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PHOENIX FOOTBALL FINDS ITS LEADER IN COACH SWEPSON After a tireless search with plenty of research and prospective interviews, Elon Director of Athletics Dave Blank was finally ready to answer the question many Phoenix fans had been wondering: “Who will be the 20th head football coach at Elon?” The man chosen to lead is former NC State running backs coach Jason Swepson, a young emerging talent studying under Tom O’Brien from 1999-2010 both at NC State and Boston College. On Monday, January 10th, Dave Blank introduced Coach Swepson at a live press conference held on campus at Alumni Gym. “We were looking for someone that’s demonstrated he’s had a positive influence and will be a positive role model for our student-athletes here at Elon University,” said Blank. “And I’m really proud to say that we landed on Jason Swepson as our new
Inside this issue... Interview with Scott Riddle — pg. 5 Thank You from Clint Irwin — pg. 6 View from the Booth — pg. 4
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football coach. From our first conversation reason why I’m so excited is because we are to our conversation last night, Jason Swepalready champions in the classroom and we son showed me and convinced me that he will continue that success. We are champiwas the right person for this job, but most ons in the community and we will continue importantly, that that success. And he really wants to it’s my job, with “We will be champions in now be Elon’s football the help of the staff the classroom. coach.” that we will assemble Coach Swepson We will be champions in and the hard work of spoke to players the student-athletes, the community. and supporters in to become champiWe will be champions on ons on the field. I’m the gym as well, discussing the vilooking forward to the field.” sion he has for Elon working hard and rollfootball. – Head Football Coach Jason Swepson ing up the sleeves and “We will be we’re going to have champions in the fun.” classroom. We will be champions in the Coach Swepson comes to Elon having community. We will be champions on the helped NC State to its second straight bowl field. Like I said last night to the team, the appearance, including a 23-7 win over West
Click to watch Coach Swepson’s press conference story continued on page 2
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS The culmination of many hours of hard work and preparation finally came together for one moment in time that will forever be etched in the minds of the Phoenix faithful. As senior guard Ali Ford drove the length of the court with 6.5 seconds left in a critical game against UNCG, the tied score would soon change to a priceless victory for the women’s basketball team. “When I turned and saw there was less than five seconds on the scoreboard I knew I had to get something off and I couldn’t see anything but the bottom corner of the
square on the backboard,” Ford said. “I just kept saying to myself ‘get the ball, get the ball’ after we couldn’t get Aiesha [Harper] open and I was able to get something off and it ended up going in.” The Phoenix is having one of its best seasons in its Division I era, currently sitting at 16-9 overall and with a 10-6 record in the Southern Conference (as of 2/13). Led by senior guard Ali Ford’s 17 points per game, as well as sophomore forward Kelsey Evans near double-double season averages of 12.0 points and 8.8 rebounds,
the women’s basketball team is loaded with talent and leadership to achieve its goals. The emergence of another second-year forward in Lei Lei Hairston has also helped give the Phoenix a powerful low-post presence — the sophomore is averaging 8.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. “We have shown a lot of maturity and toughness as a team, especially our sophomores as they get more playing time.” Head Coach Karen Barefoot said. “They have done story continued on page 7
SWEPSON NEWEST ELON COACH Virginia University in this year’s Champs Sports Bowl. This season, NC State ranked third in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring offense, averaging 31.8 points per game, and was fourth in total offense, averaging 338.5 yards per outing. During his tenure with Coach O’Brien at Boston College, he was also the Eagles’ running backs coach, leading BC with the top-ranked offense in 2005 and the secondranked group in 2006. In each of Swepson’s first five years at BC, a running back rushed for more than 1,000 yards. While there, Swepson coached the program’s all-time leading rusher in Derrick Knight as well as
cover story continued from page 1 the nation’s second-leading rusher in 2001 — consensus first-team All-America selection William Green who carried for 1,559 yards. The Eagles made eight bowl appearances during Swepson’s tenure in Boston. Swepson also had brief internships in the NFL with three different programs including the San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins. The 1992 Boston College graduate played both running back and wide receiver for the Eagles. Swepson was a two-time winner of the Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Week in 1991. Swepson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development.
