Post by elon_phan on Aug 17, 2007 21:31:52 GMT -5
Elon transfers summer training into preseason football practice
By Adam Smith / Times-News
August 17, 2007 3:00 AM
ELON — Two years ago, a tight end preparing for his final season raved about the Elon University football team’s attendance figures during summer workouts.
He said then that as many as 40 Phoenix players showed up to lift weights, run conditioning exercises and compete in passing drills.
That number swelled to 70 this summer, a firm indicator of the shifting standards coach Pete Lembo has prodded in place at Elon.
“The culture around here wasn’t for people to stay in the summer,” senior tailback T.J. Clegg said. “And it shouldn’t have been like that. For a winning program, you’ve got to have people stay in the summer.”
Elon is advancing through its second week of preseason practice, but considering the foundation installed during summer training, more than three-fourths of the team has been together for two months.
“It’s invaluable,” senior cornerback Irvin Raglin said. “We had so many people come this summer, it helps the learning curve because everybody already knows something when it’s time to practice. It’s not all new to them.”
Summertime workouts for college football players are categorized as voluntary and only strength coaches and trainers are permitted to be present. Upperclassmen usually assume lead roles during the sessions.
“Some of the guys, now they know us and they’re not afraid to come and ask us questions,” Raglin said. “When I was coming up, I was kind of afraid because I didn’t know anyone. It took me a while and it kind of slowed me down.”
Twenty-two of Elon’s true freshmen have been on campus since June 15 to take summer school classes and participate in the football team’s summer program.
Clegg, formerly of Southern Alamance High School, said that type of turnout provides a precious baseline of knowledge and familiarity for the first-year players.
“Now we know kind of how they play,” senior offensive lineman Charlie Porterfield said about the true freshmen. “And they know us so we’re not like scary older guys. They know we’re just players, too.”
Porterfield said Elon’s recent summer workouts easily reached an all-time attendance high covering his years with the Phoenix.
But Raglin said Elon’s summer gathering of 70 players probably checks in lower than those at traditional Southern Conference powers such as Appalachian State and Georgia Southern.
“When we get to the point that every single upperclassman is here, plus the signees, then we know we’re really cooking with oil,” Lembo said. “We came close to that this year. We did better than last year.
“So, am I happy? Yes. But can it still get better than it is? Absolutely.”
By Adam Smith / Times-News
August 17, 2007 3:00 AM
ELON — Two years ago, a tight end preparing for his final season raved about the Elon University football team’s attendance figures during summer workouts.
He said then that as many as 40 Phoenix players showed up to lift weights, run conditioning exercises and compete in passing drills.
That number swelled to 70 this summer, a firm indicator of the shifting standards coach Pete Lembo has prodded in place at Elon.
“The culture around here wasn’t for people to stay in the summer,” senior tailback T.J. Clegg said. “And it shouldn’t have been like that. For a winning program, you’ve got to have people stay in the summer.”
Elon is advancing through its second week of preseason practice, but considering the foundation installed during summer training, more than three-fourths of the team has been together for two months.
“It’s invaluable,” senior cornerback Irvin Raglin said. “We had so many people come this summer, it helps the learning curve because everybody already knows something when it’s time to practice. It’s not all new to them.”
Summertime workouts for college football players are categorized as voluntary and only strength coaches and trainers are permitted to be present. Upperclassmen usually assume lead roles during the sessions.
“Some of the guys, now they know us and they’re not afraid to come and ask us questions,” Raglin said. “When I was coming up, I was kind of afraid because I didn’t know anyone. It took me a while and it kind of slowed me down.”
Twenty-two of Elon’s true freshmen have been on campus since June 15 to take summer school classes and participate in the football team’s summer program.
Clegg, formerly of Southern Alamance High School, said that type of turnout provides a precious baseline of knowledge and familiarity for the first-year players.
“Now we know kind of how they play,” senior offensive lineman Charlie Porterfield said about the true freshmen. “And they know us so we’re not like scary older guys. They know we’re just players, too.”
Porterfield said Elon’s recent summer workouts easily reached an all-time attendance high covering his years with the Phoenix.
But Raglin said Elon’s summer gathering of 70 players probably checks in lower than those at traditional Southern Conference powers such as Appalachian State and Georgia Southern.
“When we get to the point that every single upperclassman is here, plus the signees, then we know we’re really cooking with oil,” Lembo said. “We came close to that this year. We did better than last year.
“So, am I happy? Yes. But can it still get better than it is? Absolutely.”
