Aug. 3, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football program will hold its first practice for the 2006 season Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.

"We are extremely excited to get everyone back on campus, even though we have had a significant number of players who have been here this summer working very hard," Samford head coach Bill Gray said. "We are ready to start working and start competing.

"We have a lot of guys who will be fighting for jobs," Gray said. "We have several positions where we feel like the separation from our ones to our twos is not as great as it has been in the past. That leads to a lot of competition and more depth, and should lead to a lot of quality practices."

The team will report for camp Sunday afternoon, and will have its first team meeting Sunday evening before beginning practice on Monday.

"We are expecting some freshmen to come in and play early," Gray said. "We would love to be able to redshirt all of them, but that obviously won't be the case. We are excited for these guys to get on our campus."

The Bulldogs will practice Monday and Tuesday in helmets and shorts, and Wednesday and Thursday in shells. The first day of full-pads work is scheduled for Friday, August 11.

The first day of two-a-day workouts is scheduled for Saturday, August 12. The day's first practice will be at 7:55 a.m. in shells, and the second workout, the team's first scrimmage, is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

Samford, predicted to finish fourth in nine-team Ohio Valley Conference, is coming off a season in which it posted a 5-6 overall record. The Bulldogs were 4-4 in OVC play, tying them for fourth in the league.

A full practice schedule is posted below.

Aug. 7, 3:30 p.m. (helmets)
Aug. 8, 3:45 p.m. (helmets)
Aug. 9, 3:45 p.m. (shells)
Aug. 10, 3:45 p.m. (shells)
Aug. 11, 3:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 12, 7:55 a.m. (shells), 6:45 p.m. (scrimmage)
Aug. 14, 7:55 a.m. (shells), 6:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 15, 3:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 16, 7:55 a.m. (shells), 6:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 17, 3:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 18, 7:55 a.m. (shells), 6:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 19, 9:00 a.m. (scrimmage)
Aug. 21, 7:55 a.m. (shells), 6:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 22, 3:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 23, 7:55 a.m. (shells), 6:45 p.m. (full pads)
Aug. 24, 6:45 p.m. (scrimmage)
Aug. 25-30, Game-week practice, practice times TBA
Aug. 31 Season-opener vs. Miles College, 7:00 p.m.