Shawn's blogging. www.shawnfury.blogspot.com. Check out the new FAQ page. NFL.com writer Gregg Easterbrook labels Keeping the Faith a "must read" sports book. Read more Booklist gives positive review to Keeping the Faith. Read more Publishers Weekly calls Keeping the Faith a "heartfelt tale." Read review Keeping the Faith is now available on Kindle. Read more. Shawn's story on Mike and Matt Fasnacht appears in the February issue of Minnesota Monthly, which can be read here. Shawn's essay on home-state memories appears in the current Sports Scoop. Read More Shawn's story on high school basketball is in the current issue of Minnesota Basketball News. Read More The Daily News of Iron Mountain, Michigan, reviews book. Read review New Ulm Journal story features Trinity football team, discusses impact of book on school, team. Read more

One year later, Trinity improves

Trinity Bible College has turned NCAA Division III football’s biggest loss into the school’s greatest triumph.

    Thanks to the attention the school in Ellendale, N.D., received from a record 105-0 defeat at Rockford, Ill., last season, the Lions have gained several players on the roster, including a few transfers, who wanted to be a part of rebuilding Trinity Bible’s football team.

    There is even a book in the works.

    “We have double the players we finished with last year,” Trinity coach Rusty Bentley said. “A lot of our recruiting was based on (media attention).”

    Bentley and the Lions’ biggest recruiting weapon was The Forum’s newspaper article written last year by sports writer Shawn Fury.

    Fury, who now lives in Manhattan, N.Y., thought Trinity’s story was so compelling he contacted several publishers across the country this year to pitch a book about the school, its faith, the football team’s struggles and the town of Ellendale.

    The aptly named Lyons Press, of Connecticut, was immediately sold on the idea.

    “I have read a ton of books about great sports teams and great sports moments,” Fury said from his home in New York. “You don’t often see a book about the other side of the scorebook.”

    Fury, who grew up in Minnesota, will stay in Ellendale for the next five weeks to gather information for the yet untitled book.

    He will attend the Lions’ remaining four games and receive total access to Bentley, the team and the school.

    Fury might be in for a surprise when he gets to Ellendale. The 0-6 Lions, who have lost 26 consecutive games, have been much more competitive.

    In fact, Trinity was one play from breaking its winless streak during the second game of the season. Principia College of Elsa, Ill., defeated the Lions 12-7.

    That’s a far cry from 105-0.

    Take into consideration the fact that Trinity only scored 12 points all last season and it’s evident the Lions are on the rise.

    “The boys feel like they are going to get one this year,” Bentley said.

    “We know it’s not going to be this way for ever. We know with hard work we are going to get better.” However, the Lions still have a ways to go. The team, which is last in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in total offense and total defense, has been defeated by 41 points a game. “On paper, we still should not win ball games,” Bentley said. “Our boys have to not only believe in why they play, they have to believe in themselves now.

    “We do good things because we earn them not because other people make mistakes.”

    The Lions discovered how much they have improved in Saturday’s game against Rockford, the same team that handed them the 105-0 win last year. Final score on Saturday: Rockford 77, Trinity 12. “We really want to win,” Trinity senior offensive lineman Tom Chaplin said.