6-2 5-7 6-1 5-8 6-0 5-10 6-2 5-11 6-0 5-9 5-11 6-4 6-0 5-8 5-11 5-10 6-2 6-0 5-9 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-0 5-8 5-10 5-10 5-10 6-0

WT 165 187 195 184 184 190 215 186 176 188 210 172 184 188 179 185 178 157 188 195 162 210 190 192 193 180 175 148 175 238 201 203 229 198 186 212 243 194 182 214 173 190 212 172 186 168 240 172 169 194 185 196 189 161 211 165 218 236 163 170 199 181 145

CL Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. So. Sr. So. Fr. So. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. So. So. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. So. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.

HOMETOWN/PREV. SCHOOL Lawrenceville, Ga./Army Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln HS Hoover, Ala./Spain Park HS Baconton, Ga./Mitchell County HS Madison, Ala./Madison Academy Mount Zion, Ga./Mount Zion HS Birmingham, Ala./Vestavia Hills HS Bradenton, Fla./Manatee HS Norcross, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian Augusta, Ga./Aquinas HS Kimberly, Ala./Mortimer-Jordan HS Avon Park, Fla./Avon Park HS Tampa, Fla./Robinson HS Leeds, Ala./Leeds HS Marietta, Ga./Lassiter HS Canton, Ga./Cherokee HS Marietta, Ga./Sprayberry HS Wrens, Ga./Jefferson County HS Anniston, Ala./Walter Welborn HS Santa Rosa Beach, Fla./S. Walton HS Ensley, Ala./Leeds HS Norcross, Ga./Wesleyan School College Park, Ga./Woodward Acad Fernandina, Fla./Fernandina Beach HS Montgomery, Ala./Trinity Presb.

Helena, Ala./Birmingham Prep Fort Valley, Ga./Peach County HS Homewood, Ala./Bessemer Academy Columbus, Ga./Georgia Southern Rome, Ga./Rome HS Brentwood, Tenn./Ravenwood HS Florence, Ala./Florence HS Roswell, Ga./Fellowship Christian Birmingham, Ala./Ramsay HS Marietta, Ga./Walton HS McCalla, Ala./McAdory HS College Park, Ga./Banneker HS Leesburg, Ga./Lee County HS Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake HS Hazel Green, Ala./Hazel Green HS Cornelius, N.C./Hough HS Norcross, Ga./Wesleyan HS Auburn, Ala./Auburn HS Lilburn, Ga./Providence Christian Olive Branch, Miss./Olive Branch HS Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood Acad Thompsons Station, Tenn./Independence Roswell, Ga./Blessed Trinity HS Chattanooga, Tenn./McCallie School Homewood, Ala./Homewood HS Atlanta, Ga./Grady HS Auburn, Ala./Lee-Scott Academy Decatur, Ala./Columbia HS Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta HS Atlanta, Ga./Lovett HS Tampa, Fla./Florida State Norcross, Ga./Southern Mississippi Fort Myers, Fla./Bishop Verot HS Eatonton, Ga./Putnam County HS Vestavia Hills, Ala./Vestavia Hills HS Albertville, Ala./Albertville HS Vestavia Hills, Ala./Vestavia Hills HS Tampa, Fla./Robinson HS

2018 FOOTBALL 38 38 39 40 41 41 42 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 61 64 65 67 68 69 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

Dorien Gooch Peyton Ringer Antwione Sims Alfred Brown Sam Pettway Luke Hill Bradley Porcellato Trent Shedd Jalen Nash Tay Berry Tyler Crowder Slade Ziegler Alec Happel Jaleel Laguins Javier King Ryan Holcomb Mike Williams Adam Thomas Beau Myers Camren Wood Turner Miles Iba Diop Lewis Freeman Nick Nixon Jeremy Garth Gunnar Sadowey Sean Barden Jordan Weaver Austin Guyse Peter Renkoski Scotty Rogers Emmett Taliaferro Anthony Eads Gavin Orr Reid Hulgan Mason Mitchell Brendan Loftus George Grimwade Nate Lee Antwan Johnson Matthew Pittarelli Will Bazemore Justin Hayes Justin Foster Yassar El-Amin Titus Gardner Clarke Miller Montrell Washington Sam Fleming Tanner Alexander Kevin Marion Robert Burke Garrett Brasher Joshua Long Braeden Royal Champ Stewart Nelson Jordan Brett Granger Mike Kelly Horace Roberts Armond Lloyd Ahmad Gooden

LB WR RB DL S WR P LB DL DL LB LB LB LB LS LB OL LS OL LS LB DL LS OL DL P DL PK OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR DL DL WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR TE DL DL TE DL DL DL DL DL DL

6-0 5-5 5-10 6-3 5-11 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-1 6-2 5-6 6-0 6-6 6-0 6-2 5-8 6-2 6-3 6-0 6-6 5-9 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-7 6-6 6-4 6-6 6-6 6-1 6-1 6-3 5-10 5-7 6-1 5-9 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-2 6-3 6-2

214 145 218 262 190 185 170 221 244 283 222 197 227 220 184 187 300 215 272 164 212 277 230 275 249 185 269 195 254 262 280 239 271 276 260 265 322 307 318 290 245 207 277 267 163 156 199 184 195 164 233 209 232 236 273 230 252 234 227 316 287 245

Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. So. So. Sr. So. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Sr. So. Sr.

Tampa, Fla./Tampa Catholic Lithonia, Ga./The Lovett School Zephyrhills, Fla./ Navy Prep Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt County HS Mobile, Ala./UMS-Wright Franklin, Tenn./Franklin HS Melbourne, Australia Dora, Ala./Corner HS Huntersville, N.C./Army Flora, Miss./Madison Central HS Fayetterville, Ga./Whitewater HS Mandeville, La./Lakeshore HS Arlington, Texas/Lamar HS Watkinsville, Ga./Univ. of Georgia Homewood, Ala./Homewood HS Madison, Miss./Madison Central HS Bessemer, Ala./Bessemer Academy Cumming, Ga./South Forsyth HS Clarksville, Tenn./Independence HS Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland Christian School Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery HS Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody HS Hendersonville, Tenn./Pope John Paul II HS Madison, Ala./James Clemens HS Elkhart, Ind./St. Joseph’s Roswell, Ga./King’s Ridge Christian HS Norcross, Ga./Wesleyan School Trinity, Ala./West Morgan HS Roswell, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS Tampa, Fla./Plant HS Kennesaw, Ga./Mount Paran HS Harpersville, Ala./Coosa Valley Acad.

Southside, Ala./Southside HS Fort Payne, Ala./Fort Payne HS Roswell, Ga./Centennial HS Tallahassee, Fla./Univ. of Miami Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes HS Thomasville, Ala./Thomasville HS Marietta, Ga./Pope HS Forsyth, Ga./Mary Persons HS Smyrna, Ga./Campbell HS Anniston, Ala./The Donoho School Douglasville, Ga./Douglas County HS Tuscaloosa, Ala./Tuscaloosa Academy Tampa, Fla./Plant HS Canton, Ga./Cherokee HS Suwanee, Ga./Lambert HS Buford, Ga./Burford HS Spanish Fort, Ala./Spanish Fort HS Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood Academy Alpharetta, Ga./Mount Pisgah HS Columbus, Ga./Brookstone HS Tuscaloosa, Ala./Tuscaloosa County HS Birmingham, Ala./Briarwood Christian Starkville, Miss./Starkville HS Helena, Ala./Helena HS Montgomery, Ala./Montgomery Academy College Park, Ga./Banneker HS Birmingham, Ala./Oak Mountain HS Talladega, Ala./Talladega HS

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SHORTER NUMERICAL ROSTER

32

No. Name

Returning/New

Pos

1 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 38

Returning Returning Returning New Returning New Returning Returning Returning New New New Returning Returning Returning Returning Returning New Returning Returning New Returning New Returning Returning New New New New Returning New New New New Returning Returning New Returning New New Returning Returning New New New Returning New New Returning New Returning New New New New New New New New New New New New New New Returning Returning New New

