Jan. 5, 2010

2010 Samford Football Schedule

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A road game at Florida State, and home games against Southern Conference powers Appalachian State and Furman highlight the 2010 Samford University football schedule, released by the school on Tuesday.

Samford will play at Florida State to open the season on Sept. 4. The game will mark the first game for new FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher, who played quarterback at Samford in 1987. Fisher also served as an assistant coach at Samford from 1988 to 1992.

"Starting off at Florida State is something our players and the entire Samford family are looking forward to," Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said. "It will be the first game as head coach for Samford alum Jimbo Fisher, and it will be an exciting day for Samford."

The game will mark just the second all-time meeting between Samford and Florida State. The teams last met on Oct. 14, 1950, with Florida State coming away with a 20-6 win in Tallahassee, Fla.

Following the game at FSU, Samford will travel to Natchitoches, La., to take on the Northwestern State Demons on Sept. 11. The game will mark the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and the Demons.

Samford will conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule on Thursday, Sept. 16, when the Bulldogs play host to Newberry College. Samford and Newberry have met four previous times, with Samford holding a 2-1-1 advantage in the series.

The Bulldogs will open Southern Conference play at 2010 NCAA playoff participant Elon on Sept. 25. The game will mark the ninth meeting in the series, with Elon holding a 6-2 advantage.

Samford's first home SoCon game will be on Oct. 2, against five-time defending league champion Appalachian State. The Mountaineers reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division I-FCS playoffs in 2009. Samford and Appalachian State have met four previous times, with ASU winning three of those contests. The game will be part of Samford's Family Weekend.

"Elon and Appalachian State are two teams that have set the bar in the Southern Conference," Sullivan said. "We will have to be ready to go right out of the gate if we are going to be in the hunt in the conference."

The Bulldogs will then travel to Cullowhee, N.C., to take on the Western Carolina Catamounts on Oct. 9. Samford owns a 6-1 all-time record in seven previous meetings with Western Carolina.

Samford will return home on Oct. 16, when the Bulldogs play host to the Furman Paladins. Samford and Furman have met 12 previous times, with Furman leading the all-time series, 7-5.

On Oct. 30, Samford will travel to Statesboro, Ga., to take on the Georgia Southern Eagles. GSU leads the all-time series, 3-2, though Samford has taken the last two meetings in the series.

Samford will host the Wofford Terriers on Nov. 6 for the Bulldogs' Homecoming game. Samford and Wofford will be meeting for the eighth time, with Samford leading the series, 5-2.

The Bulldogs' final road game of the 2010 regular season will be played on Nov. 13, as Samford plays at Chattanooga. The Mocs are Samford's most played SoCon opponent, with the teams having met 35 previous times.

Samford will wrap up the 2010 regular season by playing host to The Citadel Bulldogs on Nov. 20. The two programs have met three previous times, with the The Citadel holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.

Samford returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense from last year's squad. Among the returning players are four All-Conference players (Chris Evans, Bryce Smith, John Michael Clay and Bob Hooper).

2010 SAMFORD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 4, at Florida State
Sept. 11, at Northwestern State (La.)
Sept. 16 (Thurs.), Newberry College
Sept. 25, at Elon*
Oct. 2, Appalachian State (Family Weekend)*
Oct. 9, at Western Carolina*
Oct. 16, Furman*
Oct. 30, at Georgia Southern*
Nov. 6, Wofford (HC)*
Nov. 13, at Chattanooga*
Nov. 20, The Citadel*
*-Southern Conference Game