Photo by: Frank Fortune - Georgia Southern Athletics
End of an Era for Eagles at Elon in Final SoCon Game Today
11/14/2013 3:18:00 PM | Football
Kickoff set for 3 p.m. at Rhodes Stadium
GAMEDAY at ELON
Saturday, November 16, 2013, 3 p.m. ET
Rhodes Stadium (Grass) // Elon, N.C.
LAST SoCON GAME SATURDAY
The Eagles close out their 2013 Southern Conference schedule and an era at Elon Saturday with kickoff at 3 p.m. Georgia Southern will become a member of the Sun Belt Conference in July 2014.
THE FIRST ONE
Georgia Southern won its first SoCon game (vs. The Citadel) en route to the 1993 league title, the first of 10, most won by a single team in the 20-year time period.
GOING TO CAROLINA
The Eagles are slated to face two North Carolina teams in 2014, with the season opener on August 30th at N.C. State and Appalachian State as part of their Sun Belt Conference schedule.
HASHTAG TRUE BLUE
Eagle fans are encouraged to use the following #hashtags on social media for Saturday's game at Elon:
#TRUEBLUE
#HAILSOUTHERN
#JOINTHEJOURNEY
#EAGLENATION
#GATA
WATCH AND LISTEN
An audio broadcast of Saturday's game is available as part of GS All-Access on GSEagles.com with packages varying from a day to a full year. A single-day pass is $5.95 and content can be accessed on all Windows, OSX, iOS and Android devices. Eagle Football fans can catch all the action, as well as pre-game and post-game shows on the Georgia Southern Radio Network on stations listed here. Subscription-based video streaming of the game at Rhodes Stadium can be accessed at elonphoenix.com.
THE COACHES
A 2012 finalist and 2013 candidate for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year honors, Jeff Monken is in his fourth year as head coach of the Georgia Southern Football program with a 36-16 record for a 69.2 winning percentage. Monken is one of only two coaches in Eagle Football history, the other his mentor Paul Johnson, to record 10 or more wins in each of the first three years of his tenure. He owns the highest overall winning percentage of the Southern Conference coaches as well as the best mark for league games. With 24 years of coaching experience, including five years as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern during one of its most successful periods, Monken is prepared to navigate the present and the future for this Eagle Football program.
Jason Swepson, now in his third year as head coach of Elon with an overall mark of 10-22 (31.0), came to the Phoenix program after four year as the running backs coach under Tom O'Brien at N.C. State. Swepson spent eight years with O'Brien at his alma mater, Boston College (1999-2006), in the same coaching position. His coaching experience includes stops at Northeastern, Holy Cross, Rhode Island, Boston University and Bates College.
ON THE SIDELINES
Coach Monken and Coach Swepson faced each other as assistant coaches when Navy and Boston College met in 2002 and 2006 with BC coming away with wins in the 2002 regular-season game and in the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl. Monken (Georgia Tech) and Swepson (N.C. State) were both at Atlantic Coast Conference schools for 2008 and 2009, but their teams did not play in those seasons.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE PHOENIX
Freshman placekicker Alex Hanks kicked the winning field goal with 3:40 left in the game as the Eagles downed the Phoenix 26-23 at Paulson Stadium last year. Hanks' field goal was one of five made field goals (3 for Elon, 2 for Georgia Southern) in the contest that saw four lead changes.
Elon took a 13-6 lead at the half, but the Eagles came back with 17 points in the third quarter with one of Hanks' field goals, a Johnathan Bryant 78-yard touchdown run and a Dominique Swope two-yard touchdown run. J.J. Wilcox set up the Eagles' final touchdown drive with a 52-yard kickoff return to place Georgia Southern at Elon 41-yard line.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Shreiner hit another field goal to tie the game at 23 all, and a 45-yard Eagle field goal attempt on Georgia Southern's next drive was blocked. After a three-and-out by Elon, the Eagles, behind at 37-yard quarterback keeper by Jerick McKinnon, got another chance and Hanks made the 32-yard field goal that would end the scoring.