WR WR CB RB QB CB LB QB CB CB QB CB WR LB LB WR DL DB WR QB LB QB LB CB

Lewis Hayes James Virgil Joshua Duncan Tupac Lanier Tyler Pullum Christian Smith Makenzy Newbill Caleb Winton Marcus Cody Jeff Brewer Joshua “Coey” Watson Dennis Bailey Taegan Kilpatrick Jeremiah Brown Hunter Poole Barnett Bailey Randall Blash Jr. Christian James-Lattore Mason Long Brandon Dickerson Jamie Welker Aaron Bryant Jake Chadwick Jaelin Morgan Juan “Mo” Sutton Porter Johnson Ethan Manns Brandon Banks Jacob Brumby Joseph Ross Chris Waters-Dixon Zydarius Boykin Isaiha Jones Jordan McIllwain Nehemiah Reddish Kartez Carr Cameron Shirley Uras Agee Keshun Kent Kaleb Bailey Weldrin Ford Chris Brown Ty’Mir Puryear Sylvester Cobb Olico Dennis Terrance Snelling Jerry “Dante’” Fleming Daveion Joyner Austin Butler Demetrius West Khaleel Fabian Taveras Herrington Myrian Craft Darren Parker Austin Brock Isisah Toombs Dante’ Franklin Jr Bradley Kirk Zach Brooks Courtney Frazier Jared Connor Trey Underwood Chad “Easton” Murphy Braxton Wharton Ludrick Similien Devin Wallace Harrison Fisher Brock Jackson Darryl McClellan

QB LB LB QB WR CB LB WR DB DB WR DB WR DB DB RB LB WR LB RB DL LB DB RB LB DB WR RB DB WR CB RB DB WR DB LB RB CB WR WR CB DB TE RB

2018 FOOTBALL 38 39 39 40 41 41 42 43 43 45 45 47 48 49 49 50 51 51 52 53 53 54 55 56 56 57 58 58 59 60 61 61 62 63 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 78 79 80 81 82 83 83 84 85 86 88 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95

Brent Silvar Darin Garland Kevin Zachary Dejon Walden Anderson Joiner Chris “Chip” WIlliams Xavier Hughey Austin “Josiah” Dixon Cason Still Brett Bardenwerper Jordan Swain Kevin Cole Zach Anderson Tanner Floyd Marcellus Giles D.J. Lester Joseph Hagin Steven Howard Jared Wilson Tyler Beard Cruz Rodriguez Le’Chauz Langford Hanock Berhane Bruce Guyton Mason O’Neal Nicholas Smith Nehemiah Bing Avery Staples Andrew Waller Brooks Moore Micah Donaldson Jason (JC) Fuller Zach Seymour Noah Hightower AJ Whiteside Dalton Hamm Austin McDaniel Noah Davenport Charles “Ty” Hood Rylee Cheek Jacob Lammers Zyaire Horey Kenny Holmes River Dixon Jake Nitowski Jared Spradlin Byers Hickman Josh Taylor Corey Robinson Dillion Manning Demetrious Winters Bryant Knight Jakeyvus Newsome Keith Teague Jordan Coates Wilbert “Willy” Boyd Artell Yates Tony Barnes Andrew Warren Conorris “CJ” Riggsbee Elijah Gilbert Carlton “Dion” Mack John Paul Osorio Shy’rik Furman Randy Songie Fabian Reid Sherrod Agee Isiaiah Efojie Austin Angeloff

New New New Returning Returning New Returning Returning New New New New New New New New New New Returning New New Returning Returning New New New New New New New New New New New New New Returning New Returning Returning New New New Returning New New Returning New Returning New New New Returning Returning Returning Returning New Returning New Returning Returning Returning New New New Returning New Returning New

LB WR LB DL TE LB DE TE LB K DB LB LB TE LB DE DE OL LB LB DL DL DL DL OL LB OL LB OL OL DL OL OL LS OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL WR WR WR WR DT WR WR TE WR DL DE DL DE DL DE DE LB

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SAMFORD DEPTH CHART OFFENSE QB 8 Devlin Hodges

7 Liam Welch XWR 6 Kelvin McKnight

19 JaiRus Creamer HWR 84 Clarke Miller

88 Kevin Marion YWR 1 Chris Shelling

82 Yassar El-Amin ZWR 3 Kentre’vious Williams

11 Andrew Harris F 20 Roland Adams

9 Moise Satine LT 57 Nick Nixon

65 Austin Guyse LG 75 Brendan Loftus

76 George Grimwade C 77 Nate Lee

52 Beau Myers or 68 Scotty Rogers RG 50 Mike Williams

79 Matthew Pittarelli RT 78 Antwan Johnson

72 Gavin Orr

(6-1, 210, Sr.) (6-2, 188, So.) (5-8, 186, Sr.) (6-3, 238, So.) (6-1, 199, Sr.) (6-2, 233, Sr.) (5-8. 165, Jr.) (5-10, 163, Jr.) (6-1, 184, Fr.) (6-1, 185, Sr.) (5-10, 203, Sr.) (5-9, 172, So.) (6-6, 275, Jr.) (6-3, 254, Fr.) (6-7, 322, Jr.) (6-6, 3-7, Jr.) (6-4, 318, Jr.) (6-2, 272, Fr.) (6-1, 280, Fr.) (6-6, 300, So.) (6-6, 245, Jr.) (6-6, 290, Sr.) (6-2, 276, Fr.)

DEFENSE STUD 99 Ahmad Gooden

91 Joshua Long or 95 Brett Granger DT 81 Justin Foster or 98 Armond Lloyd

80 Justin Hayes

(6-2, 245, Sr.) (6-2, 236, So.) (6-3, 234, So.) (6-3, 267, Jr.) (6-3, 287, So.) (6-1, 277, Fr.)

SAMFORD COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Chris Hatcher Alma Mater, Year: Valdosta State, ‘94 Record at School: 21-14 (4th year) Career Record: 142-71 (19th year)

34

NG

DE

SLB

MLB

WLB

FCB

SS

FS

BCB

97 Horace Roberts 40 Alfred Brown 43 Jalen Nash 94 Nelson Jordan 25 Christian Stark 22 Nathan East 34 Aaron Harris 47 Alec Happel 24 Aaron Atkinson 26 Tre’Shun Floyd 2 Darius Harvey 21 Joshua Carter 23 William Bryant 13 Jordan Montgomery 10 Koi Freeman 15 Ty Herring 31 Jamond Glass 18 Christian Matthew

SPECIAL TEAMS SN 5 Tyler Queen H 10 Cooper Cross KO 17 Mitchell Fineran FG TBD P TBD KR TBD PR TBD

(6-2, 316, Sr.) (6-3, 262, Sr.) (6-2, 244, Jr.) (6-1, 252, Fr.) (6-2, 190, Sr.) (6-2, 212, Fr.) (6-0, 218, Sr.) (6-1, 227, Jr.) (6-0, 214, Jr.) (5-11, 212, So.) (5-11, 187, Sr.) (6-1, 198, So.) (6-1, 194, Jr.) (6-1, 188, Fr.) (6-1, 188, So.) (6-2, 192, So.) (5-10, 185, Jr.) (6-3, 175, Jr.) (6-1, 215, Sr.) (6-3, 179, So.) (5-10, 175, Fr.)

