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"When Coach O'Brien went to Boston College. he said "This program will be built to beat Notre Dame." We were 5-2 against Notre Dame. When We took over the NC State program , He said, "This program will be built to beat Carolina". We were 4-0 against Carolina." He recalls.
"When I came to Elon I said "This Program will be built to beat Appalachian State". "I tell them we're going to brush our teeth better than Appalachian State." "We are going to dress better than App State. We are going to be better in the classroom than App St. We are going to practice harder than App St. And then We will see what happens."

Skjellyfetti wrote:I didn't know we were also the standard for dental hygiene in the SoCon. I think people need to reevaluate all the "toothless" jokes hurled our way.

I didn't know we were also the standard for dental hygiene in the SoCon. I think people need to reevaluate all the "toothless" jokes hurled our way.

alvin kayak wrote:

I didn't know we were also the standard for dental hygiene in the SoCon. I think people need to reevaluate all the "toothless" jokes hurled our way.

If you are worried about stereotypes, you might consider a new avatar. Unless that is you............In that case, the Kayak Gift Basket should be arriving shortly.

T-Dog wrote:http://issuu.com/elonuniversity/docs/moe_summer_2011 (Page 12)

"When Coach O'Brien went to Boston College. he said "This program will be built to beat Notre Dame." We were 5-2 against Notre Dame. When We took over the NC State program , He said, "This program will be built to beat Carolina". We were 4-0 against Carolina." He recalls.
"When I came to Elon I said "This Program will be built to beat Appalachian State". "I tell them we're going to brush our teeth better than Appalachian State." "We are going to dress better than App State. We are going to be better in the classroom than App St. We are going to practice harder than App St. And then We will see what happens."

Remember, Elon hasn't beaten ASU since 1964. Actually, ASU was ASTC back then, so they've NEVER beaten ASU.

Pwns wrote:I just can't imagine planning your whole season around one game. Just blows my mind.

ASUSandman wrote: BTW, how does he know how hard ASU practices and how well our kids dress?

blueballs wrote:

ASUSandman wrote: BTW, how does he know how hard ASU practices and how well our kids dress?

He saw 'em on the side of the road picking up trash as the community service portion of their probation.

AZGrizFan wrote:

Skjellyfetti wrote:I didn't know we were also the standard for dental hygiene in the SoCon. I think people need to reevaluate all the "toothless" jokes hurled our way.

Either that or the dental hygiene bar is set REALLY low in the SoCon.

grizzaholic wrote:Didn't Elon win the So-Con a couple years ago?

Phoenix football finale: It's all about App State anyway

Adam Smith / Times-News
2011-11-19 00:29:28

ELON — Upon becoming the football coach at Elon University, Jason Swepson quickly was confronted by the gold standard his new program hopes to emulate.

Even in January, the well-wishers who greeted him made it clear what the ultimate objective should be for the Phoenix.

Beat Appalachian State.

“The first couple days on the job all I heard about was App State,” Swepson said. “It was, ‘Coach we’ve got to beat App State. App State is this. App State is that. App State is the pinnacle of this conference.’ “

Not that anything needed to be said.

Swepson took an up-close look at Appalachian State in March 2010, studying the Mountaineers’ entire operation during what amounted to a two-day educational retreat on the elite level of the Football Championship Subdivision.

He was a North Carolina State assistant coach then. But what Swepson witnessed and learned now has been applied to his blueprint for Elon.

“This program needs to be built to beat App State,” he said. “That’s what we’re going to try to do.”

The first opportunity arrives today when the Mountaineers visit Rhodes Stadium for Elon’s season finale.

While Appalachian State is positioned to play on and possibly chase its fourth national championship in the FCS playoffs that start next week, Elon’s 2011 campaign ends here with this game.

“So we have to treat this like the Super Bowl,” Elon cornerback Jonathan Conner said. “There’s no holding back for us.”

Conner and his classmates will participate in pre-game Senior Day functions and then attempt to secure a victory that would extend the Phoenix’s streak of winning seasons to five in a row.

The back-to-back-to-back-to-back years with winning records have grown into a considerable source of pride for Elon.

“That’s it,” receiver Aaron Mellette said. “That’s our goal.”

Elon hasn’t defeated Appalachian State on a football field since Lyndon Johnson resided in the White House. But despite that daunting history, some are factors working in the Phoenix’s favor.

Most notably, there’s the much-needed jolt of positive reinforcement — quarterback Thomas Wilson called it the best feeling of the season — Elon gained from its 41-34 upset of nationally ranked Furman last week.

With three straight losses and mounting frustrations converging, Elon delivered a potential turn-the-corner moment on the strength of standout performances across the board — from sturdy line play in the trenches to Wilson’s sharp passing to Mellette’s big catches to A.J. Harris’ workhorse running and Joshua Jones’ rugged work at linebacker.

“To get through all the adversity just validated a lot of the things we’re doing here,” Swepson said. “I think we picked up a new sense of belief, a new sense of confidence, a whole different attitude, really.”

After a remarkable run of six straight Southern Conference titles, this season marks the first time since 2004 that Appalachian State hasn’t won or shared the league crown.

But that certainly doesn’t diminish the significance the Phoenix attaches to today’s game.

Earlier this week, Conner informed Elon’s freshmen about the sum total experience of competing against Appalachian State.

“This is what y’all came here for,” he said, recounting the message. “This is the level we want to get to. The most packed our stadium gets is every year when they come here.”

Then Conner’s dimples popped as a wide smile spread across his face.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “To be able to beat App in the last game at home, it would be great. Every time you saw me after that game, I would be smiling.”