March 8, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - It's usually disruptive when a football team loses its starting center. Try losing the backup as well.

That's what Samford Head Coach Bill Gray had to deal with on Friday as the Bulldogs scrimmaged for the first time since spring drills began last week. In consecutive days, Samford lost its starting snapper, Brad Baker, and his backup, Stephen Minks. Baker suffers from a severely sprained ankle he injured at the end of last week and Minks is scheduled to have knee surgery this weekend.

The injury situation, combined with the rustiness that Gray saw as practice began last week, limited the Bulldogs offensively in the hour and a half scrimmage. Despite returning several starters, Samford's offensive flow was out of sync all afternoon as inexperienced centers and converted linemen struggled. Things were especially difficult when the Bulldogs tried to operate from the shotgun, which they often do in their spread, multiple receiver attack.

"With our current situation at center, it was just difficult to get a lot done offensively," Gray said. "It all starts with the snap, and when your one and two go down, it certainly limits what you can accomplish.

"However, defensively I think we got after it pretty good," Gray continued. "Right now I would prefer that I leave the practice field saying that the defense whipped our tails, because we don't need to have to outscore everyone. I'm sure that they didn't do everything 100 percent right either, but they were the aggressive, intense unit that we were looking for heading into this spring."

The Bulldogs finished 5-5 last season, but posted a 4-1 record in the last five games with Gray as interim head coach. Several top players return from that unit, including three NCAA Division I-AA All-Stars: WR Aryvia Holmes (Midfield), LB Derrick Wheeler (Pelham) and DB Robert Evans (Vestavia).