Assistant Coaches Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator: Bill D’Ottavio Offensive Coordinator: Russ Callaway Offensive Line: Shawn Bostick Running Backs: C.J. Bennett Safeties: Darius Eubanks Defensive Line: Justin Hinds Secondary: Jamael Lett Linebackers: Ross Newton Wide Receivers: Derrick Sherman Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends: Ricky Turner Director of Strength and Conditioning: Ben Ashford

2018 FOOTBALL

SHORTER DEPTH CHART OFFENSE QB 4 Tyler Pullum

7 Corey Watson RB 3 Tupac Lanier

24 Weldrin Ford W-WR 88 Elijah Gilbert

8 Taegan Kilpatrick A-WR 22 Kartez Carr

88 Elijah Gilbert R-WR 88 Elijah Gilbert

18 Joe Ross L-WR 1 Lewis Hayes

15 Maurice Sutton H-TE 41 Andy Joiner Y-TE 49 Tanner Floyd

43 Josiah Dixon RT 73 Jake Nitowski

64 Dalton Hamm RG 71 Kenny Holmes

53 Cruz Rodriguez C 58 Nehemiah Bing

71 Kenny Holmes LG 66 Noah Davenport

53 Cruz Rodriguez LT 75 Byers Hickman

64 Dalton Hamm

SHORTER COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Zach Morrison Record at School: First Year Career Record: First Year

(Returning) (New) (New) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (New) (Returning) (New) (New) (New) (New) (New) (New) (New) (New) (Returning) (New)

DEFENSE FC 3 Joshua Duncan

8 Dennis Bailey FS 32 Bradley Kirk

29 Khaleel Fabian BS 21 Nehemiah Reddish

24 Kaleb Bailey BC 7 Jeff Brewer

6 Marcus Cody Star 10 Hunter Poole

16 Ethan Manns Mike 5 Makenzy Newbill

47 Kevin Cole Will 27 Dante Fleming

9 Jeremiah Brown End 54 Le’Chauz Langford

42 Xavier Hughey Nose 11 Randall Blash, Jr.

92 Fabian Reid Tackle 26 Terrance Snelling

56 Bruce Guyton Leo 40 Dejon Walden

39 Kevin Zachary

(Returning) (New) (New) (Returning) (Returning) (New) (New) (Returning) (Returning) (New) (Returning) (New) (New) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (Returning) (New) (Returning) (New)

Assistant Coaches Defensive Coordinator: Chad Creamer Offensive Coordinator: Blaise Holzer Tight Ends/Operations: Drew Burnham Wide Receivers/Academics: Kelsey Pope Special Teams/Defensive Backs: Wil Robinson Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator: Nic Workman Offensive Backs: Blake Robles Offensive Line: Kyle Rigney Defensive Backs: Tyler Majewski

35

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2018 Samford Soccer Outlook The Samford soccer team enters the 2018 season having won four-straight Southern Conference regular-season titles. If the Bulldogs are going to win a fifth-straight championship, however, they must replace 52 percent of the team’s points and 54 percent of its goals from last season.

“If you look over the last two years, with the number of kids that we’ve graduated who have been either first or second team All-Conference, I think you realize the talent that has left the program,” Samford head coach Todd Yelton said. “But I couldn’t be happier with this group. I think they have definitely taken on the challenge of wanting to see the team continue to progress, and for us to continue to win championships.”

The Bulldogs are coming off a productive spring season. Yelton said having the benefit of coming off a good spring will help in developing the young team as it heads into the regular season.

“We’re fortunate in that we have the benefit of a spring season,” Yelton said. “I think we got a lot of the hard stuff done in the spring, and I think we had kids really grow a great deal. My biggest concern was when we started fall, would we start from ground zero or would we continue to progress. The great thing about this team is they have continued to progress.

“The biggest thing that I come away with so far, is that some of the kids who really didn’t log a lot of minutes last year and really needed to grow over the summer, have absolutely done that,” Yelton said. “And I think that’s the thing that is going to make a difference for us. That’s the thing that at least puts us in the conversation for being able to win five in a row.”

Samford will once again play an extremely challenging schedule this fall. The team’s non-conference schedule includes Auburn, Baylor, Rice, Memphis, UAB and LSU, among others.

Those contests will join the always-tough Southern Conference slate.

“Kids come here with the expectations of 36

Allie Lourie

playing those types of opponents,” Yelton said. “I think what playing a very, very difficult non-conference schedule does for you is it really tests you.

You don’t really know who you are until you have been tested. My dad uses an analogy when he preaches, he says, ‘what is going to come out of an orange when you squeeze it?’ Then he would say, ‘whatever is inside of it.’ So, we will find out what’s inside of us during with this schedule.

“What has been great about it in my mind is the kids have been very resilient,” Yelton said.

“They just embrace the demanding non-conference schedule and they look forward to it, and that is what they expect. So, when you get into the tight times of conference play, it’s not anything they haven’t seen before. And quite honestly, the conference is incredibly demanding for us, because if you win it four-straight years, I can promise you people have that game circled on their calendar. The coaches in this league are really good coaches and it’s not their first rodeo, so it’s a challenging task in front of us.”

Samford will open the season on Thursday, Aug. 16, when the Bulldogs host Auburn at 7 p.m. at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. The team played one exhibition contest, defeating

2018 FOOTBALL Murray State, 2-1 on the road Aug. 10. Caroline Orman and Korrie Sauder contributed a goal each to the win.

“It was a great first outing,” Yelton said. “I’m really proud of our kids. “Murray is a quality opponent that was picked to win their league. We’ll rest up and get ready for Auburn Thursday.”

A LOOK AT THE BULLDOGS BY POSITION FORWARD Samford must replace its top two scorers from last season in Jermaine Seoposenwe (35 pts, 13 goals) and Abriella Argueta (12 pts, 5 goals).

However, the team has some experienced players returning, as well as some talented younger players.

“That’s probably where we got hit the hardest in graduation,” Yelton said. “You don’t have to look any further than a stat sheet from last year to see that. I think this year will probably be much more by committee. I have great confidence in our kids, they have worked extremely hard.”

Korrie Sauder (12 pts, 4 goals), Erin Bonner (8 pts, 4 goals), Caroline Orman (5 pts, 2 goals) and Keyli Borman will be expected to split the load taken last year by Seoposenwe and Argueta.

“I think Alex, Keyli, Erin, Caroline and Korrie all have the ability to score for us,” Yelton said. “We’re hoping each of those kids can get four or five (goals), and that would actually put us past what those two got us last year. I think we still have a great deal of talent in that area.”

MIDFIELDERS At midfielder, Samford has to fill the gaps left by Virginia McNeill and Kaitlyn Orman, who served as the team’s captain last season. The position, however, has a tremendous amount of depth heading into the 2018 season.

Leigh Haynes, Emma, Thompson, Alyssa Frazier, Caroline and Lexi Orman, Ella Baggett, Nyalyn Moore, Bailey Arnott, Erin Patterson and preseason All-SoCon selection Allie Lourie, who was the SoCon’s Defensive Player of the Year last season,

but has moved to midfielder, will lead the way at midfielder. Reserve Courtney Hendrickson, who is coming back from surgery and will be eased back into playing, is expected to be 100 percent by the time conference play begins. Grace Packer, who has the ability to score, also returns. Freshman Erin Patterson will also see time at midfielder this fall.

“We have quite a bit of depth in midfield,” Yelton said. “I think that is a good group, and if you’re looking at it from a central standpoint and also in the wide areas we have the ability to rotate players throughout the game.”

DEFENDER Yelton described the defenders as one of the strengths of his team this season. Grace Sommi, Taylore Miller and preseason All-SoCon selection Taylor Meneide comprise this experienced group.

Lourie could also see some time at defender this season, though she will mainly play in the midfield this fall.

“Traditionally, we haven’t given up a lot of goals here,” Yelton said. “Those kids are young, but they logged a tremendous amount of minutes last year, and I feel this group has the ability to carry us early on. Certainly they are going to be tested early by the likes of Auburn and Baylor.

GOALKEEPER Anna Maddox, who was a tremendous asset in goal last season, must be replaced this season.

Stephanie Westaway and Sarah Thorne have had productive preseasons so far. Lauren Delp will also compete for time, once she returns from injury.

“There is certainly great competition, but there is also great camaraderie between the group,” Yelton said of the goalkeepers. “Traditionally goalkeeping has been a strength of our teams.

As the group continues to grow and improve it will eventually be a strength for this team.”

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2018 FOOTBALL

Ten Years Later: A look back at Samford’s move to the Southern Conference On July 1, 2008, a little over 10 years ago, Samford officially joined the Southern Conference.

