Preseason Media Day Sets the Stage
Samford University’s football program staged its annual preseason Media Day on August 17, gathering coaches, players and local reporters at Pete Hanna Stadium and the adjacent Sullivan‑Cooney Family Field House.
Head coach John Grass addressed the assembled media, outlining the Bulldogs’ preparation timeline and emphasizing the importance of building chemistry early in the 2026 campaign.
A dozen Bulldogs — including Domonique Thomas, Jackson Bussey, Hank Weber, John Scott III, Kaleb May, Kaleb Pearley, Noah Watts and Spencer Conn — took turns fielding questions, offering glimpses of their individual roles and the team’s tactical plans.
The day’s highlight was a Punt, Pass, Kick contest that pitted the prospects against one another in three rounds of each discipline, with the top two finishers advancing to a final showdown.
Fox 6 reporter Jonathan Hoppe emerged as the overall winner, capping his performance with a precise punt that landed inside the 20‑yard line and a 45‑yard field goal that sealed his lead.
Season Opener Looms
The Bulldogs open the 2026 season on August 29 with a neutral‑site matchup against North Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama, kicking off at 6:00 p.m. local time.
While the opponent hails from the Football Championship Subdivision, Samford’s coaching staff views the contest as a litmus test for the new‑look offense and a chance to fine‑tune special‑teams execution before conference play begins.