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THE PHOENIX CLUB Renew Your Membership: Your contributions to the Phoenix Club Annual Fund are essential to the success of all Elon athletics, helping provide scholarship support to our student-athletes. Gifts for the 2010-2011 fiscal year must be made by May 31st. To make a gift online, please visit elonphoenixclub.com or call us at (336) 278-6800. Elon Men’s Basketball at Davidson Bus Trip: Join the Phoenix Club as it heads to Davidson to cheer the Phoenix to victory against the Wildcats in Belk Arena on Thursday, February 24, 2011. The bus will pull away from Elon at 3:30 p.m. and fans will enjoy a pre-game social at the Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson prior to tip-off at 7 p.m. Return the form on elonphoenixclub.com by February 18 to reserve your seat! Night of the Phoenix – Reserve Your Table: Get your table for this year’s Night of the Phoenix on February 18th! Join us for dinner, a silent auction and entertainment with a return performance by Roy Firestone. Please call Jennifer Tucci at (336) 278-6503 for more details and to reserve your seat today!
Important Dates February 18th Night of the Phoenix February 19th Basketball Doubleheader Women vs. Samford, 2:00 Men vs. UNCG, 8:00 February 19th Baseball vs. NC State, 2:00 February 21st Women’s Basketball vs. Chattanooga 7:00 PM, Alumni Gym March 4th – 7th Southern Conference Basketball Tournament Chattanooga, Tenn.
“When I get that diploma, it is going to mean a lot to me. It’s more than just the paper that you get in your hand. It’s the future that you can’t really see, but you know this degree is going to help you get.”
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Junior soccer player Jahan Threeths
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FIRE OF THE PHOENIX Just as the strength of the Phoenix is forged in fire, Elon Athletics donors give our student-athletes the resolve to succeed on the field and in the classroom.
Wes and Cathy Elingburg What part of Elon University do you love the most? Why? Our response to this question could be answered in pages, not a paragraph. One specific item is how Elon continues to deliver on the themes of the Elon Commitment. The academic experience at Elon is very special. This is acknowledged by many publications, with high marks given for the study abroad programs, service learning, etc. Being designated Phi Beta Kappa was very special also!
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What character trait do you think Elon student-athletes exhibit that few others across the country portray? At Elon, it’s all about the student before the athlete. Elon places great emphasis on the academic achievements of the student, as it should. Our athletes are held to very high standards and their academic accomplishments speak for themselves in the Southern Conference. The combination of these accomplishments in addition to success on the playing fields puts us in a very select group of institutions on a national basis. What does it mean to be an Elon supporter? What made you decide to give back to Elon athletics through the Phoenix Club? As fans, two of the biggest things we can do to support our athletes is to cheer for them in the stands and provide financial support. One of the ways to do this is by contributing to the Phoenix Club. A lot is expected of
our coaches and athletes in order to have winning programs. Our coaches are special people and we can help them the most by providing the funds they need to deliver winning programs. It is critical to the success of our athletic programs to contribute to the Phoenix Club. In what way has Elon athletics grown on a national scale? What can that be attributed to? Elon athletics has grown on a national scale due to the success of our programs. The exposure gained by making the NCAA tournaments is priceless. Consistently finishing near the top of the conference also brings national exposure. Nothing provides more exposure in sports than winning teams. Elon has become much more competitive, in part due to the ability to fund athletic scholarships and providing state-of-the-art facilities. Many accolades to our Director of Athletics, Dave Blank, for his leadership, guidance, and vision. Dave has assembled a great staff and they are doing a wonderful job.
What would you like to see Elon Athletics improve upon from a fan’s perspective? Our students have been great in their support of our athletes. It means so much to the atmosphere at a game to have our students fill up the stands. Anything that can be done to encourage more students to attend the games and provide support would be great. What goal would you set for all Elon athletics programs going into the future? This would be directly related to one of the themes of the Elon Commitment that reads, “Establishing a national tournament tradition of athletic success along with the highest academic standards for Phoenix athletics.” The key objectives of this theme are to consistently win conference championships, fully fund scholarships and set conference standards in academics and gender equity. Let’s do our part in helping to accomplish these goals. Go Phoenix!
