Football 8.29.23

Samford Football Welcomes Shorter For 2023 Season Opener

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With anticipation at an all-time high, the Samford football team opens the 2023 season at Seibert Stadium on Thursday, August 31 against the Hawks of Shorter.

The season opener is slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff and can be streamed on ESPN+. A new year brings a new broadcast crew for Samford football as Blake Gardner moves from the sideline to the booth with Damian Mitchell. Lynden Blake will replace Gardner on the sideline beat.

For this week's complete game notes, click here. Tickets can be purchased here.

Samford is coming off the best season in the program's modern history as the Bulldogs finished the 2022 season with an 11-2 record and an appearance in the FCS Quarterfinals to go along with the squad's first outright conference title since 1936.

The Bulldogs and the Hawks have met one previous time with Samford whomped Shorter 66-9 in the 2018 season opener.

Hatcher's Offenses Produce
Through his first eight seasons, Samford head coach Chris Hatcher's offenses have averaged more points than under any other head coach in program history. Entering the season, Hatcher's teams have averaged 34.53 points per game, ahead of Bobby Bowden's 28.57 average. Terry Bowden (1987-1992) averaged 27.92 points per game during his tenure while Bill Gray (2001-06 / 25.68) and Pat Sullivan (2007-14 / 25.50) round out the top five.

Putting Up Points
Over the last eight seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, the Samford offense has scored at least 30 points 49 times. The unit has put up at least 40 points 27 times, and at least 50 points a total of 13 times.

Quick Strikes
In eight seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, Samford has made a habit of quick scoring drives. In Hatcher's time at Samford, Samford has had 178 scoring drives of two minutes or less and 79 that have lasted one minute or less.

Samford In Season Openers
Samford has a record of 49-54-4 in season-opening games. In season openers at home, Samford has a mark of 36-13-2. The Bulldogs are 6-2 in season openers under head coach Chris Hatcher. The team has won all six of the season openers at home under Hatcher.

Samford Against Georgia Teams
Samford has a record of 34-38-2 against teams from the state of Georgia, including a mark of 1-0 against Thursday's opponent, Shorter.

Against Gulf South Conference Teams
Against the current members of the Gulf South Conference, Samford has a record of 36-34-4, including a 1-0 record against Shorter.

On This Date
Samford has a record of 4-2 in games played on Aug. 31 with all games being played since 1995. The last time that the Bulldogs played on Aug. 31 was a 59-58 double overtime loss to Tennessee Tech in 2019. The last victory on Aug. 31 came in 2017 when Samford topped Kennesaw State 28-23.

Moving The Chains
In 2022, Samford set a program record with 312 first downs on offense. The Bulldogs beat the previous record of 298 that was set by the 2018 team. Samford averaged 24 first downs per contest last season and ranked sixth nationally in first downs.

Seven Bulldogs Headline All-SoCon Preseason Teams
Led by the SoCon Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Michael Hiers, seven different Bulldogs landed on the All-SoCon Preseason teams. Hiers, Jabari Brooks, Chandler Smith, Joseph Mera, Noah Martin and Kourtlan Marsh landed on the first team with Jay Stanton landing on the second team.

Hier Power
After a breakout campaign in 2022, Samford signal caller spent the summer collecting almost every possible honor that an FCS quarterback could have gotten. In total, the Birmingham native was named to seven different watch lists and All-American teams including the Senior Bowl Watch List, the Walter Payton Award Watch List and the Manning Award Watch List while being named an All-American by Athlon Sports, Hero Sports, Phil Steele and Stats Perform.

Smith Joins Hiers As All-American
Graduate Student Chandler Smith joined his QB on the Stats Perform All-American as Smith was named to the second team. Smith Ranked in the top 100 nationally in receptions per game (7.7/4th), receiving touchdowns (11/10th), receiving yards (1,071/11th), receiving yards per game (82.4/24th), total touchdowns (11/51st) and All-Purpose yards (87.54/96th). Along with former Bulldog teammate Kendall Watson, Smith and Watson were one of two pairs of teammates in the country to have 1,000+ receiving yards and 10+ touchdowns during the 2022 season.

Staton Leaving His Mark
Despite the #HatchAttack offense being synonymous with throwing the ball all over the field, senior running back Jay Stanton has shot to leave Samford as the second-best rusher in program history. After rushing for 690 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022, Stanton needs 607 yards on the ground to surpass Jerome Russell's 3,122 yards for the second-most career rushing yards. Chris Evans holds the Bulldog record with 4,575.

Traversing Red Mountain
The 2023 Samford roster features four transfers from nearby UAB, this is the most transfers from a single school on the current roster. The former Blazers include Chris Noble, Brett Johnson, Jayme Motley-Simmons and Wilson Beaverstock.

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

#62 Jabari Brooks: OL; 6' 3"; Junior

#1 Kourtlan Marsh: CB; 5' 11"; Junior

#32 Noah Martin: LB; 6' 1"; Junior

#35 Joseph Mera: DE; 6' 2"; Senior

#75 Jayme Motley-Simmons: OL; 6' 7"; Junior

#58 Chris Noble: OL; 6' 4"; Junior

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

#20 Jay Stanton: RB; 6' 0"; Senior

#84 Kendall Watson: WR; 5' 10"; Graduate Student

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

Players Mentioned

#62 Jabari Brooks
: 6' 3"; Junior
: OL

#1 Kourtlan Marsh
: 5' 11"; Junior
: CB

#32 Noah Martin
: 6' 1"; Junior
: LB

#35 Joseph Mera
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DE

#75 Jayme Motley-Simmons
: 6' 7"; Junior
: OL

#58 Chris Noble
: 6' 4"; Junior
: OL

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

#20 Jay Stanton
: 6' 0"; Senior
: RB

#84 Kendall Watson
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student
: WR

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

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned