Samford wide receiver Karel Hamilton (3) catches a pass over Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)Through two games of the 2015 football season, it was easy for the Samford offense to believe things were going to be very smooth.
The Bulldogs averaged 51.5 points and 644 yards of total offense in beating Central Arkansas and Florida A&M in their first two contests under coach Chris Hatcher. But then came a 31-21 loss to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Sept. 21 and a downward spiral of five losses in a six-game stretch. The Birmingham team won its last three games, but the damage had been done.
Some key seniors say it will be up to their class to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“I think after we got beat by Chattanooga, players thought the season was over,” Hatcher said. “But there was a lot more ball left to be played, and we ran into some good teams. We kind of regrouped, came close and played well at the end, and we’re going into this season with a different mentality about us. We’re close-knit, have a tougher edge, and that’s going to be the big key.
“I don’t think we handled that well last season, but if we can this year, we can turn heads and be in the conversation late in the season.”
Some of the change came when freshman quarterback Devlin Hodges took over as the leader of the offense. He played in nine games in his first season, starting the last five with the three closing wins. Senior receiver Karel Hamilton said he and others had a relationship with Hodges “before he ever became a student here,” noting that the 6-foot-1, 213-pounder would drive up from Kimberly, Ala., to talk to the players he would be joining.
“I feel real confident about him,” Hamilton said. “He loves the game, loves what he does and brings energy every day – brings fire every day. He does everything to make himself better. He has a great energy, and that’s the type of player we need.”
The Bulldogs are full of potential. Senior linebacker Tonne Osaigbovo said this season could be special if the team pays close attention to the little things.
“We just have to focus on the bigger picture and try to win every day,” he said. “We want to focus on the details so when it comes to game time, we’ll come out on top.
“Last year, I think we had some complacency. We got a little too comfortable when we were winning like we were, but we have to come out strong and finish strong.”
Said Hamilton: “Coaches try to keep up the high standard, but we slacked down last year and we have to point fingers at ourselves. We’re not trying to have the same season we had last year, but we’re taking care of that. We have to make sure we don’t reach that complacency again.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfree press.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.