2015 Football Preseason Preview: Samford

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2015 football opponents. Today we take a look at the Samford Bulldogs

For the seventh game of the season, the Catamounts return to Cullowhee to meet the Samford Bulldogs. This weekend is also Homecoming for the Catamounts. 

The Cats are 1-11 overall against the Bulldogs since winning the first outing back in 1969. Samford owns a ten game winning streak against Western and the Cats are 0-5 in games played in Cullowhee against the Bulldogs.


Samford 

When:  Saturday, October 24th at 3:30 pm

Where : E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Cullowhee, NC

Radio : Catamount Sports Network

TV / video:   SoCon Digital Network

Head Coach:Chris Hatcher was named Samford’s 36th head football coach on Dec. 11, 2014. Hatcher's career record is 121-57 in 15 years as a college head coach at Murray State, Georgia Southern and Valdosta State. Hatcher served as the head coach at Murray State since 2010.and in five seasons with the Racers, Hatcher’s teams employed the high-powered “Hatch Attack” offense to top the Division I-FCS football charts. In 2014, the Racers ranked second in the nation in passing offense, averaging 327.2 yards per game. The team also ranked 15th in total offense at 468.3 yards per contest.


Last year’s record (Samford):  7-4 overall (home 5-1, road 2-3), 5-2 SoCon

Last Season's Game vs. Samford (Nov 8, 2014): Strong First Half Leads Samford Past Western Carolina, 34-20  -  Samford's Denzel Williams scored two touchdowns on the ground as a part of a 156-yard rushing performance and quarterback Michael Eubank tossed a pair of first half touchdown passes as the Bulldogs rode a 28-point outburst in the opening half to a 34-20 victory over Western Carolina in Southern Conference action at Seibert Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 8 / 3  -The Bulldogs lost the following starters: left guard Kyle Champion, center Jordan Boatright, and wide receiver Kelvin Clay to graduation.

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4  -On defense, the Bulldogs lost starters Brinson Porter, NG Jerry Mathis, DE Brandon Wilkinson, and safety Jaquiski Tart to graduation

Specialist - Returning/Lost: 3  / 4 - The Bulldogs lose punter Greg Peranich, kickoff  Michael O'Neal, punt returner Robert Clark, to graduation

Offensive Formation: Multiple
(Is the "Hatch Attack" gone?)  "I had to kind of change my thinking a little bit to try and keep the continuity as close to what it was last year as possible," Hatcher said. "There weren't many adjustments, many modifications. It was me that learned."

Defensive Formation: 4-3

The Bulldog offense returns a trio of playmakers in dual-threat quarterback Michael Eubank, along with his top target Karel Hamilton and the workhorse running back Denzel Williams,  Collectively, these three accounted for 34 of the team's 44 touchdowns last season. "We want to be up-tempo, want to get the ball in space to people who can make big plays, who know how to score," he said.

In the SoCon polls, the coaches picked Samford to finish second and the Southern Conference Sports Media Association (SCSMA) picked Samford to come in third.

Samford senior defensive lineman Michael Pierce was named the Southern Conference's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year when the league released its preseason awards at the SoCon's annual Media Day Wednesday. A total of nine Samford players were named to the All-Conference teams. Pierce was joined on the first team by running back Denzel Williams, offensive lineman Gunnar Bromelow, wide receiver Karel Hamilton, linebacker Justin Cooper and defensive back James Bradberry. Samford's second team representatives were Tony Philpot, Alec Hulmes and Jamerson Blount.

2014 Samford Statistics:

Rushing Offense: 2207 yards
Yards per game: 181.4
Yards per rush: 4.3 yards
TDs rushing: 28
Passing Offense: 2387 yards or 217.9 yards per game
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 211-328-8
Total Offense: 4392 yards or 399.3 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 112
Rushing 1st downs: 104
Fumbles-Lost: 17 - 8
Penalties-Yards: 56 - 568 yards
3d Down Conversions: 77 of 161 or 42%
4th Down Conversions: 5 of 12 or 42%
Field Goals - Attempts: 9 of 16
Red-Zone Scores: 36 of 46 (78%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 29 of 46 (63%)
Punts (No. Yards): 54 (2311 yds)
Avg, per punt: 42.8 yds
Time of possession per game: 28: 07
Sacks: 16

Who does the Bulldogs play prior to Western?  The Samford Bulldogs open their season with three straight home games. On Thursday, September 3d, Central Arkansas comes to Birmingham, followed by Florida A&M on the 9th. The Bulldogs open their SoCon schedule against Chattanooga on the 19th, again in Birmingham.  The next weekend, the Bulldogs travel to Louisville, followed by a trip to Lexington, VA and VMI.  On Oct 17, the other Bulldogs come to Birmingham, then the dogs travel up the mountain to meet the Cats on the 24th.



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