Article on Swepson on keeping his job

[ElonPhan]

I hope he is wrong.


www.thetimesnews.com/sports/elon-sports/elon-coach-says-he-expects-to-keep-job-1.239896

IRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jason Swepson expects to remain in place as Elon’s football coach.

He responded “absolutely” when asked after Saturday’s season finale if he anticipates staying on board for next year, what would be his fourth season in charge of the program.

“I think we’ve shown that we can compete,” he said, continuing his answer. “I think we all knew coming into this season it was going to be difficult, and it proved to be difficult.

“But I think we’ve got a lot of young talent and they didn’t quit on us. If the team quit on me and my staff, then I’d be concerned. But I don’t think anyone has seen any quit in this football team.”

Swepson, the longtime assistant coach to Tom O’Brien at Boston College and North Carolina State, has two years left on the five-year contract he signed when Elon hired him in January 2011.

His job status increasingly has become a conversation topic among those who hold connections to the campus and people in the community in general.

Elon suffered six straight losses — three of them by painfully close margins — to end this season 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the Southern Conference, the program’s worst record since 2003.

Combined with last season’s 3-8 mark, which also included a finish of 1-7 in the league, Elon has experienced its lowliest final records in succession under the same coach since 1965-66, when the then-Elon College Fighting Christians went 3-17.

“A tough season to swallow,” Swepson said, referring to 2013. “But sometimes you learn through adversity and we’ve had a whole season of adversity. I can turn the page on this season, which is going to be hard to do, because the future looks bright. Got a lot of young kids coming back, a lot of tough kids.

“We lost some 15-rounders. But I think the program is still standing. I think the program is still going to go in the right direction, and I’m excited about the future. We need another year in the weight room. I’ve been saying that for a while now, and I’m looking forward to seeing the progress.”

Athletics director Dave Blank was in Los Angeles during the weekend as part of the traveling contingent with the Elon men’s soccer team, which played at UCLA late Sunday night in the NCAA Tournament.

Thus, Blank wasn’t in Alabama on Saturday, when Samford’s fourth-down touchdown pass with 7.6 seconds left dealt Elon a heartbreaking 33-32 defeat and also served to encapsulate a frustrating season marred by near misses.

The Phoenix lost at Wofford 31-27, at Western Carolina 27-24 in overtime and at Samford in dramatic finishes that were decided by the final snaps from scrimmage.

Samford’s narrow comeback victory against Elon clinched a share of the Southern Conference title and essentially secured the Bulldogs a spot in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. That 24-team field was unveiled Sunday.

Elon changes leagues next year and joins the Colonial Athletic Association. In recent weeks, linebacker Jonathan Spain, when speaking about the path ahead for the Phoenix, has expressed support for Swepson moving forward. Spain, a junior, led the team in tackles this season.

Elon junior quarterback Mike Quinn backed Swepson following Saturday’s game.

“I think he’s doing the right things for our program,” Quinn said. “I think the whole staff really wants to win and is doing the right things to win.”

[whoanellie]

He has to run on his record, right?
I think there are more issues to fix now. He has 3 recruiting classes under his belt, but
I need to look at players and participation. Deserves another seperate thread. Injury reports
and players leaving the program and personnel position changes
One thing no one stands out individually to really build around.
I guess Quinn as a Senior QB should help but his track record in the second half does not show Me very much.
After a rocky beginning our Kicker got better footing and punting should be solid.
Lot's of holes to fill so do you plan to rebuild for the next 3 years w/ this talent?
Wish We could Hire a coach named Phil, so headline would write "Phil in with Blank"

[burlington]

In response to Whoanellie

1. Definitely more issues than wins/losses- I don't think the players back Swepson. A sr. captain told Blank in locker room that the whole staff should be fired after one game. no accountability in classroom either. That is not good
2. No player is publicly going to say they don't support swep and staff.
3. I have watched every game this year, and we have the worst offense conceptually that I have ever seen. I don't think Quinn is at fault for 2nd half point drought. How many screen plays/inside zone, swing passes can you run in a game. Pincince is overmatched in socon and will be overmatched in CAA
4. positives for next year- we have a QB who will only get better and had a pretty good year over 2,500 yds 17 tds and 9 ints. Kierre Brown is back and we have some talent on both sides of the ball..
5. I think for all parties involved a new staff will re-energize this team and program.

[Deleted]

One way or the other we should know within a week. I Don't know if they'll pull the trigger, (if there is a trigger to pull), during Thanksgiving week.

[euphoenix99]

Just wanted to share a quote from Swepson in a July 2011 BTN article.

“I’m taking over a good program,” Swepson said. “This team is used to winning. They know how to win, so my job is to not mess it up.”

Go Phoenix!

[Deleted]

It's a bit baffling that we would give a position coach from a so-so program a 5 year head coaching contract. I would think that we knew this was an experiment from the start.

[phoenixfc]

I don't have a clue what Blank and Lambert will do on this - including Lambert because I've kind of gotten the impression that he keeps his thumb on the process - Blank may be reluctant to admit he made a bad hire, but hopefully he will see that there is nothing right about our current program, other than having some talented guys who need a better coach. Swepson may be okay as a position coach but he's not head coach material, at least not in my opinion. I have not really had a problem with him not moving to the area - don't konw his circumstances but sometimes family logistics have to be considered. I do have a problem with public statements which throw players under the bus, and I have a problem with post-game speeches which place blame on everybody but himself. Frankly, Thanksgiving or not, I think the decision and announcement to take the program in a new direction should be made this week. And I have a big problem with the spiraling down of our program and inability to play 4 quarters, although I admit we did a better job of that at Samford.

[phoenixfc]

Just saw this on The Football Scoop website - don't know if they have a reliable source:





Elon (FCS - NC): Sources tell us head coach Jason Swepson will not be retained.

[elonfirefighter]

I hope there source is right