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page 15
THE Pendulum
ELON, NORTH CAROLINA | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009 | VOLUME 35, EDITION 10
www.elon.edu/pendulum
Davidson’s Matheny hired as new
men’s liead baslcetball coacli
ANGIE LOVELACE | Staff Photographer
athletic director Dave Blank (right) introduces new men's basketball coach, Matt Matheny on Sunday
a press conference. Matheny was a former assistant coach at Davidson for 16 seasons.
Pam Richter
Sports Editor
As Matt Matheny took the podium
to be introduced as the new men’s
basketball coach, an eruption of
applause filled the Atkins room in
the Koury Athletic center Sunday
afternoon.
He shook Elon athletic director Dave
Blank’s hand then stood and received
a standing ovation from the packed
room.
Elon fans were excited and so was
Matheny, who was wearing the maroon
and gold in his tie and an Elon Phoenix
pin.
“It took two minutes for me to
get excited about this,” Matheny said.
“There’s something special going on
here.”
On Sunday, Elon University
announced the hiring of Matheny as
the new head men's basketball coach.
He became the 17th head coach in
program history. The announcement
came 20 days after former head coach
Ernie Nestor was released.
During his Elon career, Nestor
compiled a 67-117 record at Elon over
six seasons.
“We were looking for someone
who is committed to the importance
of the co-existence of athletic and
academic excellence, who has been
in that environment and would
understand what we need to do here at
Elon University to maintain integrity
in both areas,” Elon athletic director,
Dave Blank, said.
Matheny, 39, was named the
associate head coach of the Davidson
University Wildcats In 2003. This past
season marked his 16th season on the
Davidson coaching staff under Bob
McKillop.
“When 1 stepped foot on campus, it
felt like home,” Matheny said.
During his time at Davidson,
Matheny experienced much success.
The Wildcats won nine out of the
last 13 Southern Conference division
championships.
“I’m excited about this. Matt is the
right person for the job," Blank said.
With spring break this past week
at the university, the players were not
able to meet the head coach before his
hiring was officially announced.
“1 met with the players from last
season and they were really confident
that I know them and would make the
right choice,” Blank said.
This was Blank’s biggest hire in
three years at the university. Blank
previously hired a new women’s
basketball coach, men and women’s
cross country coach, women’s soccer
coach and women’s track coach.
Last year. Blank hired women’s
basketball coach Karen Barefoot to
replace former coach Brenda Paul.
The team has its first meeting Sunday
night. This will be the first chance for
players to meet with Matheny.
"I’m really excited,” sophomore
guard Chris Long said. “1 think he’ll be
a great fit.”
In addition to success on the court,
Matheny said he is committed to
helping the athletes succeed off the
See COACH I PAGE 13
Half of North Carolinians oppose constitutional amendment
banning same-sex marriage, according to recent Elon Poll
Corby
^Editor
^onh Carolinians may not
'“PPort full marriage rights
I lesbians, but the
Vin. suggests a
s itutional ban on same-sex
Jisge Would not be passed.
Half of the latest Elon poll
^Wents opposed statewide
I utional amendment to
ame-sex marriage, while
supported civil
tullm P®’'*"6rships but not
marriage rights.
S*narR ‘,f" lawmakers filed
'larriao " “Defense of
fttbill month. If
** "'‘*1 place the
SSn"' " referendum
'■N cJsion®
easioiiin voters’hands,
stress supporting the bill
® at marriage
'"Ptiallau,* North Carolina
^^mustbe protected.
W also defines
between
woman.
sponsoring this
Mieve firmly
marriage
one man
marriage laws are at risk of
being redefined by activist
courts to include same-sex
couples,” Sen. Jim Forrester
told WRAL TV. “At any moment,
a lawsuit challenging our
marriage laws could be filed
by a same-sex couple from our
state that obtained a marriage
license in a state where same-
sex marriage is legal."
Freshman Kevin Newman is
gay and believes people such
as Forrester are scared that
allowing same-sex marriage
will make homosexuality seem
more acceptable and cause a
stream of people to step out of
formerly locked closets.
“People don’t want their kids
to grow up to be gay,” he said.
“They fear it could lead to a gay
society."
A rally of more than 1,000
people gathered on March 4 to
demand state lawmakers
give them a chance to vote
on a constitutional amendment
concerning same-sex marriage
after the bill was reintroduced
Among the groups represented
were Return America ol
North Carolinians views on same-sex marriage
Oppotm a eonstiliJtional ban on samo-sa* mamage
Support a ooo»«u»iooal ban on same-sex mamage
Oppose any legal recognilioo fc>r same-se* couples
Support ciW unions Of partnerehipe, but not Ml mamage righto
Support ftji marriage rights
50%
INFORWATION COURTESY OF ELON POLL
TK . ♦ Fion Poll Which took place March 15-19, reports half of North Carolina residents oppose a constitutional ban on same-sex
marriage Many advocates for same-sex marriage have beer, protesting in response.
—'-'V- vvc iiiiiny wcic “—
North Carolina’s Davidson County
NC4Marriage.
“North Carolina is the
only state in the southern
United States that has not
protected marriage in its State
Constitution, which makes
us a prime target for same-
sex ‘marriage’ activists,” said
Tami Fitzgerald, NC4Marriage
Executive Director in a February
press release.
Groups in opposition to the
bill state that it would not deny
domestic partnerships and civil
unions, as well as marriage.
Many gay rights activists argue
that the institution of marriage
is constantly evolving and
same-sex unions are a natural
progression.
“Banning gay
marriage gets us
nowhere,” Newman said. “People
should just learn to adapt.”
The poll, which surveyed
620 North Carolina residents
with a margin of plus or minus
four percentage points, was
conducted March 15-19. Fifty
percent of respondents said
they oppose a constitutional
See POLL I PAGE 4