Football looks for win

The loser of Oberlin's football game at Thiel will own the NCAA Division III's longest losing streak.

On paper, the Yeomen, who have lost 30 consecutive games - a streak as long as the football careers of the team's seniors - will have one of their best chances of a victory Saturday. Thiel has built a 22-game losing streak going back to 1993, a season during which they beat Oberlin 37-0.

But if you ask third-year head coach Pete Peterson, he'd tell you every game is winnable.

"How many people thought Northwestern could beat Notre Dame? How many people thought they could beat Michigan?" he asked, referring to the Division I school that surprised the football world last year by rising from its traditional place as the doormat of the Big Ten to win a championship in one of the toughest conferences.

While Oberlin and underdogs everywhere have an inspiration in Northwestern, there's no guarantee the team will do better this year than last.

While the squad is deeper than last year's and emerging from pre-season injury-free, the number of players at 33 is about the same as it was last year, meaning a handful of gridders will play both offense and defense again this year.

The offensive line is the team's most experienced unit - and it won't be giving away much size to its tough NCAC competition.

The line includes sophomores Chris Davis, Ed Holtz and Jason Cunningham and juniors Garth Stidolph and Chris Lavin. The five players weigh in at a combined 1,370 lbs.

They'll be assigned to protect junior quarterback James Parker, who's been a starter since he arrived at Oberlin and who graces the cover of the team's media guide. Last season, Parker completed 38 percent of his 212 passes for 799 yards last season.

Oberlin has lost its top rusher, Brandon Meyers, and its top tackler, Jeremy Schnorbus, to graduation. But a number of players are returning for the Yeomen, including senior linebacker and fullback Michael Brown.

"It would be real nice to go out with a win," Brown said. "I think this year, with this team, that's definitely going to happen."

And that attitude is why Oberlin continues to play game after game against such tough odds that Sports Illustrated's college football preview in August included two pages dedicated to the woes and hopes of the Yeomen.

"We play to win," Peterson said. "And if we didn't, we wouldn't play."

Plays with all Players?: Iron man still isn't over for OC football. (photo by John Matney)