March 15, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University football team completed its 2006 spring practice schedule on Wednesday as the Bulldogs turned in an enthusiastic two-hour workout in shorts and shells under sunny skies in Seibert Stadium.

The practice completed Samford's 15-workout spring training which began on Feb. 20.

"I thought that we definitely finished the spring on a good note," said Samford head coach Bill Gray. "We don't have a spring game, but we felt that we got a lot out of the scrimmages that we had. I was really impressed at how our guys came out and worked with a purpose knowing that this was the final day practice. I think that it showed a lot about their work ethic."

Samford opened its final workout of the spring season with an uncanny goal-line passing drill featuring the offensive and defensive linemen.

The drill, which lasted approximately 10 minutes, consisted of a quarterback, an offensive lineman and a defensive lineman and was a one-on-one pass-catching competition between the linemen. Each play would begin at the five-yard line with the offensive player attempting to catch a touchdown pass against his defensive counterpart.

The warm-up ended with rounds of cheers and applause as 335-pound offensive lineman Jonathan Beverly snagged a touchdown pass from quarterback Jefferson Adcock on a crossing route to cap off the competition.

"We did something special for the big boys today," Gray said. "Every last one of them thinks that they are a wide receiver trapped in the body of a lineman, so we had those guys go at it one-on-one. I think that Bev (Jonathan Beverly) was the only one that was able to catch a pass and I couldn't tell if it was because the players on defense were such good defenders or if the offensive linemen had such poor hands."

Immediately following the Bulldogs' lighthearted warm-up drill, the team broke into its position groups and spent the next half-hour of practice working with their position coaches. Within the workout, each player also went through rounds of individual drills and techniques.

"We had the practice scripted to where we wanted to get some good work done, but we also wanted the players to enjoy it," said Gray. "I liked how we were at the end of practice and we still had guys hustling all over the field and they were running to the football. They were doing the little things and treating it like it was the first day of practice and not the last."

Samford concluded Wednesday's practice by holding a simulated scrimmage featuring the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense. The contact was limited and the action was not full speed. During the practice-ending competition, the Bulldogs' second-team members also saw live action against their first-team counterparts.

Coach Gray pointed out several players that earned high praise from the Samford coaching staff throughout the spring, including defensive players B.T. Hartloge, Quinton Smith, Jay McCurty and Clyde Triplett.

"B.T. had as good a spring as anybody on defense," Gray said. "We have big shoes to fill in the free safety position, but he did a really great job this spring and solidified himself back there. I think that all of those guys did very good jobs during practice and they all have great work ethics and are an inspiration to the other guys on the team."

Offensively, Gray mentioned the improvement of the offensive line, in particular Graham Lemmond, Colby Hooper and Mitchell Waters. He also highlighted the consistent play of running back Harris Johnson of Vestavia High School, who was forced to sit out last season with a high ankle sprain.

"I thought that we had a very productive spring," said Gray. "I feel good about what we got accomplished on both sides of the ball and I think that we got some questions answered."

Samford finished the 2005 campaign with a 5-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark against conference opponents. This season, the Bulldogs return nine starters on offense and an additional nine starters on the defensive side of the ball.

The Samford University football team will begin play in its 2006 fall season on Thursday, Aug. 31, as the Bulldogs host the Miles College Golden Bears at 7 p.m., in Seibert Stadium.