Oct. 22, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
The Samford football team reached the midway point of its preparations for Saturday's homecoming match-up against Tennessee State. The Bulldogs refined the game plan and worked on fundamentals in the two-hour workout Wednesday afternoon.
"We have had a good week of practice so far," Head Coach Bill Gray said. "We have some guys who have been banged up that are starting to move around a little bit better for us, so that is encouraging. The biggest thing was just that we were lined up right on defense to make sure we don't give up the big play. On offense it is all about execution, so we concentrated more on that today than we did yesterday."
The Bulldogs (5-2, 3-1 OVC) are ranked just outside the Top 25 in both major polls after a 57-22 victory over Tennessee-Martin last weekend. Samford's opponent Tennessee State comes into the game fresh off a loss against Jacksonville State.
"Hopefully the focus of the guys is on the game and nothing else," Gray said. "We have had a good year, but we are nowhere close to where we want to be as a team. Some of the pats on the back can get a whole lot better, but they can also go away in a hurry."
Samford receiver Efrem Hill is ranked is second in receiving yards per game at 118.86 and third in total receiving yards with 832. The Bulldogs are in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference, but Tennessee State (4-3, 2-1) is only a half game out coming into the key match-up.
The game will be televised live by Fox Sports South beginning at 2:30 p.m. (CDT), with Bob Rathbun and Dave Archer provided the commentary. The game can also be heard on the radio in the Birmingham area on 91.1 FM and worldwide on the Internet at www.samfordsports.com.
