ELON, N.C. – With temperatures in the 70s and sunny skies above, the Elon University football team held its first of 15 spring practices under the guidance of new Phoenix head coach Curt Cignetti on Wednesday afternoon. The Phoenix worked out in shorts and helmets on the Hunt and Tucker practice fields for about two hours.

Following day one, here were Cignetti's thoughts as the spring practice gets underway:

• "It was eagerly anticipated by everyone. We're starting a little late, but we wanted to get everybody on the same page. It's a new program for the kids, but they've bought in, they're working hard and they're getting better. There are high standards and expectations. They're trying to meet the bar."

• "The goals are to create the culture and the mindset. There are high standards and expectations in how we do everything in our program. It's a process. The process has been ongoing. We've been working them hard and they've responded. We've come a long way, but we have a long way to go."

• "These guys are eager and they want to be successful."

Elon will be back on the practice fields on Friday, March 31 for its second session of the spring.