Ezayi Youyoute had 106 rushing yards and McKinnon 93, both on 17 carries, and Youyoute connected with Kentrellis Showers for Georgia Southern's first touchdown of the night. Senior linebacker John Stevenson registered a then-career-best 11 total tackles and senior safety Darius Eubanks recovered an Elon fumble of a 38-yard reception at the Georgia Southern 12-yard line to preserve the win.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN-ELON SERIES
The Eagles and Phoenix have met on 13 previous occasions with Georgia Southern holding 10-3 advantage in the series and a 4-2 record at Rhodes Stadium. Elon joined the Southern Conference in 2003 and in league games, Georgia Southern is 7-3 overall and has won the last three straight after the Phoenix won three consecutive from 2007-2009.
COLLEGE ACRONYMS ON UNIFORMS
Georgia Southern Football was the first to wear a new addition to their uniforms this season as every Eagle student-athlete will wear their respective college's acronym on their uniform during athletic competition.
"This is a great way for not only our student-athletes to take pride in their respective colleges, but also for the University's colleges to take pride in their student-athletes. Each of our student-athletes are here not only to earn a championship ring on the competition field, but also to earn a college degree," said Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein.
Decals for each academic college were placed on the back of the Eagles' football helmets. Each sport will wear the marks in their respective ways.
Tickets: ElonPhoenix.com or by calling 336-278-6750
Radio: Georgia Southern Radio Network (link) and online at GSEagles.com
Video Streaming: ElonPhoenix.com (Subscription required)
Elon Media Guide / Georgia Southern Media Guide
Game Notes: Elon / Georgia Southern
Live Stats: ElonPhoenix.com
Social Media: Twitter @GSAthletics Facebook.com/GSAthletics
All-Time Series: GS leads 10-3, 4-2 at Rhodes Stadium
First Game: 1998, GS 31-17 at
Last Game: Georgia Southern 26, Elon 23 (September 22, 2012)
Streak: Georgia Southern, 3 wins
Saturday, November 16, 2013, 3 p.m. ET
Rhodes Stadium (Grass) // Elon, N.C.
LAST SoCON GAME SATURDAY
The Eagles close out their 2013 Southern Conference schedule and an era at Elon Saturday with kickoff at 3 p.m. Georgia Southern will become a member of the Sun Belt Conference in July 2014.
THE FIRST ONE
Georgia Southern won its first SoCon game (vs. The Citadel) en route to the 1993 league title, the first of 10, most won by a single team in the 20-year time period.
GOING TO CAROLINA
The Eagles are slated to face two North Carolina teams in 2014, with the season opener on August 30th at N.C. State and Appalachian State as part of their Sun Belt Conference schedule.
HASHTAG TRUE BLUE
Eagle fans are encouraged to use the following #hashtags on social media for Saturday's game at Elon:
#TRUEBLUE
#HAILSOUTHERN
#JOINTHEJOURNEY
#EAGLENATION
#GATA
WATCH AND LISTEN
An audio broadcast of Saturday's game is available as part of GS All-Access on GSEagles.com with packages varying from a day to a full year. A single-day pass is $5.95 and content can be accessed on all Windows, OSX, iOS and Android devices. Eagle Football fans can catch all the action, as well as pre-game and post-game shows on the Georgia Southern Radio Network on stations listed here. Subscription-based video streaming of the game at Rhodes Stadium can be accessed at elonphoenix.com.
THE COACHES
A 2012 finalist and 2013 candidate for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year honors, Jeff Monken is in his fourth year as head coach of the Georgia Southern Football program with a 36-16 record for a 69.2 winning percentage. Monken is one of only two coaches in Eagle Football history, the other his mentor Paul Johnson, to record 10 or more wins in each of the first three years of his tenure. He owns the highest overall winning percentage of the Southern Conference coaches as well as the best mark for league games. With 24 years of coaching experience, including five years as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern during one of its most successful periods, Monken is prepared to navigate the present and the future for this Eagle Football program.
