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

Every loser has a story. And few teams have lost quite like the Trinity Bible College football team.

Located in Ellendale, North Dakota-population 1,559-Trinity produces preachersand missionaries, but with an enrollment of only 310 students, struggles to find quality athletes.

Keeping the Faith tells the remarkable story of the 2004 Trinity Bible College Lions, the worst college team in the country-a team fighting for victory and, more importantly, dignity.

Countless sports books have been written about championship teams and grand traditions.

But what about teams on the other side of the scoreboard?

How do those players and coaches fightthrough ridicule, adversity, and defeat?

This account is told through the eyes of a colorful group of characters, including Trinity's head coach, Rusty Bentley, a native Texan and former car salesman who says he moved his family to North Dakota because it was God's will.

In his first game, Trinity lost 105-0. Assistant coach Eric Slivoskey has traveled throughout the world, but he came to Ellendale seeking answers to his spiritual questions.

A former high school star, he struggles to coexist with the Scriptures-quoting Bentley, whose knowledge of the Bible seems to dwarf his knowledge of football.

Trinity's players, who number fewer than thirty, include Lee Odell, an all-conference center on the offensive line who's surrounded by teammates who didn't even play high school football.

Wide receiver Andy Brower is training to be a pastor, but he doesn'tthink the Lions should be relying on Jesus to help them on the field.

Trinity's players keep taking the field week after week, loss after loss.

They keep playing, always believing the next game will bring victory.

Keeping the Faith is about football, faith, and finding small victories amidst big defeats.