Thursday, September 14, 2006 

Phoenix try to get back on track against the Presbyterian Blue Hose

Brad McLaughlin /Reporter

The Elon football team will face Presbyterian College at Rhodes Stadium this Saturday at 2 p.m. in its third game of the year. Presbyterian is a very talented Division II team that will join Division I-AA as part of the Big South Conference starting in the 2007-08 academic year. Last year, Presbyterian finished 10-2 and was champion of the South Atlantic Conference.

Ryan Howard /Photographer

Running back T.J. Clegg, junior, prepares to take on a Towson defender. The Phoenix look to rebound against Presbyterian after last week’s loss.

Men’s soccer cracks national top 25

Justin Hite / Sports Editor

After a 6-1-0 start, the men’s soccer team has entered the national top 25, in a tie with Memphis at No. 25.

The two teams received the same number of votes to enter the top 25. The Phoenix are one of only two teams in the top 25 with six wins, the other being No. 1 ranked SMU. The team was able to enter the top 25 after a recent victory over No. 23 UAB. The only blemish on the team’s record was a 1-0 loss to Old Dominion University. ODU is ranked 20th nationally.

Kate Ferris/Photo Editor

Matt Bengston (above) and the Phoenix have squeezed into the top 25 after posting an impressive 6-1-0 record after defeating.

THE ROUND TABLE

This Week:

Chris Brand

Mario, not so super, Williams

Back in April, the entire football world expected the Houston Texans to pick either USC tailback Reggie Bush or Texas quarterback Vince Young with the first pick in the NFL draft. So naturally, everyone was stunned when the Texans chose defensive end Mario Williams. 

Bennett continues a life of baseball

Nathan Rode / Editor in Chief

For Paul Bennett, the 2006 Major League Baseball draft came and went with one small surprise. Two of his teammates weren’t drafted.

He spent those two days in the first week of June scanning the database in hopes of seeing his friends getting picked up. When no Elon players were taken, the 2006 graduate and former shortstop turned his thoughts to summer and the road ahead.

About a week later, while vacationing at the beach with some teammates, an unfamiliar number showed up on Bennett’s phone.

“I didn’t recognize the number,” Bennett said. “But I picked it up anyway and Billy Best was on the other end.”

David Cross / Photographer

Paul Bennett was a member of the Phoenix for four years, playing in six different positions. Bennett now plays for the Danville Braves, the Atlanta Braves rookie league affiliate. 

Elon responds to Brand’s declaration

Jeff Rickel / Reporter

Elon’s students athletes are on pace with the NCAA goal to improve student athletes’ Graduation Success Rates (GSR).

At last Wednesday’s symposium, held on Elon’s campus, NCAA president Dr. Myles Brand announced his goal of an 80 percent average GSR for student athletes, a four percent increase from the current student athlete GSR.

Elon student athletes currently have a GSR of 75 percent, and Elon’s Athletic Director, Dave Blank, thinks that Elon’s student athletes will continue to succeed in the classroom.

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