In Samford’s 10 years in the league, the school has won 33 SoCon regular-season, tournament or divisional titles. Since joining the conference, the programs have steadily improved, with 29 of the 33 championships coming in the last seven years.

“Being in a league that is as competitive and deep as the Southern Conference has helped elevate our teams throughout the years,” Samford Athletics Director Martin Newton said. “The programs in this league push each other to be better and that helps make the entire conference stronger. This is absolutely the best league for Samford, and I believe, we bring a lot of value to the league as well.”

While the move was officially made in 2008, it was years in the making and would take several steps to become a reality.

Bob Roller, who served as the school’s athletics director from 1999 to 2010, said it was made clear to him early on that the University’s administration wanted Samford in a league similar to the SoCon. However, Samford still had a lot of work to do to get ready for the move.

“The problem we faced at that time was we were not ready yet in terms of facilities and budgets,” Roller said. “We had to quickly upgrade and improve in those areas to get Samford on the radar. We were way behind a school like Furman at that time, and also many of the larger state institutions in the SoCon.” At the time, Samford was a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The A-Sun, however, does not sponsor football as a conference sport, so the Bulldogs’ football team had to play as an NCAA Division I-FCS (then I-AA) independent. In 2003, Samford moved to the Ohio Valley Conference, placing all 17 of the school’s teams in the same league.

Samford spent five years in the OVC, and once the school was an established program in that league, the SoCon did show interest. Dr. Leo Lambert, president of former SoCon member Elon, and SoCon Commissioner John Iamarino traveled to Birmingham and met with Samford President Dr. Andrew Westmoreland and Roller to talk about the possibility of joining the league.

After a larger contingent of SoCon officials visited campus, an offer to join the league was extended.

Moving to the SoCon was a big move up for Samford. At the time of the announcement, then-SoCon member Appalachian State was about to win its third-straight NCAA Division I-FCS national title, and the league boasted a couple of other top-10 ranked programs.

Entering its first year in the new league, expectations were not high for most of Samford’s teams. The football team was picked dead last in the league’s preseason polls, receiving every last-place vote in the poll. Despite the low expectations, the football team surprised everyone, going 6-5 overall and 4-4 in league play.

“Perhaps the greatest surprise has been the extent to which Samford moved quickly after joining the SoCon to a position of strength within the league,” Westmoreland said. “The credit for that success lies with a great athletics and coaching staff, the work ethic of our student athletes, and the loyalty of our fans. The move was right for Samford and, coincidentally, in the best interest of the SoCon. Ten years later, I have no regrets about the decision.”

In addition to the 33 team titles, Samford has consistently placed high in both the Germann Cup (top women’s program) and Commissioner’s Cup (top men’s program) standings. In the 2017-18 season, Samford finished second in both the Germann Cup and Commissioner’s Cup standings.

“The success our athletics department has experienced during our time in the SoCon has been made possible by the tremendous student-athletes and coaches we have at Samford, as well as the University administration that has provided us with the necessary support to be successful,” Newton said. “At Samford we make sure our student-athletes are students first and receive a well-rounded college experience. As a Samford graduate, former student-athlete, and now as the school’s athletics director, I am extremely proud of our accomplishments, and look forward to our future success.”

Entering the 2018-19 school year, Samford has been picked to win this year’s league football title. The program has come a long way from receiving every last-place vote in the 2008 preseason poll. The future of Samford athletics is bright and everyone involved looks forward to its next 10 years associated with the prestigious Southern Conference.

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samfordsports.com

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SEIBERT STADIUM Seibert Stadium has been home to the Samford football team since 1958, one year after the campus was moved from East Lake to its present site. Over the years, the stadium has seen some memorable football, including the Bobby Bowden era (1959–62), a one-loss season in 1971 and the Terry Bowden era, which ended with a 14-game Bulldog winning streak in the stadium.

The stadium is named for the late F. Page Seibert, a Daytona Beach, Florida, businessman who donated money for the completion of the stadium in 1961 with the addition of stands on the west side.

Originally, the s­ tadium had the current gatehouse and ­seating on the east side.

The first game was played Friday, Sept. 26, 1958, with Samford losing to Sewanee, 21-0. Bobby Bowden brought Samford (then known as Howard College) its first win at Seibert on Oct. 3, 1959, as the Bulldogs defeated the Tennessee Tech “B” team, 34-0. The first win against varsity competition came two weeks later when the Bulldogs defeated Millsaps, 26-0.

Seibert Stadium has undergone numerous improvements during the past few years. Before the 2009 season, the Cooney Family Field House was opened in the south end zone of the stadium. The field house was renamed the Sullivan-Cooney Family Field House during the 2014 season.

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The facility includes locker rooms, training rooms, meeting rooms and coaches offices for Samford’s football program. A second-level terrace overlooks Seibert Stadium. A third level provides for future university expansion.

In fall 2005, the original grass surface was replaced with an LSR Blade Synthetic Surface. The turf was replaced with a similar surface prior to the 2014 season.

The four-level Bashinsky Press Tower was completed before the 1989 season. This GeorgianColonial structure contains complete facilities for print and electronic media on the third level, reserved seating for 51 guests on the second level and a concession stand and restroom facilities on the ground floor. A partially covered film deck is located atop the facility, and an elevator serves all levels.

At the same time, more than 200 theatre-type reserved seats were added in front of the press tower, bringing the seating capacity to 6,700.

Aluminum seating replaced the original wooden seats. A scoreboard featuring an electronic matrix message board was added before the 1994 season.

The improvements have made Samford’s football facility one of the finest in the nation at the Division I-FCS level.

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SEIBERT STADIUM FACTS

BUILT: Gatehouse and East Stands, 1958; West Side Stands, 1961; Bashinsky Press Tower, 1989; Electronic Message Board, 1994; Video Board, 2005; SullivanCooney Family Field House, 2009.

LONGEST RUN FROM SCRIMMAGE: 81-yard run, Chris Evans, vs. Austin Peay, 2007

MOST YARDS RUSHING: 249, Surkano Edwards, vs. West Georgia, 1992

FIRST GAME: Friday, Sept. 26, 1958 (Sewanee defeated Samford, 21-0)

LONGEST PASS COMPLETION: 92-yard touchdown, Andy Summerlin to Chris Cephus vs. Chattanooga, 2013

MOST CARRIES: 35, Derek Staley, vs. Tennessee Tech, 1995

LONGEST SAMFORD PASS COMPLETION: 92-yard touchdown, Andy Summerlin to Chris Cephus vs. Chattanooga, 2013

MOST TOUCHDOWNS RUSHING: 4, Michael Eubank, vs. VMI, 2014; 4, Steve Hayden, vs. Morgan State, 1995; 4, Brady Jones, vs. Austin Peay, 1990; 4, Brady Jones, vs. East Tennessee State, 1989

FIRST WIN: Oct. 3, 1959 (Samford defeated Tennessee Tech “B” team, 34-0) FIRST VARSITY WIN: Oct. 16, 1959 (Samford defeated Millsaps, 26-0) SAMFORD OVERALL RECORD AT SEIBERT (243 GAMES): 162-77-4 (.675) SAMFORD DAY RECORD AT SEIBERT (171 GAMES): 107-60-4 (.637) SAMFORD NIGHT RECORD AT SEIBERT (72 GAMES): 55-17-0 (.764) MOST COMMON OPPONENTS AT SEIBERT: Chattanooga 15, Jacksonville State 11, UT Martin 10, Mississippi College 9, Tennessee Tech 9 MOST SAMFORD POINTS: 72 vs. Maryville (10), 1987 LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: 70 points (Samford 77, Mars Hill 7), 2016 MOST OPPONENT’S POINTS: 82, by Salem (Samford 9), 1984

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LONGEST PUNT: 73 yards, Ray Collins, vs. Southwestern, 1961 LONGEST FIELD GOAL: 52 yards, Ray Early of Furman, 2010 LONGEST SAMFORD FIELD GOAL: 4 8 yards, Mark Prevost, vs. Jacksonville State, 2007 LONGEST PUNT RETURN: 90-yard touchdown, Mick Edmonson of Jacksonville State, 1989 LONGEST SAMFORD PUNT RETURN: 76 yards, Anthony Jordan, vs. Alcorn State, 1994 LONGEST KICKOFF RETURN: 100-yard touchdown, Karel Hamilon vs.

