Early look at UAB’s next opponent: the Samford Bulldogs

UAB and Samford are separated by about 3 miles of U.S. 31 in Birmingham. Their football programs have not played each other since 1992.

That changes Saturday when the Bulldogs visit Protective Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff. It will be the first meeting between the two programs in 34 years — and the landscape could not be more different than the last time they met.

Samford is 1-3 under first-year head coach John Grass after picking up the program's 500th all-time win last week, a 45-7 victory over VMI. UAB is 2-2 after beating Navy last Friday. The Bulldogs are an FCS program with an active pass offense, a kicker with a big leg and a coaching staff loaded with names Birmingham football fans will recognize.

UAB (2-2) hosts Samford on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Protective Stadium. Kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT.

THE ONLY MEETING

The last time UAB and Samford met on the football field, it was Oct. 31, 1992. UAB was in its second year of NCAA football, competing in Division III without scholarships. Samford, coached by Terry Bowden, was one of the top I-AA programs in the country. The result was predictable — Samford 49, UAB 3 in front of 6,156 fans.

UAB held it to 7-3 after the first quarter before Samford scored 28 second-quarter points to blow it open. UAB coach Jim Hilyer summed it up afterward: "We fought as hard as we could. There's no complaining about the effort. We were outclassed, but we knew that."

That was 34 years ago. UAB has since climbed from Division III to FBS. Samford competes in the FCS Southern Conference.

THE COACH

John Grass has deep roots in this part of the state. He served as offensive coordinator for Bill Clark at Jacksonville State and succeeded Clark as head coach of the Gamecocks when Clark left to rebuild UAB in 2014. Grass built a strong program at Jax State before spending four years on staff at Clemson. He took the Samford job before this season.

Grass has faced UAB once as a head coach. His Jax State team lost 31-0 to Clark and the Blazers in the 2021 season opener in Montgomery.

His postgame comments after the VMI win made clear he views this week's game as a measuring-stick opportunity.

"You treat that like another playoff game," Grass said. "This will be like a semifinal game. They're a very talented bunch. They flipped that roster. I think they took almost 70 new guys on that roster. Had a big win last night against Navy. So, we'll have our work cut out for us."

THE STAFF YOU'LL RECOGNIZE

Samford's coaching staff reads like a who's who of Alabama and Clemson football connections. Grass's four years at Clemson created a pipeline that runs through this staff.

Drew Swinney coaches wide receivers. He is the son of Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.

Jake Venables runs strength and conditioning. He is the son of Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, who spent years as Clemson's defensive coordinator. Jake held a strength and conditioning role at UAB for three seasons after his playing career at Clemson. His brother Tyler Venables, a former Clemson captain, coaches the nickel position.

Paul Tyson coaches quarterbacks. The former Alabama, Arizona State and Clemson quarterback is the great-grandson of legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Mickey Conn, the defensive coordinator, is a former Alabama player who spent years as an assistant at both Alabama and Clemson.

Andrew Zow, the tight ends coach and chief of offense, is a former Alabama quarterback.

Cally Chizik coaches safeties. He is the son of former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik.

Chuck Dunn, the linebacker coach, coached at UAB in 2014.

Xavier Robinson, the director of player personnel, served as UAB's football chief of staff and assistant coach.

Brandon Thomas coaches the offensive line after playing six years in the NFL.

And former UAB linebacker Brandon Franklin is now on the Samford roster as a grad transfer.

THE SULLIVAN CONNECTION

The late Pat Sullivan, the 1971 Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn, coached at both schools. Sullivan served as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at UAB from 1999 to 2006, then became head coach at Samford from 2007 to 2014. He is one of the most significant figures to have coached on both sidelines of Saturday's game. Sullivan died on Dec. 1, 2019.

THE MORTENSEN CONNECTION

UAB head coach Alex Mortensen played at Samford during the 2006-07 seasons after transferring from Arkansas. He completed 34-of-67 passes for 309 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions before returning to Arkansas for his final year of eligibility in 2008. Saturday will be his first game coaching against one of his former programs.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

Samford's 1-3 record does not tell the full story. The Bulldogs lost to North Alabama 22-10 at a neutral site and fell to Southern Illinois 22-18 at home before a 45-19 loss at Tennessee Tech. Then they demolished VMI 45-7 to pick up the 500th win in program history.

The quarterback: Gabarri Johnson is a dual-threat junior who has thrown for 868 yards on the season (58.7%, 5 TD, 2 INT) and leads the team in rushing attempts with 35 — though sack yardage has cut his net rushing to 29 yards. Against VMI, he completed 22-of-26 for 222 yards with two touchdown passes and a rushing score. Grass called it a career day.

The passing game: Samford is a pass-first offense averaging 248.8 yards per game through the air compared to 80.5 on the ground. Marquise Henderson is the big-play threat — 14 catches, 281 yards (20.1 per catch), two touchdowns and a long of 86 yards in just three games. Preston Bird is the volume target with 20 catches for 192 yards. Cayden Aukerman has 15 catches for 130 yards and two scores.

The kicker: Ty Ippolito has a big leg. He is 7-of-11 on field goals including 2-for-2 from 50 yards or beyond with a long of 58. He leads the team in scoring with 29 points.

The defense: Samford has 10 sacks through four games. Jalen Nelson leads the team with 29 tackles. LaShon Young has 24 tackles and returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown against VMI. The run defense has been the soft spot — opponents have averaged 169 yards and 4.1 per carry on the ground.

Turnover margin: Samford has lost only one fumble all season and protects the ball well. But Grass noted his team failed to force a single turnover in its first three games. The three interceptions against VMI changed that. Grass told his team that if the turnover margin had been plus-3 instead of minus-3 in those first three weeks, they might have been 2-1 entering the VMI game.

WHAT GRASS SAID

On his team's resilience:

"Overall just proud of these guys and the way they've handled the start. We had tough, tough schedule early and we knew that, you know, we had not played as well as we can play even though we had chances in the fourth quarter to win some of those games and these — they never blinked."

On the running game emerging:

"The three fronts we played early, we knew was going to be a test and so that who we played had something to do with that, too. And inexperienced up front offensive line. We took offensive line and kind of converted them and trying to make them run block and, you know, they're doing a great job pass blocking and run blocking today. I thought protection was really well. And I think we're just getting better there. But it's nice to see us be able to run the football."

On UAB:

"We just got to look at how we play and we don't look at scoreboard. We don't look at opponents, you know. We don't care who we play. It's all about if we execute. We execute. I like our chances. And so, we just got to go out and play good football. And those kind of games kind of grow you, too. So, I think that's going to help us going in the last part of the SoCon play and hopefully getting in the playoffs and advancing."