Oct. 28, 2001

Article published courtesy of the Florence Times Daily

Assistant sports editor Josh Bean can be reached at 740-5725 or josh.bean@timesdaily.com.

BIRMINGHAM - Brent Robinson and Ryan Buchanan have played football with one another since elementary school.

The two beefy linemen - former players at Deshler - are set to end their playing careers together next month as part of the Samford football team.

The pair plays their final homecoming game Saturday when the Bulldogs entertain Tennessee-Martin. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

"Right now, I just concentrate on these last four ballgames and end up on a good note," Robinson said.

Two of only eight seniors on the Samford roster, the Deshler duo has played alongside one another at Samford for the last four seasons. Their careers have taken vastly different paths.

Buchanan, the Bulldogs' 6-foot-3, 270-pound starting left tackle, has played a different position each of the last four seasons.

He was recruited as a tight end, but was quickly moved to defensive end to provide depth. He then played defensive tackle, before finally shuffling to tight end during his junior season.

Buchanan caught two passes, including an 8-yard touchdown against Nicholls State, last season. After the Bulldogs graduated all five starters along the offensive line, Buchanan was moved to left tackle.

"Team is first, and that's something we were taught a long time ago at Deshler," said Buchanan, a fifth-year senior who will graduate in December and plans to attend law school.

"I tried to adapt and help out where I could. It just so happens that the place where I could help has changed."

Samford offensive line coach Doug Meachum called Buchanan "a joy to coach" and said the senior from Tuscumbia has been improving all season.

"He's big and athletic," Meachum said. "And the type of offense we run, the linemen you need are the ones that have good feet. He's an athletic offensive lineman, and he's 270 pounds. That made it an easy decision (to move him)."

Robinson, meanwhile, has been part of the defensive tackle rotation since he arrived on campus in 1998. The 6-foot, 310-pounder started two games a freshman and has been a mainstay in the middle of the Bulldogs' defensive line for the last four seasons.

"He has the ability to take a 300-pounder and get him off his chest. A lot of guys don't have that ability," Samford defensive line coach John Watkins said.

Robinson suffered torn cartilage in his left knee earlier this season, but has decided to play through the injury. He has 13 tackles and two pass breakups, increasing his career tackle total to 60. He also had two career sacks.

"I've been able to get better at one particular thing and be successful," Robinson said.

The last two seasons have been difficult for the Bulldogs, but especially tough for two players who became so accustomed to winning at Deshler. The Bulldogs finished just 4-7 last year and are currently 2-4 this season.

Then, the coach that recruited both Robinson and Buchanan - Pete Hurt - was fired last week.

Both said they simply have to make the best of a bad situation at the end of their college careers.

"The main thing coming from a place like Deshler is, one, we expected to win, even close games we expected to pull it out somehow," Buchanan said. "And, second, we knew what it takes to win. We weren't strangers to hard work, I guess, is the best way to say it. We knew coming in that it just doesn't happen on Saturday, you have to pay the price Monday through Friday."

Added Robinson, "Attitude is contagious, and character is the same way. You want to keep a positive character and a positive attitude, and it will rub off on your teammates and others around you."

That's what the next four games are about for the entire Samford squad.