HATCHER INTERVIEW

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --The Samford football team practiced for about two hours in shells Tuesday afternoon at Seibert Stadium.
 
The Bulldogs are continuing to prepare for Saturday's game at ACC foe Louisville. Samford head coach Chris Hatcher said he was pleased with the way his team worked during Tuesday's session.
 
"We had a great practice today," Hatcher said. "We had great pep, great energy. We're focusing on making ourselves better."
 
This marks the sixth-straight season Samford has played a team from either the ACC or the SEC. Over that span, the Bulldogs have taken on Florida State (2010), Auburn (2011 & 2014), Kentucky (2012) and Arkansas (2013). Hatcher said his team knows the tough task it faces, but the focus this week is on improving as a football team.
 
"This is a daunting task this week, these guys are a great football team out of the ACC," Hatcher said. "But, it's an opportunity for us to get better as a football team and that's what we're focusing on."
 
Samford enters the game with a record of 2-1 overall after playing its first three games at home. Hatcher said the team is looking forward to playing on a bigger stage this weekend.
 
"These guys get the opportunity to play in a big venue, the biggest stage there is in college football in a Power Five conference," Hatcher said. "It will be interesting and it will be fun. It's an exciting time for our football team."
 
Samford will practice again Wednesday. The workout is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.
 
Saturday's game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. (CDT) at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Ky. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Fans can also listen to the game locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu.