cover image Keeping the Faith: In the Trenches with College Football's Worst Team

Keeping the Faith: In the Trenches with College Football's Worst Team

Shawn Fury, . . Lyons, $22.95 (211pp) ISBN 978-1-59228-764-2

Trinity Bible College, of Ellendale, N.Dak., made national headlines in fall 2003 when the school's football team lost its season opener 105–0. It would be easy to romanticize the Lions as lovable losers; many of the players, scraped together from the college's 300 students, have never played organized football before, and officially the school is more concerned with saving souls than winning games. But while this story has its share of offbeat moments—including a practice session so disorganized no one can find any footballs—Fury usually avoids the easy route. Following the team for the 2004 season, the freelance reporter winds up chronicling the mounting frustration among the players and assistant coaches with the hands-off management style of head coach Rusty Bentley, and suspense is generated not by wondering if the Lions will be able to pull out a victory, but whether the team will make it to the end of the season intact. In between games, Fury ably sets the scene around the small campus, which is so remote, people there can't even get cell phone service. By refusing to caricature or sentimentalize the players, Fury delivers a heartfelt tale. Photos. Agent, Loretta Barrett. (Sept.)