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the PAGE 16 // WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009 ports ^duluh Focus follows PhoBnIx through spring practices in 2009 Monday’s practice marks first of 15 for spring season Pam Richter Sports Editor The 2008 Elon football season marked several firsts for the program. The 8-4 record the team posted was its best in nine years. It was the first time that an Elon team defeated three top-25 PCS opponents in a season. And the team finished ranked 17th in the PCS polls. While the team failed to make a postseason appearance, head coach Pete Lembo said there were some good things the team is looking to build off of from the year before. “It felt like we just got off the field in November last week," Lembo said. “It’s good to feel like you were when you left off.” Monday's practice was the first of the 15 scheduled for the team in the spring session. All these practices lead up to the spring game at 3 p.m. on April 25. “The game is the last major evaluation before preseason camp begins,” Lembo said. “It’s the last chance to recreate game-like conditions prior to the middle of August.” The team has many goals this season that tie into the team's overall motto of focus. “We start off the season playing well, and at the end we can't focus. We have to focus this year,” junior wide receiver Terrell Hudgins said. Hudgins is the all-time Elon and SoCon leader in receptions in a season (117 last year), receptions in a career (272), receiving yards in a career (3,617) and touchdown receptions in a career (36). Elon finished the 2008 season with a 26-3 loss to Liberty and finished just short of a postseason appearance. “I think (the motto is) fitting because it’s about living in the moment and staying focused on task at hand, not looking beyond the moment and just trying to reach potential at that given time,” Lembo said. He said the goal of spring practices is to go from good to great. He expects the team to get 10 to 15 percent better in every area of the game. It was also the first time that sophomore quarterback Scott Riddle took the field since he announced that he would play baseball for the Phoenix this season. He said it felt good to get back out on the field again and estimates in a few more days he’ll be back “up to par.” “It was fun getting out here competing with the defense," Riddle said. “Everyone talks a big game during the offseason and it was fun competing again.” In his first two seasons with Elon, Riddle already has broken numerous records. He is the all-time Elon leader in passes completed in a career (609), passes attempted in a career (935), passing yards in a career (6,688) and touchdown passes in a career (55). Riddle made a personal goal for himself during the spring practices - do not throw an interception. He said the team has goals as well. “Another goal is just getting everyone on the same page to achieve our team goal, which is the Southern Conference championship,” Riddle said. ABOVE Freshman receiver Darrius McQueen looks to run past an Elon defender during spring practice. Last season, McQueen missed the majority of the season because of an injury. LEFT Freshman defensive Rashaun Byn) looks to hit blocking bags during spring practice. Th* team has spring gatn« on April 25' BRYCE LITTLE | Staff Photographer Rainy weather causes troubles for the Phoenix PHOTO COURTESY OF ELON ATHLETJCS Junior Phil Bartholomew looks on before his shot. Bartholomew shot a total of 159 at last weekend's Furman Intercollegiate tournament for the Phoenix. Sam Calvert '" Assistant Sports Editor The Elon men’s golf team encountered storms both on the course and off, this weekend as it competed in the Furman Intercollegiate Tournament on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The tournament was cut from its original 56 holes to 36 holes after the second round on Saturday was canceled because of rain. Head coach Bill Morningstar gave no excuses for his team s play. “The weather is a factor with the way a lot of people play, but everybody had to play in the weather and everyone had to play the same golf course, Morningstar said. The Phoenix (321, 311 - 632) tied with Presbyterian College for 17 overall, behind conference foes Furman (596), Wofford College (614) Sna r23^'‘'H‘n'’'.^ ®22). Vsteri Caro ina (623) and Davidson College (626) East Carolina (595) came in first. Junior Jayson Judy (tied-73 80, 79 - 159) and Phil Bartholomew (tied-73 82, 77 - 159) led Elon at 160), Scott Hockemeyer (tied-84 84 7r ^ Michael Fekete (tied-101 78 85 - 163) ~ “We were supposed to be taking It to the next level, but it looks like we’ve been going tfe way this spring," he said. “But hopefully "8® turned around by the conference tournament. The team has one more tournament beioK Southern Conference tournament April 19-21- The Phoenix will play in the Palisades j Classic, co-hosted by UNC Charlotte and College, to take place on April 13 and 14 in Char N.C. . The players are trying to work on management by playing more on the course i of just the practice facilities, Morningstar , “We need to get it so that they can get' , ^ hole instead of worrying about how they are it," Morningstar said. The team is also working on its confidenc “If they start playing better when we are ® ^ qualifying and start getting a little bit of con I think we’ll be OK,” Morningstar said. The team has three weeks to get rea ^ ^(,,e conference tournament and is looking to ex than it has done so far this season. ^ fjamj'**' Accordfng to Morningstar, the mens needs to put all the pieces together. “1 think when you get in a slump a playing well, it just carries over,” he jonK are hoping to get something going and confidence to get this thing turned aroun
Elon University Student Newspaper
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April 1, 2009, edition 1
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