Chattanooga, 2015; 100-yard touchdown, Fabian Truss vs. Western Carolina, 2013 LONGEST INTERCEPTION RETURN: 100-yard touchdown, Ricky Fields, vs.

Concord, 1990

MOST PASS ATTEMPTS: 60, Ray Nelson, vs. Jacksonville State, 2003 MOST COMPLETIONS: 39, Devlin Hodges, vs. Mercer, 2016; 39, Devlin Hodges, vs. Mars Hill, 2016 MOST YARDS PASSING: 495, Andy Summerlin, vs. Georgia Southern, 2013 MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES: 6, Jimbo Fisher, vs. Ferrum, 1987; 6, Jimbo Fisher, vs. Maryville, 1987 MOST RECEPTIONS: 16, Efrem Hill, vs. Jacksonville State, 2003 MOST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS: 3, Efrem Hill, vs. Eastern Kentucky, 2004; 3, Efrem Hill, vs. West Alabama, 2004; 3, Efrem Hill, vs. West Alabama, 2003; 3, Kelvin McKnight, vs. Western Carolina, 2018

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ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has strongly enforced academic reform this decade as it pertains to student-athletes’ continuing eligibility and ultimate college graduation. Because of the tightening of new legislation, academic support services throughout the country have been highlighted to spearhead the additional success that is needed for student-athletes to earn a degree.

The academic success for Samford University student-athletes begins with the Academic Enhancement Program (AEP). The AEP was developed in the early 1990s and is based on individual instruction with student-athletes who are integrated within a caring environment that is conducive to academic success.

The AEP system is designed to provide Samford’s student-athletes with the necessary guidance, personal attention and academic skills– enhancement activities to help them have the most positive educational and personal experience possible. Student-athletes are integrated within a foundation of the university’s general education core curriculum that emphasizes basic skills for academic achievement.

Tutors and academic mentors assist athletes in writing courses, foreign languages, math, science and business, to name a few. With tutorial sessions incorporating improved study techniques, the AEP puts student-athletes in position to succeed and become independent learners.

The AEP environment includes a computer lab/classroom, private tutor rooms and quiet study space.

In conjunction with the Career Development Center, the Writing Center, the Academic Success Center and all student support services, the AEP is a bridge from freshman orientation to graduation and professional life.

The AEP strives to meet the needs, concerns and overall welfare of all student-athletes. Each May, the academic enhancement office honors studentathletes who have achieved a 3.0 GPA or better over the last two full terms.

LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM The Department of Athletics offers a variety of support programs for student-athletes, including 48

some NCAA Student Affairs programming. This student development program exists to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the university setting. There are five focus areas that address student-athlete development.

Commitment to Academic Excellence: To support the academic progress of student-athletes toward intellectual development and graduation Commitment to Athletic Excellence: To build philosophical foundations for the development of athletics programs that are broad-based, equitable and dedicated to the well-being of student-athletes Commitment to Personal Development: To support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle for student-athletes, encouraging emotional well-being, personal growth and decision-making skills Commitment to Career Development: To encourage student-athletes to develop and pursue career and life goals Commitment to Service: To engage studentathletes in service to their campus and surrounding community Throughout the year, student-athletes attend the programs in the five commitment areas that are most relevant and helpful to them at their current stage of development. This is done through workshops and seminars, campus partnerships and other programming throughout the year. Topics include financial management, time management, media relations, spiritual development, choosing a major and a career, résumé writing, and sportsmanship. Speakers include faculty members, coaches, administrators, business leaders and former student-athletes.

All AEP programming is designed to enhance and support the academic and athletic endeavors of student-athletes. Student-athletes gain preparation for success in life, develop enhanced interpersonal skills, build positive self-esteem, develop leadership skills and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

2018 FOOTBALL

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On May 23, 2003, Samford junior cornerback Charles Williams died in a car accident. In only two seasons on the team, Williams emerged as a starter in the secondary in 2002. In addition to his success on the field, Williams also maintained one of the highest grade point averages on the team. For the 2003 and 2004 seasons (what would have been Williams’ junior and senior seasons) no one wore jersey No. 5, the number that Williams wore. Every year since then, a senior has been selected to wear the No. 5, the Charles Williams Memorial Jersey.

CHARLES

WILLIAMS MEMORIAL

Ossie Buchannon 2005

T.C. Myers 2006

Jay McCurty 2007

Rodney Shepherd 2008

Jon Weber 2009

Bryce Smith 2010

Sean Thompson 2011

Ryan Dudchock 2012

Justin Shade 2013

Brinson Porter 2014

Carson Barnett 2015

Devon Schmitt 2016

Shaheed Salmon 2017

Tyler Queen 2018

JERSEY

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79

Academic All-Conference members for the fall and spring terms combined

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Graduation Success Rate

2 3.07

ND in the Southern Conference

average studentathlete cumulative GPA

116

athletes earned Commissioner’s Medal with a 3.8 GPA or higher

athletes on the fall 2017 Dean’s List

athletes on the spring 2018 Dean’s List

athletes with 4.0 GPA

114

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202

athletes on the 2017-18 Southern Conference Honor Roll

%

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Andrew Westmoreland President

Andrew Westmoreland became Samford University’s 18th president on June 1, 2006. As Samford’s president, Westmoreland has led the university to embrace a vision to enrich and expand its service to students, and further inspire their desire to meet the needs of the world. To advance this vision, the university is committed to a challenging strategic plan with three priorities: to provide an enriched and more vibrant university experience; to engage the global community in learning, faith and service; and to inspire imagination. Forever Samford is a six-year, $300 million capital campaign that was launched publicly in fall 2016. It is the largest undertaking of its kind in Samford University’s 177-year history.

Funding from the campaign will help to ensure that Samford continues to prepare and send dedicated, thoughtful and ethical people out into the world.

Prior to assuming the Samford presidency, Westmoreland was president of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Before his selection as Ouachita’s president in 1998, he had served on the administrative staff for more than 19 years in various capacities.

Westmoreland holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science and a doctorate in higher education administration. A native of Arkansas, he is married to Dr. Jeanna ­Westmoreland. They have one daughter, Riley, who is a graduate of Samford and of Vanderbilt University.

His career in higher education spans almost 40 years, including two college presidencies. In addition to his duties as Samford president, Westmoreland teaches courses in political science on a regular basis. He serves as a member of many boards for charities and other entities, and he is an author and speaker. He is the past chair of the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which oversees accreditation for more than 800 colleges and universities from Virginia to Texas. He also served as president of the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The Westmorelands enjoy entertaining and annually host more than 9,000 students, employees, alumni, donors and other friends of the university in the president’s home, in addition to the thousands whom they greet and host at on-campus events.

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DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Martin Newton Martin Newton was introduced as Samford’s director of athletics on March 9, 2011.

In his time at the helm of the athletics department, Newton has made a major impact.

In the spring of 2017, a goal of Newton’s since being hired was realized when the inaugural class of the Samford Athletics Hall of Fame was inducted. The first-class facility is housed on the third floor of the Pete Hanna Center, and includes inductee plaques and displays, along with a display of important moments in Samford Athletics history and another honoring all of the school’s conference and NCAA champions.

