July 23, 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Southern Conference held its annual Football Rouser on Wednesday. Below are quotes from Samford head coach Pat Sullivan, as well as seniors Mitchell Waters and Rodney Shepherd.

Samford Head Football Coach Pat Sullivan
On what it's like to be members of the SoCon
"Well, I honestly really don't know because we haven't played a game in the league yet, but I do know that it is an outstanding conference and it will be a great challenge for us."

"The thing that jumps out to me about the league is the balance. Obviously, Appalachian State is a very talented team and they've won three-straight national championships, but they were 5-2 in the league last season. There were two teams that finished 5-2 and then there were three that went 4-3, so that just shows you the great balance of the league. To be honest with you, it actually kind of reminds me of the SEC. Every week, any team is capable of beating the other and I fully expect us to be competitive in the conference."

"We were picked last in the preseason poll, but that's to be expected. We are just starting in this league and I don't think anybody really knows what kind of a team we're going to have this season. I'm excited about our football team and I'm very excited about the new conference. It will definitely be an interesting year."

"Right now, the only thing we can do as a team is worry about ourselves. We can't afford to spend too much time thinking about the other teams in this conference, especially during the off-season. We just need to continue to get better every day, and I know how much hard work our players have put in this summer to get stronger, faster and smarter."

"This season is going to be fun and we're not going to be intimidated by anybody that we play. We're looking forward to this year and when it's all over, we'll see where we stacked up."

On hosting three-time defending national champ Appalachian State in the first home SoCon game
"I think that it will really be a good thing for our team, for our program and for the city of Birmingham. We actually open conference play with a game at Elon and they are also one heck of a football team. They were very good last season, so it will definitely be a challenging stretch of early games for us."

"In this league, every week will be tough and it will come down to which team is ready to play and which team doesn't turn the ball over. It will be very exciting for us, because I think the first SoCon game that we play at home against Appalachian State will probably be the largest crowd in the history of our school. That will be exciting for our players. It will be exciting for our fans and it will definitely show our fans where we need to get to as a football program."

"Right now, Appalachian State is the measuring stick in this league. They are the Tiger Woods of this conference and that's where we want to go and that's how we want to be able to compete."

On his biggest concern heading into the season
"I just want us to continue to get better, and if we do that, then everything else will take care of itself. We have definitely gotten stronger as a team during the off-season and we've added a few very talented transfers to our roster. We also have a lot of experienced guys like Rodney Shepherd and Mitchell Waters coming back, so the biggest thing that we need to do is mold our team together."

Samford Offensive Lineman Mitchell Waters
On Wednesday's release of the preseason poll
"Well, as a team, we really don't worry about that too much. We just try to focus on what we can accomplish as a team. All we can control is trying to improve each day and that's all that really matters for us. Right now, all we can do is to continue to work on the things that we've been doing and to concentrate on improving and getting better."

On joining the Southern Conference and beginning competition in the league this fall
"It feels really good. I'm looking forward to it and I'm very excited about playing in the SoCon this season. The competition is going to be great and we're really looking forward to going to new places and playing in new stadiums. Right now, we're just very excited about all of the new challenges." On his expectations for Samford's play during the upcoming season
"Well, this summer we've really improved a lot and right now we're just focused on getting better each day, whether it's in workouts or practice or meetings." On playing their first SoCon home game against three-time national champ Appalachian State
"It's going to be a fun game. We're very excited about it. It's going to be a great thing for our school and for the community and we're really looking forward to playing them. Right now, we're just very excited to be members of the SoCon."

On the one thing that the offense has to do to be successful this season
"We just need to keep improving on what we did last year. Last season, we improved our running game tremendously and we also did a great job on pass protection. This year, we just need to keep improving on those things and if we can do that then I think that we will be successful."

Samford Linebacker Rodney Shepherd
On joining the SoCon
"It's a very exciting time for us right now. Our players and our entire school are very excited about the upcoming season. We use joining the SoCon as motivation each week during our workouts and our summer program."

On the preseason poll and if it was fair to be picked ninth in the league
"Well, I guess it was, just because no one's really seen us play before. Nobody really knows that much about us and I think that fact will actually work to our advantage this season. We can use that each week to motivate our team and especially during the off-season as we go and prepare for the upcoming schedule."

On playing his first SoCon home game against three-time defending champ Appalachian State
"Yeah, it's going to be a real exciting game for us. Like Coach Sullivan said, I think that it will be one of our biggest crowds of all time and it will be fun to have that many people come to see us play. It's going to be a great atmosphere and we're looking forward to playing against them."

On what the defense needs to accomplish for Samford to be successful this season
"The biggest thing for us is to make sure that we make plays when we have a chance to make big plays. We have some good experience on the team this year and we also have some very talented young guys that played a lot last year. We have some really good players returning this season, so I think that we'll be a lot better and we'll be ready for the challenge of playing in the SoCon."