Jason Swepson, now in his third year as head coach of Elon with an overall mark of 10-22 (31.0), came to the Phoenix program after four year as the running backs coach under Tom O'Brien at N.C. State. Swepson spent eight years with O'Brien at his alma mater, Boston College (1999-2006), in the same coaching position. His coaching experience includes stops at Northeastern, Holy Cross, Rhode Island, Boston University and Bates College.
ON THE SIDELINES
Coach Monken and Coach Swepson faced each other as assistant coaches when Navy and Boston College met in 2002 and 2006 with BC coming away with wins in the 2002 regular-season game and in the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl. Monken (Georgia Tech) and Swepson (N.C. State) were both at Atlantic Coast Conference schools for 2008 and 2009, but their teams did not play in those seasons.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE PHOENIX
Freshman placekicker Alex Hanks kicked the winning field goal with 3:40 left in the game as the Eagles downed the Phoenix 26-23 at Paulson Stadium last year. Hanks' field goal was one of five made field goals (3 for Elon, 2 for Georgia Southern) in the contest that saw four lead changes.
Elon took a 13-6 lead at the half, but the Eagles came back with 17 points in the third quarter with one of Hanks' field goals, a Johnathan Bryant 78-yard touchdown run and a Dominique Swope two-yard touchdown run. J.J. Wilcox set up the Eagles' final touchdown drive with a 52-yard kickoff return to place Georgia Southern at Elon 41-yard line.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Shreiner hit another field goal to tie the game at 23 all, and a 45-yard Eagle field goal attempt on Georgia Southern's next drive was blocked. After a three-and-out by Elon, the Eagles, behind at 37-yard quarterback keeper by Jerick McKinnon, got another chance and Hanks made the 32-yard field goal that would end the scoring.
Ezayi Youyoute had 106 rushing yards and McKinnon 93, both on 17 carries, and Youyoute connected with Kentrellis Showers for Georgia Southern's first touchdown of the night. Senior linebacker John Stevenson registered a then-career-best 11 total tackles and senior safety Darius Eubanks recovered an Elon fumble of a 38-yard reception at the Georgia Southern 12-yard line to preserve the win.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN-ELON SERIES
The Eagles and Phoenix have met on 13 previous occasions with Georgia Southern holding 10-3 advantage in the series and a 4-2 record at Rhodes Stadium. Elon joined the Southern Conference in 2003 and in league games, Georgia Southern is 7-3 overall and has won the last three straight after the Phoenix won three consecutive from 2007-2009.
COLLEGE ACRONYMS ON UNIFORMS
Georgia Southern Football was the first to wear a new addition to their uniforms this season as every Eagle student-athlete will wear their respective college's acronym on their uniform during athletic competition.
"This is a great way for not only our student-athletes to take pride in their respective colleges, but also for the University's colleges to take pride in their student-athletes. Each of our student-athletes are here not only to earn a championship ring on the competition field, but also to earn a college degree," said Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein.
Decals for each academic college were placed on the back of the Eagles' football helmets. Each sport will wear the marks in their respective ways.
Tickets: ElonPhoenix.com or by calling 336-278-6750
Radio: Georgia Southern Radio Network (link) and online at GSEagles.com
Video Streaming: ElonPhoenix.com (Subscription required)
Elon Media Guide / Georgia Southern Media Guide
Game Notes: Elon / Georgia Southern
Live Stats: ElonPhoenix.com
Social Media: Twitter @GSAthletics Facebook.com/GSAthletics
All-Time Series: GS leads 10-3, 4-2 at Rhodes Stadium
First Game: 1998, GS 31-17 at
Last Game: Georgia Southern 26, Elon 23 (September 22, 2012)
Streak: Georgia Southern, 3 wins
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