Feb. 17, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team practiced for about two hours in shorts and helmets Tuesday afternoon at Seibert Stadium. The workout was the second practice of the spring for the Bulldogs.

Head Coach Pat Sullivan said he can tell the team has made progress since the beginning of spring practice last season.

"We've had two really good days in shorts," Sullivan said. "The retention has been great, we are so much farther along than we have ever been."

The Bulldogs held their first practice on Saturday, also in shorts and helmets. Samford's first full-pad practice is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

"Tomorrow, we get a chance to go into pads and we've always tried to set a goal that we want to be physical and that is where we will start tomorrow," Sullivan said. "I'm anxious to see how they do."

The Samford offensive line goes through a drill during Tuesday's practice.

Sullivan said he was looking forward to seeing some of the younger players workout in full gear.

"There are a lot of young guys we want to see who didn't play last year, especially on the offensive line," Sullivan said. "We have a couple of kids we redshirted last year that need a lot of work. It's the same way on our defensive line. We lost some linebackers and we have to get those young linebackers some physical work."

Wednesday's practice, the team's first in full pads, is scheduled to start at 3:45 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.