Aug. 27, 2001

BIRMINGHAM - Samford football ran through a light practice on Sunday, working on special teams and special game situations in preparation for Thursday's game with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The Bulldogs practiced for just over an hour, running through game situations including their two-minute offense. Samford Head Coach Pete Hurt says his team's tempo must improve and must still continue to work on mental breakdowns, needing better consistency in order to begin the season successfully. When asked if his experienced defense is ahead of the new style of offense, Hurt said he felt more like the team just needed to concentrate on

"The biggest thing that I've seen in the past couple of practices is that our guys have been a little sluggish in adjusting to the game plan for Chattanooga. We'll have three good plays and then give up a big play on defense or have a breakdown on offense. We've been going against each other for two weeks and now we just need to stay sharp mentally and take in the things that we need to get ready for Chattanooga."

Sunday's practice followed Saturday morning's two-hour session in helmets and shoulder pads. The team also enjoyed Meet the Bulldogs Day, a luncheon and a chance for Samford players to spend time with families and coaches.