Bulldogs show good start in inaugural SoCon season
Lauren Sharpe
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Sports
|
In the first year in the SoCon, the Bulldogs exceeded all expectations and showed their competitors that this conference is their stomping ground. The fall and winter sports "were as strong as any team in the league," athletic director Bob Roller said. They were the rookies, but they played like pros.
"We gained the respect of our peers in the conference clearly during the first year," Roller said. "Many coaches and athletic directors have kidded us by saying things like, 'You guys were supposed to let us beat you in the first few years!'"
But that message failed to reach the Bulldogs. Instead, they defied the odds and carved their niche in the SoCon.
The Bulldog football team finished its season with a winning record of 6-5 and made an "immediate impression," Roller said. The team posted a conference record of 4-4 despite being picked to finish last in the league.
Even in the losses, football team members showed they could compete. When three-time defending national champion Appalachian State came to visit, the Bulldogs hung with the Mountaineers down to the final quarter. They dropped the game 24-35, but the contest was much closer than anyone anticipated.
The Bulldogs also lost a close one to long-time rival and now conference competitor Furman. The Paladins had won the previous four match-ups, and the Bulldogs fought to end the streak. They battled back with 20 points in the fourth quarter alone and lost the heartbreaker 28-27.
With the higher competition level, the Bulldogs entertained bigger crowds.
"Our crowds were excellent this year, and the familiarity of our SoCon opponents really helped with the Red Sea student crowd and our crowds from Samford alums," Roller said.
Seibert Stadium saw its third largest crowd of 10,670 in the match-up with Appalachian State.
The Pete Hanna Center also enjoyed a record crowd this year during the Davidson basketball game, and the Bulldogs did not disappoint. In a close contest, the Bulldogs fell short of victory by only three points and held the nation's leading scorer, Stephen Curry, to a 30 percent field goal percentage.
Another highlight for the men's basketball team was the SoCon tournament.
"Our men's basketball team had a strong run in the SoCon tournament, upsetting The Citadel and reaching the semi-finals," Roller said. The men were ousted by Chattanooga.
Be the first to comment on this story