Holiday Traditions

Written by Elon Phoenix on 11:46 AM

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION?

With the holiday season upon us, we ask some of Elon's student-athletes about their favorite holiday traditions!

You can pick out your favorite, but this was DEFINITELY our staff's choice for best tradition:

Brad Franks, men's soccer
"The voting, and presenting of 'the helmet.' My family is a unique one, and we have a ceremony every Christmas Eve where the family votes on the relative who took the best orders from their wife/fiance/girlfriend. They are then presented with 'the helmet' in a formal ceremony with marching and saluting, passed on from the previous year's winner. The helmet is theirs for the entire year and they are expect to wear it at every family gathering."  (And yes, Brad sent us a picture of the event!)

Emily Regan, volleyball
"My favorite holiday tradition is having a Secret Santa exchange with my siblings - there are six of us, so it actually turns out fairly well. My youngest sister, however, always tries to figure out who everyone has. One year she found out that I had her as my Secret Santa, so I gave her a jar of coal before I gave her my real gift. She was so upset because she was still pretty young."

Mike Melillo, baseball
"Making my house look like Chevy Chase's with Christmas lights!"

Paige Kensrue, women's tennis
"My dad reading the Bible's Christmas story before we open presents."

Kelsey Johnson, women's golf
"My family is starting a new Christmas tradition this year and having a Skpe video chat with extended family while we open presents! This way we can enjoy each other's company even though we can't get together!"

Chase Helpingstine, men's tennis
"Watchin 'A Christmas Story' on Christmas day."

Jordan  Jones, football
"Playing some music from The Nutcracker. It puts me in the Christmas mood."

Clint Collins, men's soccer
"Being woken up by my younger siblings on Christmas morning!"

Briana Berne, women's tennis
"My favorite holiday tradition is persuading my mom (who isn't into doing a lot for the holidays like I am) why we need decorations and a grand holiday mean in addition to focusing on Christ, the main reason for the season. This persuasion session only lasts about 5-10 minutes and she always comes around. Then, the best part of this tradition is when I catch her REALLY getting into the holiday spirit - she'll do thing  like really getting involved with the menu planning and singing Christmas songs with me. It's sweet."

Erica Keto, women's basketball
"Getting up early Christmas  morning, opening presents with my family while listening to Christmas music, and then enjoying the delicious breakfast my parents make while my sisters and I watch the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade!"

Jimmy Reyes, baseball
"My favorite holiday tradition is cooking a whole pig with the entire family around on Christmas Eve."

Tara McFadden, women's golf
"Walking through our town park on Christmas Eve to look at all the light displays."

Neal Pritchard, baseball
"Dinner on Christmas night with the family. It's the one time all year long that the whole family is there and I love seeing and being around my family."

Adam Shreiner, football
"Finding a Christmas tree is fun. Every year my family does it together and every year is a new debacle."

We hope you are having a great holiday season and getting ready for your favorite holiday tradition!!

Elon Basketball Billboard

Written by Elon Phoenix on 4:23 PM

Hey Phoenix Fans!

Keep an eye out for the awesome Elon basketball billboard on interstate 40!! It is between exits 141 and 140 when traveling to the west. Erica did an excellent job creating it and it is so exciting to have a presence on I-40!

Both Elon squads return to action on Sunday in Winston-Salem. The men battle Wake Forest at 2 p.m. while the women take on Winston-Salem State at the same time.

Also, don't forget, season tickets are still on sale! Order online! 

Q&A with TJ Douglas

Written by Elon Phoenix on 4:27 PM

Erica is on the road with the men's basketball team this weekend. The team left Wednesday night to travel to Samford (in Birmingham, Alabama) for a Thursday game and is now moving on to Chattanooga to take on the Mocs on Saturday evening. Erica caught up with senior TJ Douglas who sheds some light on traveling, basketball, coaches and life after graduation!

ER: The team has had kind of a whirlwind start to this season, traveling to several different regions of the country, visiting Tennessee, New York, Alabama and even having the chance to play in historic Cameron Indoor Stadium. As a student-athlete, what is it like to have to keep up with that kind of a schedule?

TD: It is definitely a challenge, but our professors are really willing to work with us on making up work and that type of thing. Traveling and playing in Cameron has definitely been a great experience and we look forward to the rest of the season.

ER: Had you ever been to Cameron before?

