Page B2 / Friday, August 29, 2008
Rookies ready to impress
Pam Richter
Reporter
In the 2007 season,
freshman quarterback Scott
Riddle put up record-breaking
numbers. He had Southern
Conference opponents unable
to stop his explosive passing
performances. To expect
a freshman to perform at
the same caliber as Riddle
would be setting unrealistic
expectations. But there are
freshmen on the Phoenix
squad that have stood out
above the rest this preseason.
Freshmen Darrius McQueen
and Andrew Straus are both
expected to highly contribute
to the Elon football program in
the 2008 season.
“I would just say that those
are two guys that have come
in this preseason and made
J their presence felt,” Head
Coach Pete Lembo said. “How
much of an impact they will
I make waits to be seen.”
' McQueen is a 5-foot-7 wide
1 receiver from Tallahassee, Fla.
He helped lead his high school,
J^Iorth Florida Christian, to
back-to-back state runner-up
finishes. There's hope that he
can be another viable target
for Riddle this season. But
adjusting to the college game
isn’t going to be an easy feat.
“It’s a whole different
environment from where
I come from. It’s tough,”
McQueen said. “It’s a lot
tougher mentally, but still
tough physically.”
Lembo echoed McQueen's
statement. “You have to
learn a new system. Even
though most of our freshmen
have been here all summer.
Darrius
McQueen
when preseason starts, that
playbook is like taking a four
credit class,” Lembo said. “It’s
like taking a four credit class
in a foreign language that you
haven’t studied in a while."
Lembo and the Phoenix
hope that McQueen can
overcome the learning curve
quickly in order to contribute
to the already explosive
offense.
While McQueen hopes to
play a pivital role to Elon’s
offense, Straus is looking to
make an impact defensively.
He is a 6-foot-l defensive back
from West Chester, Ohio, who
lead his high school team's
defense. Straus could help an
Elon defense that gave up an
average of 30 points per game
and succumbed to injuries
late in the season last year,
forcing an unpleasant end to a
hopeful season.
“1 hope I get in the position
to help the team, but 1 will
take whatever role they give
me,” Straus said.
Andrew
Straus
Lembo sais he has been
impressed with Straus play
and football knowledge.
“[Straus] has a real savvy
for the game and is bright and
really coachable. He picks up
things quickly,” Lembo said.
Both McQueen and
Straus have been on campus
throughout the summer,
taking classes in both summer
sessions. Each has learned
that college is a whole new
environment, even off the
football field.
“I’m a long way from home,
with no mom or dad to lean
back on. It’s time to become a
man,” McQueen Sciid.
As a true freshman. Riddle
set Elon and SoCon season
records with 346 completions,
508 passing attempts and
3,817 passing yards. Neither
Straus nor McQueen will be
expected to perform up to that
quality, but they are expected
to add depth to Elon’s offense
and defense come the early
stages of the 2008 season.
Elon Quick Stats:
The Phoenix was 7-4 overall, 4-3
SoCon, last season. Elon was tied for
first place but fell out of contention
in the last two games and finished
tied for third in the conference.
All-American Michael Mayers
graduated, leaving a large hole in the
Phoenix roster. He holds the SoCon
career record for receptions.
Elon was picked to finish No. 15
in the Football Championships
Subdivision by the Coaches
Preseason Poll and The Sports
Network Poll. USA Today ranked the
team No. 8 in their Sports Weekly
Preseason Poll.
In the SoCon, the Phoenix was
picked to finish second In the
conference standings, ensuring
them an automatic birth to FCS
postseason.
Mike McCarthy was hired as the new
offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
coach after the resignation of
Warren Ruggiero.
Daronce Daniels has recovered from
season-ending shoulder surgery on
Oct. 20 that forced him to miss the
last leg of the 2007 season. He has
been practicing with the team and
the linebacker for Saturday’s game.
Defensive end Tim Happer, a critical
player injured late in the season
last year, has recovered and was
announced as the starting defensive
end for Saturday’s game against No.
4 University of Richmond.
It’s an election year,
Sign up in Moseley 221 to run in the upcoming
Student Government freshmen elections and
make a real difference at your school.
Senate meetings are every Thursday at 7 pm - ALL are welcome
This Thursday there will be a discussion about Lighthouse.
Student Government Association
ScKvice. Leadership. Excellence.