VIEW FROM THE BOOTH Eight seconds. If you have grown up in places like Converse, Texas or Broken Arrow, Okla., eight seconds can mean a successful ride at a rodeo. But, if you are a fan of Phoenix basketball, then eight seconds takes you to New York City on the first Sunday of the New Year and Elon’s game-winner from Chris Long against Columbia. It was rather fitting that the senior from Charleston, W.Va. would have the chance to hit the first game-winner of the Matt Men’s Basketball Play-by-Play Matheny era as he has served as the catalyst Announcer Taylor Durham ‘96 for the Phoenix in year two. During our postgame chat, Chris talked about how much it meant to not only come back against the Lions, but also win at Navy prior to the Christmas holiday. He mentioned how people can start the see the program turning the corner. Three hundred sixty-five days removed from a six-point loss at Annapolis, one would certainly have to agree with that statement. The Phoenix has already matched its the win total from all of last season, using veteran leadership and an influx of new talent. Nowhere is that more evident than when you look at the stat sheet and see that the three leading scorers on this team are a senior Chris Long, a junior Drew Spradlin and a freshman Jack Isenbarger. Not only have Long and Spradlin provided a scoring punch for the Phoenix, but they have also steadily climbed up the school’s career charts. The two are moving up the career threepoint list, and Long has staked his claim to second place on the all-time assist list. The senior point guard is also among Elon’s top players in steals over his four years. But the great thing about the two of them is how they have deflected individual honors for the chance to set the foundation for this program under Matt Matheny. After falling by seven in Cullowhee in midJanuary, Drew Spradlin said it best on the radio, “I did not even know about the individual mark. I just wanted to get the win because I know that we are close as a team to putting it all together.” Coach Matheny often talks about this team using each day to get better. After a loss in Boone to Appalachian State, Coach Matheny mentioned that he walked away from that game with the knowledge that his team was close to taking the next step in the evolution of this program. By the way, congratulations to Phoenix women’s basketball head coach Karen Barefoot on her 200th career win at Wofford. The Phoenix is among the top of the Southern Conference this year with a 10-6 league mark. Also, congratulations to two of the great people in Elon Athletics as former coaches Jerry Tolley and Tom Parham were selected to the 2011 class for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. The two will be honored at the annual gala in Raleigh in the middle of May. It is a welldeserved honor for two of the men who helped build the foundation of Elon Athletics and had great success during their time on campus.
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ON THE CLOCK WITH...SENIOR QB SCOTT RIDDLE What have you gained from playing football at Elon? I have gained a ton. I’ve gained experience on the football field and I gained a lot of relationships with my teammates, my coaches, fans and support staff. I gained a great experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. You’ve been awarded various honors and titles during your career. Which was the most meaningful? I can’t even tell you. Possibly the completion record because it had a lot to do with my receivers catching balls. My teammates around me making plays and doing their jobs helped me be successful. That is more of a team record. Any passing statistic is more of a team record than individual record in my opinion. Any individual record that I’ve had is significant to me because I can share it with my team and the players that have been around me the last four years. What will you miss most about Elon? I’ll miss my friends. I’m going to stay in touch with them, but every day going to class seeing your friends, going to weights seeing your friends, going to practice seeing all your buddies — I will miss that. It’s just a great experience that I have had. Everything about it is very special to me. What preparations are you currently going through to get ready for your career at the professional level? Currently, I am trying to do some professional camps. I have been working out every day, running and getting my body into better shape. I need to be presentable to scouts and teams that are interested in me. Having a more fit and toned body is more appealing to them. I throw everyday. I’ve recently been given the opportunity to work out in Indianapolis. I am going to do that starting Monday [January 17]. It will be a long journey. Hopefully all the hard work will pay off. Why did you decide to not participate in another season of baseball at Elon? I was just going to play it by ear. It worked out that I got a chance at making a career out of football. Whatever happens, happens. I’m not saying there is anything definite about me going to the next level, but it’s what I have wanted to do. Playing baseball would slow down that process and make it harder on me to do what I have wanted to do my whole life — play in the NFL. Was professional football a goal going into your final season? Yes, that was my ultimate goal. Some people will have good years and things happen. I was fortunate enough to have a pretty good year and get some looks. I went into my final year on the football field with an open mind. What message would you give to your former teammates on starting a season with a new coach? Trust anything he’s got to offer. He’s been put in that situation for a reason. The guys that hired him knew what they were doing. They hired a good staff before. Take it with a grain of salt and have fun. Just ball out!
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DID YOU KNOW? Scott Riddle completed his storied Elon career as the all-time leading passer in the history of both the program and the Southern Conference, throwing for 13,264 yards and 106 touchdowns over four seasons.
IRWIN LEAVES MARK ON ELON...AND ELON RETURNS THE FAVOR One of the most storied goalkeepers in Elon history, senior Clint Irwin left the Phoenix men’s soccer program as the school’s all-time single-season and career record holder in shutouts and with a rank of third all-time in goals allowed average (0.89). He helped Elon to its first-ever Southern Conference Championship and was only the 11th player in league history to be an allconference performer for four consecutive seasons. He collected numerous athletic and academic accolades during his time in the maroon and gold. Suffice it to say, Irwin left his mark on Elon University. This year, Irwin was chosen as one of the 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, a national award that recognizes notable achievements in four areas of excellence — community, classroom, character and competition. There was a fan vote that helped decide the winner and Elon supporters helped Irwin finish second in that portion of the contest. The Phoenix goalie ended up finishing on the first team which was among the top five performers. The other schools represented — 2011 National Champion Akron, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Stanford. The Elon voice was heard loud and clear despite being a somewhat small fish in a very big pond. Following the season, Irwin sent a note to Elon Athletics and asked that is be sent to as many people as possible.
