Only two schools in the nation are featured on ESPN2, and Elon University is one of them. Phoenix Weekly, Elons student-run weekly sports show, airs on ESPN2s Local Sports Break at 8:30 a.m. every Saturday.

The staff of Phoenix Weekly, aired an episode from the Southern Conference basketball tournament last Sunday.

Phoenix Weekly reporters often travel throughout the region to cover major sporting events like the tournament in Charleston, S.C., offering the crew once in a lifetime experiences.

Elon landed a spot on ESPN2 after being approached by Time Warner last summer.

Not only does Phoenix Weekly provide sports updates and schedules to the community, but they also feature fun segments in each episode.

Included in these segments is Future of the Phoenix, where the show reports on a freshman athlete who brings high hopes to the team.

Other segments include A Day in the Life of an Elon Athlete, Sports Shots of the Week, Scholar Athletes of the Week, Inside the Huddle, interviews with coaches and sports previews.

Freshman Eryn Gradwell, the shows associate producer and host, said her favorite segment is Inside the Huddle. In this segment, an Elon coach wears a microphone during a game.

According to Gradwell, such recordings can be incredibly humorous. Coaches seem so bi-polar when you mic them during a game, Gradwell said. One minute theyre jumping off the bench with excitement because they scored, and the next minute theyre screaming at the team for a poor play.

Gradwell said that production of the show itself can be funny. There are plenty of times where I get a laughing spell and it takes about six or seven times to finally say the right thing, she said.

Charleston is not the only trip the Phoenix Weekly crew has made. Sophomore Britt Clark, a reporter and segment producer for the show, recalled his trip to Appalachian State University.

Not only did he have the opportunity to be on the field during the game, but he got to speak with Chancellor of ASU Kenneth E. Peacock and take part in post-game activities.

That experience wouldnt have been possible if it werent for this show, Clark said.

This magazine-formatted show has created a bond between the School of Communications and the athletics department.

This show provides so many opportunities for everybody to learn about the business, Gradwell said. This is only our second semester filming the show, but I have a feeling it will run for a while.

Reporter: Alexandra Mansbach - 03/15/07