ELON, N.C. ? Entering its third campaign under 2007 Southern Conference Coach of the Year Pete Lembo, the 2008 Elon University football team will take to the practice fields for the first time on Sunday, August 3 in a 2:45 p.m. practice session on the Hunt and Tucker Fields. The Phoenix finished 2007 ranked 23rd nationally in both the FCS Coaches' poll and The Sports Network's poll.
"We are excited to officially get the 2008 season underway when our players report here on August 2nd,” Lembo said. “Our voluntary summer workouts were very successful under the direction of strength and conditioning coach Aaron Walker.”
Fans can keep up with the team's progress throughout the preseason practice schedule by clicking on the 2008 Preseason Practice Updates link on the www.elonphoenix.com football page.
“The majority of our team spent the summer here on campus and the players are anxious to put the pads back on,” Lembo said. “I am anxious to see our players compete over the next few weeks.”
Picked second in the nine-team Southern Conference preseason polls by both the league’s coaches and media last week, Elon has also been ranked among the country’s top 25 FCS teams in the preseason national polls announced this summer by The Sporting News (No. 12), Any Given Saturday (No. 15), SME Network Broadcasters (No. 15), Lindy’s (No. 17) and Phil Steele (No. 17).
The Phoenix finished 17th nationally in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision according to College Sporting News’ 2007 Gridiron Power Index.
2008 Elon Phoenix Preseason Practice Schedule
1.) 2:45 p.m. Sunday, August 3 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
2.) 2:15 p.m. Monday, August 4 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
3.) 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, August 5 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4.) 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 6 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
5.) 2:15 p.m. Thursday, August 7 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
6.) 2:15 p.m. Friday, August 8 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
7.) 8:00 a.m. Saturday, August 9 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
8.) 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 9 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
9.) 2:15 p.m. Sunday, August 10 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
10.) 8:00 a.m. Monday, August 11 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
11.) 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 11 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
12.) 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 13 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
13.) 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 13 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
14.) 2:15 p.m. Thursday, August 14 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
15.) 8:00 a.m. Friday, August 15 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
16.) 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 15 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
17.) 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 16 ? Rhodes Stadium
18.) 2:15 p.m. Sunday, August 17 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
19.) 8:00 a.m. Monday, August 18 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
20.) 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 18 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
21.) 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, August 20 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
22.) 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 21 ? Rhodes Stadium
23.) 2:15 p.m. Friday, August 22 ? Hunt Field/Tucker Field
24.) 7:00 p.m. Saturday, August 23 ? Rhodes Stadium