On the fields and courts, Samford’s teams have won 30 Southern Conference overall and divisional titles since Newton took over as director of athletics. The Bulldogs have won league or division titles in women’s tennis (2015 regular season and tournament), soccer (2011 regular season and tournament, 2014 regular season, 2015 regular season, 2016 regular season and tournament and 2017 regular season), softball (2016 tournament and regular season), volleyball (2011, 2014 and 2016 tournament, 2011 and 2012 North Division), men’s outdoor track and field (2014, 2015), women’s outdoor track and field (2014, 2017), women’s indoor track and field (2016, 2017, 2018), men’s tennis (2011, 2013 tournament, 2012 regular season), baseball (2012 and 2018 tournament), football (2013) and women’s basketball (2012 tournament).

Additionally, in the most recent Southern Conference All-Sports standings, Samford finished second in both the Commissioner’s Cup (top men’s program) and Germann Cup (top women’s program) standings, making Samford the top overall program in the league. In 2014-15, Samford won the Germann Cup and finished just a tenth of a point away from winning the Commissioner’s Cup. Academically, the school’s student-athletes have also posted outstanding results in the classroom, with a total of 1,142 Samford student-athletes 56

being named to the SoCon Honor Roll over the last seven years. Samford’s student-athletes posted an impressive 97 percent in the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report, released last November.

Also in Newton’s tenure, the athletics department has seen a significant increase in corporate sponsorship and annual giving revenue.

Since Newton’s arrival in 2011 both sources of revenue have more than doubled.

Additionally, a new softball stadium and baseball/softball indoor hitting facility was completed in the spring of 2013. The athletics department also redesigned its website, and Samford’s radio network was reorganized.

Newton has also negotiated a school-wide footwear and apparel deal with Nike, which went into effect in the summer of 2013. Also, the athletics department led the way in consolidating a universitywide lincensing agreement with the Licensing Resource Group.

Newton has been recognized nationally for his work. He was named to the NCAA Leadership Cabinet for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

A 1983 Samford graduate, Newton returned to his alma mater after ­spending two years as director of b­ asketball operations at the University of Kentucky.

Newton graduated with a business degree. He was a four-year letterwinner in men’s basketball and was All-­Conference honorable mention in 1980.

Following graduation, he worked in sports marketing for Converse for 13 years. Newton then spent 13 years in a similar capacity at Nike.

Newton was hired at Kentucky in 2009, where he managed an $11 million budget, along with fund-raising, compliance, scheduling, marketing and academic support for the men’s basketball program.

Newton is a member of the board for the Birmingham Bowl, and he is a member of the Birmingham Quarterback Club, Birmingham Tip-Off Club and Birmingham Kiwanis Club. He is also an active member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Newton and his wife, Cindy, have three grown children, Katie, Madison and Charles. They also have two grandsons, Charlie and Sawyer.

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ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION

Martin Newton Athletics Director

Joe Davidson

Associate Athletics Director for Operations

JeNorri Armstead

Deputy Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Well-Being/SWA

Harold Goss

Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Compliance

Kasey Bodine

Bo Kerr

Deputy Director of Athletics for Revenue Generation

Hal Langston

Kevin Young

Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Strategic Communication

James Carlson

Leslye Choate

Assistant Director of Development/Bulldog Club

Director of Equipment Services

Sara Clemmons

Tracy Fuller

Aaron Greenwood

Business Manager

Wanda Lucas

Senior Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations

Associate Athletics Director for Development and Strategy

Administrative Assistant to the Athletics Director

Athletics Administrative Coordinator

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Michelle Durban

Assistant Director of Development Services

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ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION

Cody Jackson Director of Compliance

B.J. Millican

Director of Operations and Facilities

Joey Mullins

Jonathan McAfoos

Paige Mathis

Director of Video and Broadcast Services

Director of Academic Services

Video Services Coordinator

Assistant Athletics Director for Communications

Academic Counselor and Tutor Coordinator

Karin Neal

Sandra Pickard

Maggie Rountree

Leon Ryan

Austin Scott

Kallee Taulbee

Director of the Bulldog Club

General Manager Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment

Neil Teitelbaum

Pam Thornton

Director of Ticket Operations

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Jacob Kinnebrew

Athletics Administrative Coordinator

Director of Athletic Communications

Wes Wilhoite

Assistant Equipment Manager

Athletics Administrative Assistant

Marketing Coordinator Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment

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COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF

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PHYSICIAN

STRENGTH

M. BASKETBALL

SOFTBALL

VOLLEYBALL

James Andrews Orthopedic Surgeon

Ben Ashford Director of Strength and Conditioning

Sidney Ball Assistant Coach

Mandy Burford Head Coach

Keylor Chan Head Coach

TRACK & FIELD

ATHLETICS

TRACK & FIELD

BASEBALL

M. GOLF

David Clyburn Assistant Coach

Joe Collins Turf Manager

Ashley Cope Assistant Coach

Tony David Associate Head Coach

Al Del Greco Head Coach

BASEBALL

PHYSICIAN

MEN’S TENNIS

TRAINING

STRENGTH

Casey Dunn Head Coach

Benton Emblom Team Physician

Rahim Esmail Head Coach

Brandon Evans Head Athletic Trainer

Jonathan Farris Director of Strength and Conditioning

M. BASKETBALL

W. BASKETBALL

STRENGTH

W. BASKETBALL

W. BASKETBALL

Shawn Finney Associate Head Coach

Sally Higgins Assistant Coach

Tyler Landolt Assistant Coach

Amara Mayers Assistant Coach

Mike Morris Head Coach

M. BASKETBALL

M. BASKETBALL

M. BASKETBALL

SOCCER

STRENGTH

Charles Newton Assistant Coach

Scott Padgett Heach Coach

Matthew Powell Video Coordinator

Josie Rix Assistant Coach

Thomas Rohling Strength and Conditioning Coach

2018 FOOTBALL

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COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF

TRACK & FIELD

BASEBALL

TRACK & FIELD

TRAINER

TRACK & FIELD

Ben Sabin Assistant Coach

Tyler Shrout Assistant Coach

Betsy Smith Assistant Coach

Logan Spiers Assistant Trainer

Rod Tiffin Head Coach

W. TENNIS

W. GOLF

SOCCER

SOCCER

David Vest Head Coach

Haley Wilson Head Coach

Jay Yelton Assistant Coach

Todd Yelton Assistant Coach

For the latest information on Samford athletics go to SamfordSports.com 64

2018 FOOTBALL

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ASK BEFORE YOU ACT Compliance with NCAA rules is of utmost importance to Samford University. As a member of the NCAA, Samford is responsible for the actions of its coaches, student-athletes, employees, alumni, donors, boosters and friends. As such, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these important items concerning NCAA rules and always remember to ASK BEFORE YOU ACT: 205-726-4244 | compliance@samford.edu Twitter: @Samford_Rules FIVE IMPORTANT RULES 1. Only coaches and athletics department staff members are permitted to be involved in the recruiting process.

Alumni, friends and “other representatives of athletic interest” who are not employed by the university are not permitted to contact a prospect (or members of the prospect’s family) by letter, telephone or in person (on or off campus) for the purpose of soliciting participation in the athletics program. Samford faculty members are permitted to have contact with prospects on campus only.

2. A prospect remains a prospect even after he or she signs a Letter of Intent or financial aid agreement to attend the university. The prospect does not lose prospect status until the start of classes at Samford or the beginning of official team practice prior to the start of classes.

3. The prohibition of contact with a prospect is intended to relate to unavoidable incidental contacts with a prospect by representatives of a member institution’s athletics interest. It is understood that such a contact is not prearranged by the athletics representative or an athletics department staff member; is not made for the purpose of recruitment of the prospect; and involves only normal civility. For example, if you meet a high school student or junior college student-athlete, you can talk with him or her about anything except Samford athletics. If you are attending a public function and find yourself talking to the parents of a prospect, you can talk about anything that doesn’t relate to the athletics department.

4. If a student-athlete accepts any benefits or special consideration based on his or her status as an athlete or because of athletic skill, the student-athlete will lose all eligibility for intercollegiate athletic participation.

Do not do anything for prospective or enrolled studentathletes without specific authorization from the Samford Athletics Compliance Office.

