Sept. 27, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team practiced for about two hours in shells Wednesday afternoon at Seibert Stadium.

"We were able to get some things done today as we continue to implement the game plan," Samford head coach Bill Gray said. "We have guys who have to heal between now and Saturday. Sometimes you have to play with some discomfort, and a lot of them are fighting through it."

Gray added that the team will have some players back who have been out for most of the season.

"We will get a couple of young men back this week who have been out for a while," Gray said. "Quinton Smith is going to get a chance to play a little for us and we haven't had him since early in the first ballgame, so that will help us."

Smith, a sophomore linebacker, has missed the last three games with an ankle injury.

"I have full confidence that whoever we put out there on either side of the ball is going to have the capabilities of getting the job done," Gray said.

Samford will practice again Thursday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Seibert Stadium. The team will leave campus at 7:30 a.m. on Friday for Cape Girardeau, Mo. Saturday night's game is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff from Southeast Missouri's Houck Stadium.

The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.al.com/wvsu or www.samfordsports.com. The game can also be viewed on the internet via live streaming at www.ovcsports.tv.