The Chris Hatcher Show: Sept. 22, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Each week during the 2022 season, we will release The Chris Hatcher Show. The show, hosted by Kevin Blackwell and featuring head football coach Chris Hatcher, will look back at the previous week's football game and look forward to the upcoming contest.

No. 21 Samford enters Southern Conference play with a 2-1 record after prevailing 33-28 over the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. The head ball coach is pleased with the team's record during the non-conference slate.

"We could have taken any combination of the wins. Considering having Georgia mixed in there, being optimistic, a 2-1 record heading into Western Carolina sounded pretty good," Hatcher said. "Due to the hard work of our team and staff it has come to fruition and now we get ready for SoCon play at Seibert Stadium on Saturday and we are really looking forward to it."

After a sluggish start against Tennessee Tech, the Bulldogs trailed by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. Despite the double-digit deficit, coach Hatcher felt like Samford was never out of the game.

"We made a ton of mistakes early in the game. I didn't really feel like we were down 11 points because I really felt like we were in command of the game early on. Unfortunately, the scoreboard didn't show it," Hatcher said. "Fortunately, our guys keep playing and in the second half we came out with a little better focus than we had in the first half."

The dynamic offensive duo of Michael Hiers and Chandler Smith helped engineer a second-half comeback that culminated in Hiers hitting Smith in the flats before the senior wideout took it 26-yards for the game-winning touchdown with 25 seconds left in the game.

"Chandler is a really good player, and we got some guys that make plays. He had a great day, three touchdowns" Hatcher said. "He muffs the first punt, which he is a very sure-handed punt returner, to set up Tennessee Tech's first touchdown, but he continues to play the next play, he doesn't get down about it, he admits the mistake and ends up having three touchdowns and a game-winner. That's really what it is all about."

Not to be outdone by the offense, the defense aided in the comeback by holding Tennessee Tech to only seven points in the second half.

"Defensively, I thought we played really well too. We put ourselves in a bind with the muffed punt early on, so we literally gave them seven points. We had a busted coverage early in the game, but other than that they had to hit us with some trickeration if you will. A lot of double passes to move the ball," Hatcher said. "Second half, we played outstanding. Unfortunately, they got a little drive there late and that was the only score they had in the second half. I think we are continuing to play good defense."

For the first time since opening night, the Samford Bulldogs will play in front of a home crowd at Seibert Stadium open SoCon play against Western Carolina on Family Weekend.

"I have great respect for Kerwin Bell, their head coach. He was two coaches after me at Valdosta State and won a national championship there. He does a great job offensively. They are similar to us," Hatcher said. "They brought in a lot of transfers; they got a lot of new faces. Offensively, they are super explosive. They have two great running backs and two receivers that arguably could be the best two receivers in the league. Then you flip over to their defense, they are very aggressive, they are long, athletic and not afraid to take chances. Typical Southern Conference game. Western Carolina had a lot of preseason accolades and they were very well deserved from what I saw on the first three games."

The SoCon opener is slated for a 2 p.m. kickoff and can be streamed on ESPN+ where Curt Bloom, Damian Michell and Blake Gardner will have the call.

FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford football, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordFootball (Facebook), @SamfordFootball (Instagram) and @SamfordFootball (Twitter).

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Players Mentioned

#0 Chandler Smith: WR; 5' 10"; Senior

#10 Michael Hiers: QB; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#0 Chandler Smith
: 5' 10"; Senior
: WR

#10 Michael Hiers
: 6' 1"; Junior
: QB

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

#0 Chandler Smith

#10 Michael Hiers

Players Mentioned

#0 Chandler Smith

#10 Michael Hiers