TD: No, it was pretty amazing. Growing up I was actually a Carolina fan, but it was a great experience to say you have been to Cameron and have played there. One of these days, I’ll be able to tell my grandkids that I played there.

ER: How different is this year’s schedule — Preseason NIT, Wake Forest, NC State — from some of the other schedules you have played during your career?

TD: This year is definitely different. Last year we went into Christmas break having only played eight or nine games and this year we will have played about 12 games. Playing more games really gives us a chance to work out any of our problems before we get into the heart of conference play. Going into Christmas break we will have more experience than we did last year.

ER: What is it like to play against some of these great programs?

TD: It is cool to play in these games. One of these days when I have kids of my own I can tell them that I played against schools like Wake Forest, Yale, NC State, Notre Dame. People look at Yale as a great Ivy League school with strong academics so it is pretty cool to say you have played them. We have played some big times schools during my time here and it has been a good experience.

ER: What does playing against some of these top programs teach you about where Elon wants to be on the basketball map?

TD: It really shows you the potential that the program can have. Elon being a small school, there is a still a lot of room to grow. Wake Forest started small just like Elon, and they have worked their way up athletically and academically. It just shows you how much Elon has the potential to grow.

ER: You have a completely new coaching staff this year. What would you say is the biggest positive difference this staff has made on the program?

TD: I would say the biggest positive difference is just the attitude and positive atmosphere we have experienced from this coaching staff. We have had some rough games this year, but we have picked up and everyone has been really positive. The coaches get on us for what we have done wrong, but they also encourage us to forget about that game and move on to the next one and work hard to win that game. I think that is the biggest positive change.

ER: What is the biggest challenge of having a new coaching staff?

TD: I think the biggest obstacle to overcome with a new coaching staff is just learning a new system. For the seniors, we have been here for three years doing something totally different than what we are seeing this year. But, we are willing to work through it and learn the system and hopefully that will lead us to some wins.

ER: When did you first meet Coach Matheny as a team?

TD: Our first meeting was at the press conference when he accepted the job. We had actually just returned from spring break — I heard he accepted the job when I was sitting in the airport on my return trip. We were excited to get back and meet him and see what he had to say. It was really exciting that day at the press conference because we got to hear a little bit about what his plans were and then we got to meet with him after that.

ER: What do you see as the potential of this program over the next five years?

TD: I think this program has a great opportunity to go the distance. Maybe one day Elon will be in the Sweet 16. I think there is a great opportunity to do that once Coach Matheny gets his system rolling. I just see great things for the program.

ER: Even after graduation, how do you think you can impact the program?

TD: I will definitely be coming back to watch games. Hopefully when I am out on my own, making my own money I can send some money back this way and help support the program. I will definitely support the team for as long as I can.

ER: Switching gears a bit, you are only six months or so from graduation. Have you even thought about it at all? What are your plans? Are you excited, scared?

TD: It is kind of scary, I’m not going to lie! It is exciting, too. I thought I’d never get to this point because it seemed so far away when I started my freshman year. There were so many courses I had to take and you begin to wonder how you can get all that in. I think I’m pretty set on what I want to do. I’m going to get my master’s in exercise science with an emphasis on cardiac rehab. And then maybe go on to PA (Physician Assistant) school or medical school someday. So, I’ll probably be in school for a while! I’ll probably do my master’s at Marshall University back at home.

ER: What will you miss most about Elon?

TD: I will probably miss the team atmosphere the most. I’ve made a lot of great friends within the team and also with many other students. I’ve met a lot of great people over these four years.

ER: Last question. What would you tell a person who has never seen an Elon basketball game to encourage them to come watch you guys?

TD: I would tell them not to look at our record. Just come out and see what the atmosphere is like and our energy. Come and see that we do need people behind us supporting us to get to where we want to be. No matter the score, just keep encouraging us and stick by us.

Check out the Phoenix men at home on December 21 in a 7 p.m. game at Alumni Gym!

BLOG NAME: From the Ashes

Written by Elon Phoenix on 5:18 PM

Hey Phoenix Fans! We have finally come to decision about an official name for the blog!! This is a big day! So excited.

We heard this name from a couple of places, including from Gretchen Kasting Foster '83 via a comment on the blog! Thanks so much for the suggestion, Gretchen! We thought it was GREAT! So, FROM THE ASHES is the name we are going to be using from now on!

Thanks for checking out the Elon Phoenix blog!

Stayed tuned for more great stuff!

GO PHOENIX.