Behind Enemy Lines: Looking at the Samford Bulldogs

The Auburn Tigers host the in-state Samford Bulldogs on Saturday.

Zac Blackerby | Sep 14, 2023

Behind Enemy Lines: Looking at the Samford Bulldogs /

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Auburn Tigers

Auburn's Saturday opponent is just a two-hour drive down 280 away as they host the Samford Bulldogs at Jordan Hare Stadium this Saturday night.

The Auburn Tigers should be able to keep this one under wraps early but Samford's creativity on offense will aim to make it competitive over the 60 minutes of play.

Ryan Hennessy, the sports director of WVTM13 in Birmingham was generous to give us some of his time to help preview this game and what Auburn fans need to know about the visiting Samford Bulldogs.

Follow Ryan Hennessy on Twitter at @RyanWVTM13 and WVTM at @WVTM13.

Let's look at our conversation!

What should Auburn expect from Samford on Saturday?

Hennessy: Auburn should expect a team with a creative offense. Head coach of the Bulldogs Chris Hatcher is an experienced head coach with an offensive mind. Hatcher has been a head coach since 2000 and has coached with some big names like Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp and the late Mike Leach.

I am not saying Samford is going to win, but they put up a good fight a few years ago against Florida in Gainesville losing 70-52. It seems like every quarterback in Hatchers offense has success. Some examples are Devlin Hodges (who won the Walter Payton Award), Chris Oladokun and Liam Welch.

What does Samford have to do to make things difficult for Auburn on Saturday?

Samford head coach Chris Hatcher takes the field with his team before the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Friday August 23, 2019. Fcs23 — © Mickey Welsh / Advertiser, Montgomery Advertiser via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Hennessy: Samford must get the offense going early. During that Florida game, Samford put up 42 points in the first half. That type of offense is needed to make this game interesting. Chris Hatcher told the media on Tuesday the key for his team is to stop the run. They came off 284 yards given up to Western Carolina in the loss last week. But the week before that they beat Shorter 69-14. Clearly Shorter is not Auburn, but this offense under Hatcher can get going just like last year where they went 11-2 and a perfect 8-0 in conference play.

Who is a Samford player Auburn fans should know about?

Hennessy: The combination of quarterback Michael Hiers and receiver Chandler Smith is what to look out for. Smith had two touchdowns in week one for the Bulldogs. Every season, Samford awards a different senior leader with the number 5 jersey which is the Charles Williams memorial jersey (voted on by the players). This season Chandler Smith was voted to receive that jersey. Last year it was Nathan East who was their defensive leader, the year before was Quarterback Liam Welch and before that was Montrell Washington who is on the Chiefs roster.

Score prediction?

Auburn football helmet at SEC Media Days. — Lance Dawe/Auburn Daily

Hennessy: Despite the success Samford has had their overall record against Auburn is 0-28-1. This Hugh Freeze roster is deep compared to Samford. I have Auburn winning 34-14.

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Published Sep 14, 2023

ZAC BLACKERBY

Zac Blackerby is the publisher of Auburn Daily and Braves Today. He is also the host of Locked On Auburn and the College Channel Manager for the Locked On Podcast Network. Blackerby was previously the program director of the Auburn Network and hosted shows on ESPN 106.7 and WANI. He also used to be the editor for Auburn Wire and Fly War Eagle.