ELON, N.C. -- Day three of Elon's preseason football camp again saw temperatures in the mid 90s as the Phoenix put on the shoulder pads for the first time. The squad continued its preparations for the 2011 season opener at Vanderbilt on Sept. 3 in Nashville by working on all phases of its game.
After Tuesday's workouts head coach
Jason Swepson spoke about practicing in the heat, how the coaching staff has meshed together, how the freshmen have acclimated and Elon's quarterback battle.
Swepson on the heat:
"The guys have been hydrating, eating their bananas and drinking extra water. Some of the young kids aren't used to the routine yet so we still have to educate them a little more."
Swepson on how the freshmen are adjusting:
"Right now they're hanging on. We've got some young guys that we're going to count on. We might have to limit their role in the playbook. But they're trying to learn. It's a lot of terminology. This is college football, not high school."
Swepson on how the coaches have come together:
"On the defensive side of the ball with Coach Pinkham, it's a foreign language to me because I wasn't in his system. So I've got to do a good job learning his system and incorporate some of the things I learned from Mike Archer and Frank Spaziani over the years. Overall, we have staff meetings and we're all on the same page."
Swepson's overall assessment of the first day in pads:
"Guys came out willing to bang around a little bit. We need to work on a few things. The want is there and the will to succeed is there. We just have to keep coaching them on the technique."
Swepson on the quarterback battle:
"They're still learning. Obviously Thomas (Wilson) has the upper hand because he's had the playbook the longest. (Mike) Quinn had a great day yesterday and Tyler (Smith) is still learning. I think the first scrimmage will tell a lot. I'm going to give it a few more days and watch film before I start making some decisions."
2011 Elon Phoenix Practice Schedule
Wed., Aug 10 – 3:40 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Thurs., Aug. 11 – 3:40 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Fri., Aug. 12 – 8:25 a.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Fri., Aug. 12 – 6:10 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Sat., Aug. 13 – 3:40 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Sun., Aug. 14 – 6:00 p.m. – Rhodes Stadium (Scrimmage)
Tues., Aug. 16 – 8:25 a.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Tues., Aug. 16 – 6:10 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Wed., Aug. 17 – 3:40 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Thurs., Aug. 18 – 8:25 a.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Thurs., Aug. 18 – 6:10 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Fri., Aug. 19 – 3:40 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Sat., Aug. 20 – 3:00 p.m. – Rhodes Stadium (Scrimmage)
Mon., Aug. 22 – 8:25 a.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Mon., Aug. 22 – 6:10 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Tues., Aug. 23 – 3:40 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Wed., Aug. 24 – 3:40 p.m. – Hunt/Tucker Fields
Thurs., Aug. 25 – 6:00 p.m. – Rhodes Stadium (Scrimmage)
* Subject to change
-- ELON --
