March 27, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team practiced for about two hours on shorts and helmets Thursday afternoon at Seibert Stadium. The practice was the second of the spring for the Bulldogs, and it was the final preparation before the team's first day in pads on Friday.

"I thought today was not as good as yesterday," Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said. "They looked like they were a little slow and, at times, they went through the motions. There was not as much consistency today as there was yesterday."

Sullivan said his team is very young heading into the spring, and there are a lot of decision to be made about who will play at certain positions on the field.

"We have a lot of holes to fill, and we are still a very young football team," Sullivan said. "We have to find out who our quarterback is going to be. Jefferson Adcock had a good year for us last year, but he is gone. We had Jeff Moore, who was the leading receiver in our conference, and Joe Jones, who was among the conference leaders in receiving and both of them are gone. So, we have some holes to fill."

The Bulldogs are preparing to enter their first season in the Southern Conference. Sullivan said he wants his team to be the best it can be, regardless of the opponent.

"We just want to be the best we can be," Sullivan said. "The Southern Conference is an outstanding conference. We played a lot of good football teams in the OVC, but I think the difference in the Southern Conference, in studying them, is that every week, you are playing a good team. You've got good teams every week and you have to be ready."

Sullivan also announced that senior linebacker Rodney Shepherd is the winner of the fourth-annual Charles Williams Memorial Jersey. The jersey, the number five, is given to a senior in memory of former Samford player Charles Williams, who died in a car accident on May 23, 2003.

"Rodney is a quality person who gives everything he has," Sullivan said. "He is one of several who have really earned everyone's respect. He is a very deserving person to wear that number."

The award is voted on by the Samford coaches. Last season, Shepherd, a native of Homewood, led the team in tackles for the second year in a row with 88 total tackles, including 68 solo tackles.

Friday's practice is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Seibert Stadium. The Bulldogs will also practice Saturday afternoon at 10 a.m.