Sept. 21, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team practiced for about two hours in shells Wednesday afternoon in continuing preparation for Saturday's Southern Conference game at eighth-ranked Wofford.

Samford and Wofford are meeting for the ninth time, with Samford holding a 5-3 advantage in the series. Last season, Wofford earned a 10-3 win at Samford.

In the three meetings since Samford joined the Southern Conference in 2008, Wofford has a 2-1 advantage. Samford's last win in the series came in 2009, when the Bulldogs earned a 27-24 win over the Terriers at Gibbs Stadium.

Samford head coach Pat Sullivan knows the Bulldogs face a tough challenge Saturday evening. He said he thought his team was focused during Wednesday's workout.

"I thought we had a really good practice," Sullivan said. "I thought we were focused today. We were better today than we were yesterday, which is what you look for."

Saturday's game will mark the second time in the first three games that Samford has faced a top-10 ranked opponent this season. The team opened the season against then third-ranked Georgia Southern.

The Bulldogs will hold their final full practice of the week Thursday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. at Seibert Stadium. The team will depart campus for Spartanburg, S.C., Friday morning at 9:45 a.m.

"We have to finish it out tomorrow and then get ready to play a great team," Sullivan said.

Saturday's game at Wofford is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CT) kickoff from Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C. The game can be heard live on the Samford Sports Network, including Samford's on-campus station, WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu.