Samford Bulldogs Explained

Samford Bulldogs
University:Samford University
Association:NCAA
Conference:Southern Conference
Division:Division I (FCS)
Director:Martin Newton
Location:Homewood, Alabama
Teams:17
Stadium:Pete Hanna Stadium
Basketballarena:Pete Hanna Center
Baseballfield:Joe Lee Griffin Stadium
Nickname:Bulldogs
Pageurl:http://samfordsports.com

The Samford Bulldogs are the 17 varsity teams (8 men's and 9 women's) that represent Samford University in NCAA Division I athletics. The men's basketball team made its first NCAA Tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000. They were led by Reed Rawlings, Marc Salyers, and Chris Weaver. The women's basketball team made its initial NCAA tournament appearance in the 2011 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament and made its second consecutive appearance in the tournament in 2012. The baseball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in the 2012 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, reaching the finals of the Tallahassee Regional. Additionally, the softball team made its first NCAA Tournament Appearance in 2016. For the first time in history, the Lady Bulldogs won the regular-season championship as well as the Tournament Championship to cap off a record high of 40 wins on the season. The school is a member of the Southern Conference in Division I of the NCAA (FCS in football), after moving from the Ohio Valley Conference in 2008.[1] The Samford Athletics staff is headed by athletic director Martin Newton, whose appointment was announced on March 9, 2011.

Teams

A member of the Southern Conference, Samford sponsors teams in eight men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports:[2]

Men's Intercollegiate SportsTeam ArticleHead coach Women's Intercollegiate SportsTeam ArticleHead coach
BaseballBulldogs baseballTony DavidBulldogs women's basketballCarley Kuhns
Bulldogs men's basketballBucky McMillanCross CountryChad Balyo
Cross CountryChad BalyoGolfJoe Davidson
Bulldogs footballChris HatcherSoccerTodd Yelton
GolfAl Del GrecoSoftballKimball Cassady
TennisOliver ReynoldsTennisDavid Vest
Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor)Rod TiffinTrack & Field (Indoor & Outdoor)Rod Tiffin
VolleyballKeylor Chan

Facilities

Mascot and school colors

Samford's intercollegiate athletics teams are nicknamed the Bulldogs, and the team is represented by a costumed bulldog, complete with spiked collar and nasty growl, at football and basketball games. "Sam", who was introduced in 2017 as "Spike" was retired, has also been known to appear at other competitions where Samford is competing.

Even when it was Howard College, the school's colors were Red and Blue. Today, the red tends to be a bright color and the blue is usually depicted as a darker, navy blue. Both colors are primary (though, as the name of the student fan club, The Red Sea, and the name of the student newspaper, The Crimson, show that many Samford students lean toward red).

Rivalries

Samford, as the newest member of the Southern Conference, has made new rivalries with their newfound conference foes. Their geographically closest conference opponents are Chattanooga and Mercer.

Samford also contends against SEC powerhouses and fellow Alabama institutions Alabama and Auburn in some sports—and often fares well. For example, in 2006 the Samford baseball team defeated Auburn in the annual game at the Hoover Met and in 2010 the Samford basketball team defeated Auburn for the third time.[7] Samford's baseball team also defeated #21 Alabama in 2011.[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: The Southern Conference Welcomes Samford University. The Southern Conference. SoCon Sports. 2008-07-01.
  2. Web site: Official Athletic Site of Samford University. Samford University Athletics . 31 October 2016.
  3. Web site: Samford renames football stadium in honor of Pete Hanna. The Alabama Baptist. October 14, 2023. March 25, 2024.
  4. Web site: Samford announces renaming of stadium. The Samford Crimson. Will. Mason. October 17, 2023. March 25, 2024.
  5. http://www.samford.edu/News/071908_1.html
  6. Web site: Sullivan-Cooney Family Fieldhouse. Samford University. 2016-01-21.
  7. Web site: Samford stuns Auburn 79–68 - College Basketball - Rivals.com . Rivals.yahoo.com . 2010-01-01 . 2015-07-18.
  8. http://samfordsports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/040511aaa.html