Nov. 3, 2001
The Samford Bulldogs (3-4) host the Elon Phoenix (2-6) at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) Saturday on Senior Day and Church Day at Seibert Stadium.
The game marks the sixth meeting in the brief series, with Elon holding a 4-1 advantage, including victories in the last three games. Elon also holds a 2-1 advantage in Birmingham, winning 33-10 in 1973 and 34-31 in double overtime in 1999. Samford's only win in the series was a 46-32 victory in Birmingham in 1997.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 31-8 Homecoming win over Tennessee-Martin. Elon also comes off a win, a 36-19 victory over Charleston Southern.
Samford claimed its third victory of the season and first at home defeating UT-Martin on Oct. 27. The win marked Samford's 10th consecutive win over the Skyhawks. Sophomore running back Jason Ogletree rushed for a career high 124 yards on 21 carries and scored his fourth touchdown in three games. It was the second 100-yard rushing effort by a Samford back this season. Senior free safety Jonathan Clark returned a fumble he caused 54 yards for a score and Aryvia Holmes and Gary Reed also scored in the contest. Freshman quarterback Ramon Nelson completed 14 of 26 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. Chip Walters kicked his fifth field goal, a 26-yarder, to wrap up the Bulldog scoring.
Samford is looking to win three consecutive games for the first time since the 1999 season. The Bulldogs won the last four games of 1999 to finish the season 7-4. With the cancellation of the Bulldogs' Sept. 15 home game with Tennessee Tech, this game is also Samford's last chance to avoid a losing home record. The last time a Bulldog team posted a losing record at home was in 1985, when Samford was 1-4 under coach Kim Alsop.
The Bulldog defense held UT-Martin to 234 total yards last Saturday, a season best for the Bulldogs. Samford also created four Skyhawk turnovers, the second time this season the Bulldogs have recorded four takeaways.
Interim Head Coach Bill Gray
Bill Gray (Mississippi College, '83) is 2-0 as interim head coach and in his eighth year as a member of the Samford coaching staff. The Jackson, Miss., native has been an assistant coach at Samford since 1994. He has coached the quarterbacks and running backs and was the offensive coordinator this fall.
Prior to joining the staff at Samford, Gray, 40, served as an assistant coach at Mississippi College from 1989-94. Gray lettered for four years on the Mississippi College football team as a receiver, and coached at the high school ranks in Houston, Texas, from 1984-89.
