5. Quick Facts Founded: in 1841 as Howard College, Marion, Alabama Location: Birmingham, Alabama Student Teacher Ratio: 11 to 1 Enrollment: approximately 4,600 Averages: class size 25–30 ACT score 26 SAT score 1130 high school GPA 3.50
6. Samford is Alabama’s only private national doctoral/research university. It ranked in the second of four tiers in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the nation’s best universities (104th of 262).
7. The Samford Significance • Samford is one of the top four institutions recognized nationally for effective teacher education preparation by the U.S. Department of Education. • Samford’s first-year and civic education programs are recognized for excellence in The Templeton Guide: Colleges that Encourage Character. • Three of Alabama’s recent Carnegie Professors of the Year teach at Samford. • Samford is home to the Alabama Governor’s School, a summer enrichment program for outstanding high school seniors. • Cumberland School of Law is one of only two accredited law schools in the state and the only law school affiliated with a private university in Alabama. • McWhorter School of Pharmacy is one of only two accredited pharmacy schools in the state and the only pharmacy school affiliated with a private university in Alabama. • Samford is the home of Beeson Divinity School, the only graduate theological school in Alabama. • Betsy Rogers, a four-time Samford graduate, was honored as the 2003 National Teacher of the Year by President George W. Bush and the U.S. Department of Education.
8. Freshman Profile Freshmen: 730 65 percent female, 35 percent male 35 percent from in state, 65 percent from out of state 14 National Merit Finalists 9 National Merit Commended Students 161 athletic team captains 37 publication editors-in-chief 78 in the top 10 percent of their class
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10. Beeson Woods . . . where you will live as a sophomore, junior and senior • Apartment-style dormitories • Kitchen: full-size refrigerator with freezer, sink, full-size cupboards, counter space and dinner tables • Two large bedrooms: beds, closets, dresser and study area • Two large bathrooms • Four separate telephone lines • Four separate Internet connections • Free cable TV • Washer and dryer in basement
36. “ When you have a disciplined team like you do in Samford, they are not going to give up. All of a sudden, the execution of their offense leads to a pitch-out and a three.” --Coach Bob McKillop Davidson College
37. “ You have to admire how efficient and precise and excellent Samford was in their offense. If it wasn’t happening to you, you’d say ‘Wow, what a great display of offensive basketball.’” --Coach Mike Dement UNC-Greensboro
38. “ They play as a team of defenders. There’s no greater compliment that I can pay a team… You couldn’t just beat one of them; you have to beat their team.” --Coach Bob McKillop Davidson College
41. “ They ’ re so hard to guard. They ’ re constantly back- dooring, constantly moving. You swivel your head to find out where your man is, and the next thing you know, somebody is wide open, shooting. ” — Doc Martin, forward, University of Alabama, Birmingham Post-Herald
42. “ The Bulldogs ran their intricate offense to near perfection Thursday night at Coleman Coliseum in their first game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in 30 years. They used precision passing to back-door the Tide silly, and then shut the door on any Alabama comeback attempt with some deft 3-point shooting. ” — Cary Estes, Birmingham Post-Herald
43. “ All five starters can shoot the three. They ’ ve got guys who can come off the bench and shoot the three. The offensive system they have is one of the best systems in the country. The thing that separates them from Princeton is they play good defense. ” — Don Maestri, head coach, Troy University, Montgomery Advertiser
44. “ They ’ ve experienced winning and they expect to win. They ’ re not intimidated by any environment and that makes them a hard team to play. They don ’ t have one or two guys that can shoot it; they all shoot the 3. ” — Steve McClain, head coach, University of Wyoming, Star-Tribune
45. “ They play old-fashioned basketball that ’ s fun to watch. If they can stick close to Syracuse, look out. ” — Jon Sunvold, CBS analyst, Birmingham Post-Herald
46. 20 “ Every time St. John ’ s used its superior speed and athletic ability to make a run and cut into the lead, Samford calmly responded with a back-breaking 3-pointer or a lay-up following a couple of calm, accurate passes. ” — Bob Herzog, New York Newsday
47. “ We went all-out to keep Jimmy because he is such an excellent asset for our distinctive Samford community. Coach Tillette has gained great respect at Samford and for Samford. He has given our program a tremendous boost. He knows basketball, but his is not a one-track mind. He understands so well the more cerebral players we have to recruit, the more artful game we like to play, and he is a first-rate thinker as a colleague. ” — Thomas Corts, president emeritus, Samford University, Birmingham News
