Does anyone have any information on the baseball program at Samford University? Looks like they might be in the process of building a competitive program.
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We played Samford at their home this season. Samford is in the midst of jumping from the OVC to the SoCon and it's been a bit of a struggle for them. They finished in the bottom tier of the SoCon and didn't qualify for the conference tourney. They just needed a couple more bats in the lineup to turn the corner and get competitive. They played most everyone close.
That said, its a beautiful campus, great facility, excellent training/workout rooms. I expect that they will improve quickly. The move to the SoCon is a big plus for them as far as baseball is concerned. Only negative I see at all is the travel time for weekend series on the road. It's a bit of a haul to reach any conference opponent (this isn't an un-common situation anywhere -- they are in a much better position travel-wise than many SEC teams or ACC teams -- conference isn't spread out tremendously).
They also play an excellent out of conference schedule, routinely facing both Alabama and Auburn. I expect great things from them and wouldn't hesitate to send a son/daughter to the campus (it's kinda pricy though).
That said, its a beautiful campus, great facility, excellent training/workout rooms. I expect that they will improve quickly. The move to the SoCon is a big plus for them as far as baseball is concerned. Only negative I see at all is the travel time for weekend series on the road. It's a bit of a haul to reach any conference opponent (this isn't an un-common situation anywhere -- they are in a much better position travel-wise than many SEC teams or ACC teams -- conference isn't spread out tremendously).
They also play an excellent out of conference schedule, routinely facing both Alabama and Auburn. I expect great things from them and wouldn't hesitate to send a son/daughter to the campus (it's kinda pricy though).
Thanks HiHardHeat....I appreciate the information.
quote:Only negative I see at all is the travel time for weekend series on the road. It's a bit of a haul to reach any conference opponent (this isn't an un-common situation anywhere -- they are in a much better position travel-wise than many SEC teams or ACC teams -- conference isn't spread out tremendously).
Well I was gonna say that the travel probably wasn't as bad in the SoCon as in the OVC, but looking at it a little bit, I'm not too sure. Now, their travel in the OVC was not easy with most trips being 5-8 hours a way with Jacksonville State being the only close trip.
At least in the SoCon it stays a little bit warmer than in the OVC during the spring
quote:They also play an excellent out of conference schedule, routinely facing both Alabama and Auburn. I expect great things from them and wouldn't hesitate to send a son/daughter to the campus (it's kinda pricy though).
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It actually is not as pricey as you may think. The school gets a HUGE endowment from the Baptist Church every year which keeps the starting price of tuition down considerably compared to other private schools of their size.
We just finished playing 5 games there this weekend and love the facilities. My son will be heading there this fall so I am rather biased.
The move to the SoCon was huge for them and the recruiting should improve because of that alone. Coach Dunn and his staff are doing a great job and the program is on the up swing!
My son's HS prospects team played there last year. The Samford team was working out that day and had a chance to talk to the players. They weren't very happy there and by the time they finished talking, no one on my son's team wanted to play there.
Maybe it was just a bad day for the team. . .but still, they had pretty strong words.
Maybe it was just a bad day for the team. . .but still, they had pretty strong words.
That happened to us at another school. Son went elsewhere.
My son just finished fall practice at Samford. He loves it and is having a great time.
They look to have some every solid pitching coming back and their bats should be pretty good as well. Coach Dunn and his staff have just signed another very good group of players. http://samfordsports.cstv.com/...c-rel/111109aaa.html if you care to read who they did sign.
Samford plays a very good schedule this year. Outside of playing many good teams in the SoCon they play a nice mix of out of conference teams as well. This year they play Marshall, Evansville, Minnisota, Michigan State, Alabama, Auburn, Troy, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, and UAB
The program in my opinion is going in the right direction.
They look to have some every solid pitching coming back and their bats should be pretty good as well. Coach Dunn and his staff have just signed another very good group of players. http://samfordsports.cstv.com/...c-rel/111109aaa.html if you care to read who they did sign.
Samford plays a very good schedule this year. Outside of playing many good teams in the SoCon they play a nice mix of out of conference teams as well. This year they play Marshall, Evansville, Minnisota, Michigan State, Alabama, Auburn, Troy, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, and UAB
The program in my opinion is going in the right direction.
