Feb. 6, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Below are quotes from Samford head coach Pat Sullivan regarding the Bulldogs' 2008 signing class.

ON THE CLASS IN GENERAL
"First, I think we had another great class. I want to thank our coaches and the people here at Samford. (President ) Dr. (Andrew) Westmoreland, (Director of Athletics) Bob (Roller), all of our faculty and our players have helped so much with the recruiting process. We always need offensive and defensive linemen, and we were able to get some of those.

"Offensively, we needed a tight end and we signed a junior college kid that is about 6-5, 260 who we think cam come in and help us. We wanted to address the quarterback situation. We felt like we needed some people to come in and play there and we signed two outstanding quarterbacks who are very good players who we are looking forward to getting on campus. We needed some speed at wide and we signed two tall kids who can run, and that was exciting to us. We signed a couple of backs here locally who I think can come in and help us next fall.

"Defensively, linebacker was a big need for us, and we got a couple there who we think can come in and help us next fall. Secondary-wise, needed a couple there and we signed three who we are counting on coming in to help us next fall.

"Another thing I thought we did well was signing guys locally. That is where we will always start. We will start here and work out from there. I thought we did a good job of getting the kids locally who were interested in Samford, and we are excited about that."

ON THE QUARTERBACKS
"Both of the quarterbacks are big kids. They are in the 6-2, 6-3 range and have some athletic ability. They are both very smart kids, 4.0 students. We are excited about having them both."

ON ADDING THIS YEAR'S CLASS TO THE CLASS SIGNED LAST YEAR
"First, I thought our class last year was really good and when you look at our two-deep depth chart at the end of the season, 22 of them were either freshmen or redshirt freshmen. We had a lot of freshmen on the team, and to add 21 kids with this group, I think gives us an exciting future. The biggest thing we have to do is grow them up and it is not going to happen over night. We are headed in the right direction. I wish they were all here for the spring and we could get started then, putting them all together. Hopefully, we can them here this summer and get started."

ON RECRUITING FOR SAMFORD
"I think the biggest thing here at Samford, is just getting kids here on campus. Samford just needs to be exposed. Our success rate with kids who come on official visits is phenomenal, it's better than any place I have ever been around. Once they get here, they meet our players, they see the academic opportunity they have here, they see what we are doing football-wise and the facilities we are trying to build and it is really an easy sell."