5. Representatives of athletics interest (boosters) are reminded that NCAA rules regarding enrolled studentathletes remain in effect throughout the entire year, including summer breaks. When student-athletes complete their final season of eligibility, they must abide

by NCAA rules until the end of that academic year and/ or until they are no longer receiving athletics financial aid

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FAQ Who is a “prospective student-athlete?”

A “prospective student-athlete,” also known as a recruit or prospect, is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade, seventh for men’s basketball and softball. In addition, any younger student who receives any benefits from the institution not available to prospective students generally would be considered a prospective student-athlete.

Who is a “representative of athletic interest” or booster?

A representative or booster is an individual or business that is or has ever done any of the following: • been a contributor to the Samford Bulldog Club or has purchased tickets to a Samford athletics event • been an employee of Samford University or is the spouse of an employee • has ever made a donation of any kind to the Samford athletics department • helped to arrange or to provide employment for enrolled student-athletes or for prospects who have signed a National Letter of Intent • assisted or have been requested (by the athletics department) to assist in the recruitment of students to participate in any of Samford’s athletics programs • assisted in providing any benefit to Samford enrolled student-athletes or their families • been involved in promoting Samford athletics programs

ONCE YOU BECOME A BOOSTER, YOU NEVER LOSE THE IDENTITY OF A BOOSTER.

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SAMFORD UNIVERSITY pharmacy and public health. The faculty-toSamford University is a premier nationally student ratio is 1:13, and no classes are taught by ranked private university deeply rooted in its Christian mission. Founded in 1841, Samford is the teaching assistants.

Among Samford’s 50,600 alumni are more than 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the 60 members of the U.S. Congress, eight state United States. It enrolls 5,509 students from 45 governors, two U.S. Supreme Court justices, one states and 30 countries.

Secretary of State, four Rhodes Scholars, multiple In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked Samford #3 in the South, #5 in the South for most Emmy and Grammy award-winning artists, two innovative and #1 in the South for best colleges for national champion­ship football coaches, and recipients of the Pulitzer and Nobel Peace prizes. veterans among regional universities. Kiplinger’s The university fields 17 varsity sports—eight Personal Finance ranked Samford #50 in its 2018 men’s and nine women’s—that participate at the ranking of the best value private universities.

NCAA Division I level in the Southern Conference.

Samford is ranked #87 nationally and #1 in Samford’s athletics teams are ranked #1 in Alabama by The Economist and is the top-ranked Alabama and the Southern Conference for university in Alabama in a national ranking conducted by The Wall Street Journal.

Graduation Success Rate by the NCAA with an Samford offers numerous undergraduate and average score of 97%. graduate/professional degrees through 10 academic units: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing,

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2018 FOOTBALL

SAMFORD DISTINCTIONS • Samford is ranked #3 in the South, #5 in the South for most innovative and #1 in the South for best colleges for veterans among regional universities by U.S. News & World Report (2018).

• Samford is ranked #87 nationally and #1 in Alabama by The Economist.

• Cumberland School of Law is ranked #10 nationally for trial advocacy by U.S. News & World Report (2018).

• Ida Moffett School of Nursing‘s graduate programs are ranked among the top in the country. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is ranked #58 nationally for graduate programs, and master’s degree programs are ranked #78 by U.S. News & World Report (2019).

• The Brock School of Business online M.B.A. program is ranked #68 nationally by U.S. News & World Report (2018).

• 97% of undergraduate alumni are employed, attending graduate school or in a postgraduation internship within six months of graduation (2017).

• Samford is ranked #50 private university in the U.S. for value and affordability by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (2018).

• Samford is recognized as a best value–top college by Educate to Career for the employability of graduates.

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ATHLETIC FACILITIES The Samford University athletics program has risen to regional and national recognition through its commitment to athletic and academic excellence. Samford student-athletes have achieved much on the playing fields and in the classroom.

Paralleling the competitive success of the program, Samford’s athletics facilities also continue to develop.

The newest addition to Samford’s athletics facilities is the Samford Softball Field, which opened in the spring of 2013. Also, the new J. T. Haywood Field House, which houses an indoor hitting facility, as well as locker rooms and meeting rooms for both baseball and softball, was officially opened in the fall of 2013.

The new Samford Soccer and Track Stadium opened in the spring of 2011. The 1,200-seat facility opened by hosting the 2011 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field ­Championships.

The facility includes locker rooms, a ticket office, a high-tech press box, a nine-lane track and a regulation soccer field.

The Cooney Family Field House for football opened in August 2009. It includes coaches’ offices, meeting rooms, a locker room, weight room, training room, equipment room and players’ lounge. The facility was renamed the Sullivan-Cooney Family Field House in the fall of 2014 to honor former Head Coach Pat Sullivan and his family.

The convocation/arena/fitness complex, Pete Hanna Center, was completed in fall 2007.

The center provides outstanding playing facilities for volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball in a 5,000-seat center, a fitness/wellness complex for the entire student body, and state-of-the-art training facilities for Samford’s varsity sports. Also included in the facility are offices, meeting space and support ­facilities for coaches and athletics ­administration. The facility is adjacent to Bashinsky Field House and can be 70

expanded up to 6,000 seats for commencement and other major ­nonathletics events.

The Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion was completed in 2006 with three indoor courts, a support facility for locker rooms, offices and restrooms. Samford’s Tennis Center also includes the Darwin C. Hardison Courts, ­featuring six outdoor NCAA courts.

All-weather field turf was installed at Seibert Stadium in the summer of 2005.

Facilities in Seibert Hall have been renovated to accommodate academic programs and student recreation activities.

Joe Lee Griffin Field, home of the Samford Bulldogs baseball team, was remodeled in 2000 to include offices, locker rooms and other support services in a facility that complements the Georgian-Colonial archi­tecture found throughout the Samford campus. The Carl E. Miller Press Box was added in 2009.

Bulldog Spirit Plaza, dedicated during 2005 Homecoming weekend, is the focal point of the area connecting Seibert Stadium, Joe Lee Griffin Field, Bashinsky Field House and Pete Hanna Center. Organized by the Class of 2003, the landscaped plaza includes a bas relief of the Bulldog mascot and more than 100 bricks honoring Samford alumni, students, parents, employees, former athletes and friends of the university as a celebration of Samford’s more than 125 years of inter­collegiate athletics competition.

The athletics department is building its capital campaign efforts to raise funds to further assure Samford athletes of the finest playing facilities possible.

Samford Football Tickets on Sale Now! SEASON TICKETS

Season tickets starting as low as $70.

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SOUTHERN CONFERENCE The Southern Conference The Southern Conference, which is in its 98th season of intercollegiate competition in 2018-19, is a national leader in emphasizing the development of the student-athlete and in helping to build lifelong leaders and role models.

The Southern Conference has been on the forefront of innovation and originality in developing creative solutions to address issues facing intercollegiate athletics. From establishing the first postseason college basketball tournament (1921), to tackling the issue of freshman eligibility (1922), to developing women’s championships (1984), to becoming the first conference to install the 3-point goal in basketball (1980), the Southern Conference has been a pioneer.

The Southern Conference is the nation’s fifth-oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association. Only the Big Ten (1896), the Missouri Valley (1907), the Pac-12 (1915) and the Southwestern Athletic (1920) conferences are older in terms of origination.

Academic excellence has been a major part of the Southern Conference’s tradition. Hundreds of Southern Conference student-athletes have been recognized on CoSIDA Academic All-America and all-district teams. A total of 20 Rhodes Scholarship winners have been selected from conference institutions, most recently in 2012-13, when former Wofford volleyball player Rachel Woodlee earned the prestigious award.

The conference currently consists of 10 members in six states throughout the Southeast and sponsors 22 varsity sports and championships that produce participants for NCAA Division I Championships. The league added rifle, becoming just the second Division I conference to sponsor the sport, in 2016-17, and added women’s lacrosse for the 2017-18 campaign.

