ELON, N.C. – The Elon University Department of Athletics today announced the 2008 Phoenix football schedule – its sixth slate as a member of the Southern Conference and 10th as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The 12-game schedule features nine opponents who fashioned a winning record last season, including four conference champions and three teams that won an FCS playoff game.
Season ticket renewal information for the 2008 campaign will be mailed to 2007 season ticket holders on April 1. Individuals wishing to purchase tickets are encouraged to contact the Elon Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 278-6750. As a reminder to current season ticket holders, renewals are due into the Elon Athletics Ticket Office by June 1. Tickets for individual games will be available Aug. 1.
Season tickets for priority bleacher back seats are sold for $100 each, faculty/staff priority bleacher back seats are $50, reserved bleacher seats are $70 and faculty/staff reserved bleacher seats are $35. Individual tickets for priority bleacher back seats are $20 and reserved bleacher and grass seats are $15.
“The 2008 schedule marks another first for our football program as we take on an all-Division I slate of 12 games,” Elon coach Pete Lembo said. “In addition to the grueling stretch of SoCon games beginning in late September, we've got one of the year’s premier FCS out-of-conference match-ups against the University of Richmond at Rhodes Stadium on August 30th. Taking on the nationally-ranked Spiders in the home opener is an exciting opportunity for our entire University.”
Richmond, which finished the 2007 campaign ranked No. 4 in the FCS Coaches’ poll and No. 5 in The Sports Network’s poll, is just one of four teams on the 2008 Phoenix schedule that finished the 2007 season ranked among the country’s top 20 FCS teams – including three-time defending national champion Appalachian State.
After battling the defending CAA champion Spiders at Rhodes Stadium on Aug. 30, Elon hits the road to face Stony Brook on Sept. 6. The Seawolves, who will compete in their inaugural campaign in the Big South Conference next fall, finished 6-5 last year following a 38-23 road loss to the Phoenix in the season finale for both teams.
“Stony Brook is positioned to become a championship contender in the Big South very quickly,” Lembo said. “They continue to add more and more impact players from around the country to their already solid line-up.”
Upon returning from Stony Brook, Elon will host Presbyterian on Sept. 13 for its Hall of Fame/Letterman’s Day Game. The Phoenix and the Blue Hose have met on the gridiron 42 times over the years. Elon leads the all-time series 22-18-2 following a 28-0 win in 2006. Like Stony Brook, Presbyterian (6-5 in 2007) begins league play in the Big South next fall.
“Presbyterian is one of Elon's historical rivals,” Lembo said. “Now that they are completing the transition to Division I, we hope to see the Blue Hose as somewhat of a regular on our out-of-conference schedule.”
The Phoenix will then visit nationally-ranked Georgia Southern on Sept. 20 to begin the eight-game SoCon schedule. Upon completing its league slate, Elon will conclude the regular season with a Nov. 22 visit to defending Big South champion Liberty. Last season, the Flames rebounded from a 42-14 setback at Elon to win six of their last seven contests.
“Liberty will be a very tough road game to conclude the regular season,” Lembo said. “They went on a tear following our game last year and Williams Stadium is a hostile environment and a tough place to win.”
Powered by victories over then-No. 6 Wofford, then-No. 21 Georgia Southern and eventual Big South Conference champion Liberty, the Phoenix (7-4 overall, 4-3/Tied-3rd SoCon) finished 2007 ranked 23rd nationally in both the FCS Coaches' poll and The Sports Network's poll. Elon placed second in the country in passing offense, ninth in scoring offense, 16th in passing efficiency and 19th in total offense.
2008 Elon Football Schedule
Date – Opponent (2007 Finish)
August 30 – No. 5/4 RICHMOND (11-3, CAA Champion, NCAA Semifinalist)
September 6 – at Stony Brook (6-5)
September 13 – PRESBYTERIAN (HALL OF FAME/LETTERMAN’S DAY) (6-5)
September 20 – at No. 17/18 Georgia Southern* (7-4, Tied-3rd SoCon)
September 27 – SAMFORD* (FAMILY WEEKEND) (4-7)
October 4 – FURMAN* (6-5, Tied-3rd SoCon)
October 11 – at The Citadel* (7-4, Tied-3rd SoCon)
October 18 – at Chattanooga* (2-9, 7th SoCon)
October 25 – No. 6/10 WOFFORD* (9-4, SoCon Co-Champion, NCAA Quarterfinalist)
November 1 – OPEN DATE
November 8 – WESTERN CAROLINA* (HOMECOMING) (1-10, 8th SoCon)
November 15 – at No. 1/1Appalachian State* (13-2, SoCon Co-Champion, NCAA Champion)
November 22 – at Liberty (8-3, Big South Conference Champion)
* denotes Southern Conference game
ALL CAPS denote home game
– ELON –
