Football 10.19.23

The Chris Hatcher Show: Oct. 19, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Each week during the 2023 season, we will release The Chris Hatcher Show. The show hosted this season by Tyler Brain and featuring head football coach Chris Hatcher, will look back at the previous week's football game and look forward to the upcoming contest.

It was a mixed bag of emotions for the Samford faithful the last time the Bulldogs strapped on the pads as the Red, White and Blue fell 27-21 to the No. 5 Furman Paladins in the same game where Seibert Stadium was renamed as Pete Hanna Stadium in honor of Samford University alum Pete Hanna.

"I thought our guys played extremely hard. We self-destructed on some drives offensively; we had a touchdown called back. Defensively, I thought that we held Furman in check other than one drive, we gave up a long drive after a big ball. The special teams were very solid. I really thought we played well, didn't play well enough to win of course but we put ourselves in a position there late in the fourth quarter. We got a big stop defensively; we got the ball back with about three minutes to go to win the ball game. You play a team with Furman's success, the fifth-ranked team in the country, they were rolling and that is all you can ask for. We just came up short late in the game, but then again, I think our guys are playing hard. We are disappointed in the defeat, but we had a lot of positives to build off as we move to the future," Hatcher said. "It was also nice to see Pete Hanna, a former football player here at Samford, was able to give back again and have the stadium renamed after him. We are very appreciative of him and his family for their generosity to Samford Athletics. Especially, most recently, to our football program."

On the national awards front, freshman Brendan Jenkins was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List on Wednesday morning. The Jerry Rice Award is handed out annually to the most outstanding freshman in all of the Football Championship Subdivision.

"He is a very consistent hardworking player. He earns every accolade that he gets and still has a lot of work to do, but what a great honor it is for a freshman to be named to that distinguished group of players. He has come and worked hard and been very solid all year," Hatcher said. "Then when DJ Rias went down with his injury, he stepped it up into the starting role and took it to another level. That is usually hard to do as a freshman, but he has handled it very well and we have high hopes for him as he moves further and further throughout his career."

Up next for the Bulldogs features the longest road trip of the season as Samford heads to Virginia for a contest with SoCon foe VMI. The Keydets are coming off a victory over The Citadel in the "Military Classic of the South". VMI enters the showdown with a 3-3 record on the year and a 2-1 mark in the league.

"They are a very disciplined football team. Traditionally, they are one of the hardest playing teams that we play each and every year. You got to want to go to VMI and be in the military. They are one of the most elite military schools in the country and I don't think a lot of people realize that. They have produced a lot of good men that have come there and served our country. I am very grateful for how they teach their young men and what they go do once they leave VMI," Hatcher said. "It is a difficult place to play, especially when those Keydets get to rocking. It is Family Weekend. Usually, it is a little damp and dreary about this time of year when we go up there. You got to be ready to play and that is our goal this week. To earn the right to expect to win on Saturday afternoon for a 1:32 p.m. ET kickoff. I have great respect for the opponent and I am excited to see our guys go out and hopefully we get a little better than we were the last time.

The ever-important Southern Conference game is slated for a 12:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium in Lexington, Virginia. Saturday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford football, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordFootball (Facebook), @SamfordFootball (Instagram) and @SamfordFootball (Twitter).

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Players Mentioned

#84 Brendan Jenkins: WR; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#84 Brendan Jenkins
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: WR

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

#84 Brendan Jenkins

Players Mentioned

#84 Brendan Jenkins