The Southern Conference offices are located in the historic Beaumont Mill in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A textile mill that was in operation from 1880 until 1999, Beaumont Mill was renovated in 2004 and today offers the league first-class meeting areas and offices as well as 72

a spacious library for storage of the conference’s historical documents.

Football The Southern Conference has also excelled as the premier Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conference. Former Southern Conference member Appalachian State won the three consecutive FCS titles from 2005-07, becoming the first team to do so. The league boasts more than 250 players who have garnered All-America recognition and numerous national player or coach of the year awards.

The conference had at least one team in the top 10 of the final FCS poll for 28 consecutive years (1985-2012), with at least two teams finishing in the final poll in every season from 1982-2013.

Samford and Wofford finished in the top 20 in each of the last two seasons, with Furman joining them in the top 25 in 2017. The Citadel, Chattanooga, Samford and Wofford each finished in the top 25 in 2016, giving the league four in the final poll for the first time since 2007.

The conference has placed multiple representatives in the FCS Playoffs in 29 of 34 seasons, with 16 championship game appearances and eight national titles. The Southern Conference has had at least one team reach the semifinals in 12 of the last 19 years and in 18 of the last 26 seasons.

In 2007, Appalachian State became the first FCS team to defeat a nationally ranked Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team, when the Mountaineers defeated No. 5 Michigan, 34-32, on Sept. 1 before a sellout crowd at Michigan Stadium. Georgia Southern, in its final game as a member of the Southern Conference, downed the SEC’s Florida in Gainesville. The league picked up two wins over

2018 FOOTBALL FBS teams in 2015, with Furman downing UCF and The Citadel stunning South Carolina.

Prior to the conference’s reclassification in 1981, Southern Conference football teams appeared in a total of 36 bowl games, posting a record of 16-18-2. From 1925-30, league schools won five football national championships in a sixyear span. There are nearly 60 former Southern Conference players and coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame. One of the most recognizable of these names is former North Carolina running back Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice, who helped guide North Carolina to three bowl appearances. He was a first-team All-America selection and the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1948 and 1949. In 1949, Justice earned first-team all-conference honors for the fourth consecutive season, becoming the first player in league history to achieve that feat. He was a member of the league’s inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 2009.

Another of the league’s football products that made it to the College Football Hall of Fame is Sam Huff of West Virginia. Huff was a three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Mountaineers. In 1955, Huff earned firstteam All-America honors on the field and was a first-team Academic All-American for his work in the classroom. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. Also a member of the conference’s first Hall of Fame class, he was a five-time All-Pro linebacker and is also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2014. The winningest coach in Appalachian State and Southern Conference history, Moore compiled a 215-87 record in his 24 seasons at Appalachian State (1989-2012), including 10 SoCon championships, 18 postsea-

John Iamarino Commissioner

Geoff Cabe Senior Associate Commissioner

son appearances and an unprecedented three straight NCAA Division I FCS/I-AA national titles (2005-07).

In 1999, Georgia Southern’s Adrian Peterson captured the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the Football Championship Subdivision’s most outstanding offensive player. Peterson, a four-time All-American who finished his career as the NCAA Division I leader in rushing yards with 6,559, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2017.

The league saw a pair of former players enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, as former Chattanooga standout Terrell Owens and Marshall star Randy Moss, who enjoyed a record-breaking freshman year in the SoCon, earned the nod.

Furman’s Louis Ivory earned the Walter Payton Award in 2000, Georgia Southern’s Jayson Foster was presented with the 2007 trophy and most recently, Appalachian State’s record-setting quarterback Armanti Edwards became the first two-time winner in Payton Award history after claiming the honors in 2008 and 2009.

Appalachian State’s Dexter Coakley was a three-time all-conference selection and consensus All-American in 1994, ’95 and ’96 before going on to stardom with the Dallas Cowboys.

Coakley won a pair of Buck Buchanan Awards, given to Football Championship Subdivision’s top defensive player each year. Western Carolina’s David Patten and Appalachian State’s Matt Stevens were both members of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl champion team in 2002 and Patten also earned Super Bowl rings with the Patriots in 2004 and ’05. Appalachian State’s Daniel Kilgore appeared in Super Bowl XLVII for the San Francisco 49ers in 2013.

Sue Arakas Associate Commissioner

Doug King Associate Commissioner for Compliance

Jason Yaman Associate Commissioner

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Support more than 360 Student-athletes Become a member of the Bulldog Club!

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Bulldog Club Hospitality Village includes: • Pregame full-course meal • Reserved parking and exclusive shuttle service • Private, climate-controlled hospitality space • Flat screen TVs • Snacks and refreshments • Exclusive Bulldog Club gameday swag Richard and Janne Bazemore Tim and Cindy Bembry Brookdale University Park Patricia and Jim Burks Mike and Leslie Canfield George and Laura Clarke Jordan and Augusta Cole Chris and Leslie Corts Brian and Christy David Blake and Devon Davidson Stephen and Krista Dillard Kevin and Alicia Eads Jason and Lori Edgemon Howard and Kathy Finch Daryl and Kristine Fineran Tim and Cynthia Fleming Chad and Stacy Foreman Bob and Grace Freeman Barry and Angie Gauldin Jonathan Gibson Leonard Gossett Brandon and Kim Gossett James and Pearleen Graham James and Brooke Graham Aaron and Lindsey Greenwood Scott and Beth Guffin Mike and Anna Kathryn Hardin Kenneth Harris Charles and Mavis Hill Rodney and Paula Hovater Gene and Susanne Howard Michael and Susan Hubbard Hardy and Suzanne Jackson Allison and Mark Jackson Jim and Cindy Anderson Kevin and Angela Jones Jeff and Jennifer Kelly David and Leigh Leuze Tommy and Mary Anne Locke Chad and April Luth Lyn Marcum Joe McDade

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BULLDOGS IN THE NFL JAQUISKI TARTT Jaquiski Tartt became the highest NFL Draft pick in Samford history when he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2015 Draft. Tartt enters his fourth season with the 49ers.

JAMES BRADBERRY James Bradberry was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Bradberry is entering his third season with the Panthers.

MICHAEL PIERCE Michael Pierce has had success as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens.

AUSTIN BARNARD Austin Barnard signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

NICK WILLIAMS Nick Williams was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Williams also played with the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, and is currently a member of the Chicago Bears.

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SAMFORD ATHLETICS HA Name Walter Barnes Lauren Blankenship Bobby Bowden Wally Burnham Cortland Finnegan Charlie Owens 1998-99 MBB Team Billy Bancroft Craig Beard Jimbo Fisher Michael Marseco Alyssa Whitehead

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Induction Year 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018

Sport Men’s Basketball Track & Field/Cross Country Football Football Football Tennis Men’s Basketball Football Men’s Basketball Football Baseball Soccer

2018 FOOTBALL

ALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

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SAMFORD ATHLETICS THANKS THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SUPPORT Corporate Champions

Elite Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors Aloft Birmingham Marriott Bojangles Brock School of Business Champion Cleaners Children’s of Alabama Cocina Superior Courtyard by Marriott Colonnade Courtyard by Marriott Homewood Dawson Memorial Baptist Church

Drury Inn Eastern Tree Service Express Oil Change/Tire Engineers First Watch Grille 29 Hamburger Heaven Hampton Inn Mountain Brook Hickory Tavern Hinkle Roofing Jason’s Deli Jimmy John’s MedJet

Moe’s Momma Goldberg’s Newk’s Nothing But Noodles Piggly Wiggly Regency Retirement Village Smoothie King Steel City Pops Subway Taco Mama Taziki’s Truitt Insurance and Bonding Weber Mortgages

For information on how you can become a sponsor of Samford Athletics, call Leon Ryan at 205-726-4717 80

Hard Work and Trust

That’s what winning teams are built on.

Hard work means getting a little better each day.

Trust means knowing someone has your back.

For over 80 years, our members have trusted us to improve their financial futures.

We’re proud to serve Birmingham and support Samford University.

GO BULLDOGS!

amfirst.org

Federally Insured By NCUA

Federally Insured by NC

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Samford University