Samford Football Local Media Day
Samford held the annual Local Football Media Day yesterday over in the Sullivan-Cooney Family Field House on campus. Head coach Chris Hatcher, both offensive and defensive coordinators along with four players spoke about the upcoming season. Samford Scoop got the chance to go head over and listen to everyone while also participating in the Punt, Pass, & Kick Competition (we don’t need to recap that).
Below is a transcript from our questions to the coaches and players. Some of the answers have been edited for clarity.
Head coach Chris Hatcher
Q: We know about the QB battle you have going on, what have you seen from those 2 guys and what do you want to see when you have that first scrimmage (this week)?
A: “To be consistent and efficient in what they do. Whenever you have new quarterbacks working with new receivers and getting accustomed to being the guy, that is what you are looking for. Who manages the game well, who leads the team to scoring opportunities. That is what we are looking for, it’s kind of difficult sometimes during the practice settings. From the standpoint is that we are rotating a lot of different guys at receiver. We’re having to move people around due to some guys who are banged up through the course of practice, so you gotta fight through those things.”
“Then when you get into scrimmage situations, our QBs are dead and not allowed to get hit. Fortunately for us both of those guys are good runners. In a scrimmage, you take that away from them, they can’t rely on that as much. It’s good practice for them having to manage the game without using one of their skill sets to gain some yardage down the field.”
Q: You had to replace your defensive coordinator from last year, what excites you about Coach Braithwaite and his system, as it seems it will be different compared to what you ran last year?
A: “I think we will be a little bit different. With Coach Boone, we were very successful with that defense. We were more of a 3-man front team and I hate to say we were bend but don’t break. We would bend, bend, bend, then we would make a goal line stand. That was kind of the way we played. We are going to be a more attacking defense and will be more multiple with our 3 down and 4 down fronts.”
“What I saw from the spring thus far, he plays defense like I play offense, recklessly abandoned all the time with blitzes and things of that nature. I think we will complement each other well. The guys seem to have rallied behind him and that staff. The biggest thing, I think we’ll be more aggressive on that side. Now we got to be able to execute aggressiveness but that’s the way we would like to play.”
Offensive Coordinator Ricky Turner
Q: In that receiver room, (sophomore) WR Brendan Jenkins was a guy who flashed as a freshman. What have you seen from him so far in camp? Then you added some guys via the portal.
“Brendan has been good, had a good spring. He is a little banged up right now but he should be back to full go next week. Just an awesome kid, went to a really good high school there in Georgia probably one of the better high school football programs in Georgia. He came ready to play as a freshman and it helped with the school he came from. He’s just an awesome kid, he does everything you ask. It doesn't matter what we ask, he goes out there and does it to the best of his ability. You wish you had a ton of people like him in every position which we do.”
“Yeah we got some new guys. Coach mentioned Preston Bird, we got three freshmen that get a little better each day. Preston is probably a little farther ahead and then a couple transfers that have some playing experience.”
Defensive Coordinator Adam Braithwaite
Q: Coach Hatcher talked about how attacking your defense and your system is, what can fans expect from that group on the field? Then how has that group grown and learned from what you want to do?
“I do think we are attacking. To me, attacking doesn't necessarily mean what calls you’re making and dialing up fifty billion different blitzes. It's more about the style of play and that is what I’m trying to impress upon our guys. It’s more about how we play the game that makes us attacking as opposed to what scheme I’m calling. Our defensive philosophy is play hard, be smart, fundamentals. So we’re just trying to preach that and instill those things in our guys every day.”
“We are just trying to focus on playing hard and playing with a hard edge. Being physical, giving fanatical effort, executing what we’re trying to get done, be a smart, disciplined defense and play with great fundamentals. To me, the attacking part of that is more about how we play and the mentality we play with rather than the actual scheme we are playing with.”
Q: How does having older guys on defense impact what you want to do in teaching to the guys who haven’t played as much football?
A: “The landscape of college football has changed a lot over the most recent years. I’ve always believed you win with seniors, you win with veterans, you win with guys that have played a lot of ball. Guys that have been through experiences, that have been through the fire, that have handled adversity. Naturally we have a lot of those guys on our roster. Young guys look to those guys and it just brings that comfortable, settling feeling to the rest of the unit when you have experienced guys that have been through it before. So I’m leaning on those guys as much as they’re leaning on me.”
QB Quincy Crittendon
Q: How much have you been able to lean on that past experience, starting those 2 playoff games which were arguably the most important in program history?
A: “I think what played a big part in that was just being behind Michael Hiers. A guy who loved the game, practiced it and preached it. He was a perfectionist I like to say. Sitting behind him and soaking up all the information I can. It just helped me and pushed me to the next step in life and the next step in being a ball player. It just helped me all around.”
Samford QB Quincy Crittendon’s walk off TD vs Southeastern Louisiana in 2022.
OL Chris Noble
Q: For you specifically, what are some things that you are looking to improve on? How much will the experience help you this year?
A: “Last year I started off the season playing tackle, then moved down to interior and played guard. This year I’m back to playing guard. Just really excited to be back in a more comfortable position for me. Just looking forward to working with the guys, being with the guys it’s why I came back for my last year here because I just love this team and love the guys I’m playing with. I’m just excited to get back to work and enjoy every little minute with them.”
LB Noah Martin
Q: Do you feel as though the guys look to you as the leader of this defense and have you made it a point to be even more vocal?
A: “Obviously I’m very blessed and it’s nothing that I’ve done, it’s God given. I’m a child of God and he is the only reason that I’m in the position I am in right now. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn't for him and I say that with all sincerity. I have been blessed with some opportunities this season, some pre-season stuff. Which I say it means very little, it all comes down to what happens in the season.”
“It’s still a great honor and I’m very thankful to have that. It does put a spotlight on me, I wish it would just highlight the team. I do think it puts me under a microscope, like a spotlight that guys do look to me. I’m willing to take that challenge and with God’s help I want to be able to lead my teammates and guide them in the right direction. We have a lot of guys that are willing to work and put their head down, do what they’re supposed to do. They’re committed to the process for what it takes to become a great defense and a great team. It makes it easy, my job is not hard. We have a lot of great guys that are willing to buy in and really focus on the challenge ahead.”
The 2024 season opener for Samford is just 22 days away at West Georgia on August 31st
