BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The Samford football program held its annual preseason media day at the Sullivan-Cooney Family Field House Thursday morning to preview the upcoming season.
Two years after the Bulldogs’ historic playoff run that ended with a quarterfinal loss to North Dakota State, Samford is hoping to make a comeback after the team reached a 6-5 record in 2023.
Renovations continue at Pete Hanna Stadium ahead of the home game against Alabama State on September 14.
There are many changes ahead of the new season, including a battle for the quarterback position and a new defensive coordinator in Adam Braithwaite.
Braithwaite comes to Samford after a stint at Tennessee Tech. Some key defensive players are back, like preseason All-American linebacker Noah Martin, but Braithwaite wants to bring a new style to the defense.
“I think we attack,” Braithwaite said. “To me, attacking isn’t necessarily about the decisions you make and launching 50 million different blitzes. I think it’s more about the style you play and that’s what I want to teach our guys.”
Another important aspect of fall camp is the question of who will be the starting quarterback. After the departure of Michael Hiers, the battle for the QB1 position is between Nik Scalzo and Quincy Crittendon.
“I’ve been competing my whole life,” Crittendon said, “so I think competing is a good thing. Hopefully it brings out the best in me and Nik and makes our team stronger.”
Scalzo has battled numerous injuries over the years, but both quarterbacks were with the team during the playoffs in the 2022 season. It won’t get much easier when the Bulldogs open the season on the road at West Georgia on August 31.
West Georgia enters its first season in the FCS after being considered a national heavyweight in Division II. Head coach Chris Hatcher, who is entering his 10th season as coach of the Bulldogs, hopes his team understands how important the first week will be. He doesn’t want his team to overlook West Georgia.
“We have to play well right from the start,” Hatcher said. “You go to a team that’s going to play its first FCS football game. They have a really good coach who knows us very well and who was the defensive coordinator at Mercer.”
According to SoCon preseason polls, Samford is projected to finish fifth in the conference out of nine teams. Chattanooga was considered the clear winner of the conference.
Another notable game is week two, when Samford travels to Gainesville to face the Florida Gators of the Southeastern Conference. There are a number of questions and depth to build, but Scalzo and the Bulldogs feel this year’s team could be a little different.
“It kind of brings us back to the situation we were in two years ago, and I can see it already,” Scalzo said. “I mean, I think our team is closer together now than it’s ever been.”
Samford and West Georgia will kick off at 5:00 p.m. CST on August 31 in Carrollton, Georgia.
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