April 7, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team returned to the practice field with a two-hour workout in full pads Monday evening. The workout was the seventh practice of the spring for the Bulldogs.

"We are at the halfway point today, and we have had a good spring so far," Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said. "We still have a lot of work to do before the end of spring."

Sullivan's Bulldogs are working towards Saturday's first spring scrimmage. Saturday will be the team's "Family Day" with the players' families invited to attend.

"We have a big scrimmage on Saturday," Sullivan said. "We've invited all of our players' families, and our signees and their families to come in. So, we are looking forward to Saturday."

Sullivan said the coaching staff is looking to fill holes at several positions.

"We have to find out who our quarterback is going to be," Sullivan said. "I think all three of our quarterbacks, Dante Williams, Seth Harkness and Richie Fordham, have had good springs so far. They've made some good plays, and they've made some plays they probably wish they had back. We will continue to work to get some consistency.

"Our offensive line is awfully thin right now," Sullivan said. "We have three starters out, and that is hurting us a little, depth-wise. But, the ones we have here have done a good job."

Sullivan also added that he likes the progress he has seen from the defense.

"I think, defensively, we've gotten better," Sullivan said. "Mark Brown is having a good spring. We've made a few changes with our linebackers. We've moved Rodney Shepherd to the outside, as opposed to the middle where he was last year, and he is adjusting to that. Also, Bryce Smith, a freshman, is at `Mike' linebacker."

The Bulldogs will take Tuesday off from practice, and they will return to practice Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.