Football 4/9/2008 10:27:00 PM

Phoenix Spring Football Practice Update #6

ELON, N.C. – Dressed in full pads for the third time in as many outings, Elon descended upon the Hunt and Tucker Fields Wednesday afternoon for the sixth session of the 2008 Phoenix spring football practice schedule.

The session featured two pass skeleton periods, one-on-one routes with the wide receivers pitted against the defensive backs and two team periods – third-and-long situations (anywhere from third-and-eight to third-and-11) during the first team period and a “move the ball” scrimmage during the second one. The special teams spent their time concentrating on punting, PAT, field goals, kickoff and kickoff return technique.

“We installed our empty sets on offense, which always makes for one of my favorite days, getting into empty and chucking it around,” Elon coach Pete Lembo said. “Obviously, that’s an important part of our offense and it’s also important for our defense to see that set in the spring with more and more teams that we play going to more of a spread offense.”

During the third-and-long period, quarterback Scott Riddle and wide receiver Bo Williamson converted in some long-yardage situations. During the “move the ball” scrimmage, the defense stepped up, stopping the first team offense in several critical third-down situations. Defensive back Walker White led the attack.

In his first semester of college, freshman wide receiver Jordan Robinson – who graduated high school after just three-and-a-half years – turned in a strong performance of catching the football and blocking on the perimeter. Meanwhile, tailback A.J. Harris continues to make plays this spring, catching a short pass and turning it into a long touchdown run on the final drive of the period.

“It was a good, solid day overall,” Lembo said. “We’re a little banged up in the secondary right now. We only have eight defensive backs out here this spring and two of them are out with injuries. Those other six guys are really getting a lot of work the last few days.”

The players will again don full pads when they return to the Hunt and Tucker Fields for the spring’s seventh session at 4:15 p.m. Friday. All practices (see the schedule below) are open to the public. All times and dates are subject to change due to weather conditions. Please contact the Elon Sports Information Office at (336) 278-6711 to check on possible schedule changes.

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.

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, 10th in scoring offense, 16th in passing efficiency and 19th in total offense.

Remaining 2008 Phoenix Spring Football Practice Schedule
4:15 p.m. Friday, April 11 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
10 a.m. Saturday, April 12 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Friday, April 18 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
10 a.m. Saturday, April 19 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 23 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
3 p.m. Saturday, April 26 – SPRING GAME – Rhodes Stadium

– ELON –

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