The women’s track & field season is underway! The squad is looking to build on its best-ever finish from last year’s Southern Conference meet.
Dear Elon Family: First, let me express my deepest thanks to everyone who voted, organized votes and raised awareness during my entry in the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award fan vote. I am incredibly appreciative of the outpouring of support, well wishes and votes from students, faculty, staff and alumni. Without the support from many of you, I would never have been able to place so highly in the fan-voting portion of the contest. While I was not able to take home the first place prize, the staggering amount of votes propelled me to “First Team” status. The mere fact that someone from a school with a smaller student body like Elon could hold down first and second place in a national fan voting contest is a testament to the community here. As I pursue professional opportunities in soccer, I will always remember my time here at Elon. This truly is a special place and I feel blessed to have been able to elevate Elon University to the national stage with the help of many in this community. The support provided by professors, alumni, students, coaches and fellow student-athletes continues to astound me. I am deeply thankful for all of the opportunities provided by this wonderful institution. This contest merely illustrated what it is about Elon that makes it such an extraordinary place. Again, I would like to voice my sincerest thanks to everyone who made this an amazing experience and showed me what being part of this community really means. Sincerely, Clint Irwin
Elon is giving fans the opportunity to purchase tickets to the Southern Conference Basketball Tournaments which will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Chattanooga. The kids will be brought to the arena to watch the Phoenix! Tickets can be purchased at a cost of $10 for one ticket, $15 for two tickets and $20 for four tickets. Call the Elon Ticket Office at 336.278.6750. FOR EACH TICKET PURCHASED, PHOENIX FANS WILL EARN 1 ENTRY INTO A DRAWING FOR A PAIR OF SIDELINE PASSES FOR THE 2011 ELON VS. APPALACHIAN STATE FOOTBALL GAME. 6
QUICK TRIP around PHOENIX ATHLETICS Elon junior Drew Spradlin was named to the Capital One Academic All-District III Men’s Basketball First Team. The native of Wheelersburg, Ohio, is the first Phoenix men’s basketball player to earn first-team honors since Chris Chalko in 2007. Spradlin will also be added to the national ballot for the Capital One Academic All-America Team. The guard was also honored as SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week in January.
WOMEN’S HOOPS MAKING STRIDES
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a tremendous job of working hard and stepping up to help us get some very big wins.” Coach Barefoot and her staff have worked countless hours inside and outside the gym, scouting their opponents to get to this point in Elon history. After marking her 200th career victory with Elon’s 64-67 win over Wofford, the women’s basketball team took a huge step forward both mentally and physically with the victory at UNCG, a team also in the hunt for the conference regular-season title. The Phoenix looks primed to make a run down the stretch heading into the conference tournament in early March. “I absolutely love the dynamics of this group and you can tell they are buying into the concept of One Heartbeat,” said Coach
Barefoot. “We have always emphasized building a championship mentality both on and off the court here at Elon and that means practicing like it’s the tournament championship everyday.” As March quickly approaches, be sure to come out and support the Phoenix as the women’s basketball team continues its road to a championship. No matter the outcome at the end of the season, it is clear that Coach Barefoot and the women’s basketball program are soaring to new heights and plan to stay there once they arrive. “We still want to get better,” Coach Barefoot commented. “We are not pleased yet with what we have done. We still have a lot of work to do to get better down the stretch.”
The Elon men’s tennis team moved into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national rankings earlier this month following a win over nationally-ranked South Carolina to begin the 2011 season. Elon is currently number 67 in the rankings, making its first appearance since early last season. Elon is the only Southern Conference program in the rankings and is looking to make its fifth straight appearance in the league title match.
Kelsey Evans, a sophomore from Raleigh, was selected as the Southern Conference women’s basketball player of the week for games played January 25-31. Evans helped the Phoenix to a 2-1 record for the week while averaging 15 points and 11.3 rebounds. For the year, Evans is dumping in 12.0 ppg and 8.8 rpg.
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After senior guard Chris Long nailed a buzzer-beater to lift the Phoenix to a win at Columbia, the entire men’s basketball team toured Manhattan by bus, stopping in Times Square for a team photo.