The Samford Bulldogs will be running on a newly replaced artificial surface for the 2024 season. The team’s social media account posted a short video showing the transition between the two fields.
Samford plays at Pete Hanna Stadium, which opened in 1958 as Seibert Stadium. Samford commemorated the memory of former alumnus Pete Hanna in October 2023 by naming the stadium after him. Samford played on a grass surface until 2005 when the school opted for an LSR Blade Synthetic turf and replaced the field with an artificial surface again in 2014.
Samford is at least the ninth FCS team to replace its football field this offseason. Albany, Bucknell, Mercer, Mississippi Valley State, North Carolina Central, South Dakota, Tennessee State, and VMI also announced the installation of a new playing surface this off-season. VMI is the only one that is opting for a grass playing surface.
Samford will have to wait a few weeks into the season before testing the surface in a game as they open with West Georgia and Florida on the road. The first home game is Saturday, September 14 against Alabama State. The Bulldogs also face VMI (10/5), Mercer (10/19), Wofford (11/2), Tennessee Tech (11/9), and Western Carolina (11/23) at home this season.
Photo Credit to Samford University
