Tevlin: Staples-Motley football team finds lessons in losing streak

My wife always marvels at how many details I can remember of my "glory days," such as they were, playing football for Staples High School in central Minnesota.

I remember the scores of the games, specific play formations (Danger Right), and where I was on the field when the pulling guard stepped on and broke my right foot.

It's a transformative, indelible time of life.

Which is why I was a little heartsick when a former teacher sent me a note to tell me my former team, now Staples-Motley, had lost every game this season.

And the season before that.

And the season before that.

In all, the team that has the slogan "Confirm your fears, Cards win here" painted on the press box has gone 38 straight games, more than four seasons, without a win.

"Think of this, we have seven seniors on our team who have never won a football game," said head coach Travis VanOverbeke, who took over the program just this year.

Nevertheless, it's hard to find a coach or principal in the state more proud of their kids than at Staples-Motley.

"They never gave up, not one time," said VanOverbeke. "They could have thrown in the towel, but they didn't."

Like their game against Frazee, where they were down several scores at halftime but ended up losing 56-42.

Mike Schmidt, principal and former athletic director, came from Brainerd four years ago. He said the team has lost "for a variety of things. It's not for the lack of pride or lack of trying."

"Try telling a kid it's more fun riding in a bus for 12 hours and losing a game than it is going four-wheeling," Schmidt said.

"This team had a long ways to go when I got here," said Schmidt. "Everything from knowing what a locker room should look like at the end of a game, to what your grades should look like."

"It's also about the community, and about economics," said Schmidt. "For some kids, it's a choice of work or play."

Schmidt said he went to meetings of athletic directors from around the state. "In the metro area, boosters are buying Jumbotrons for the program; here they would be happy with gift cards to the grocery store. Friday night lights are dimming some places in outstate Minnesota."

Particularly parts of central Minnesota not around lakes.

The coach ended up with 44 players, but they played schools where the number was double that.

"Watching 75 players run out onto the field was a little unsettling," said VanOverbeke.

They lost the first game 59-0 to Pequot Lakes.

"Tough Start," said Schmidt.

Early on, the school started checking players' grades every two weeks to make sure they were on track, and lost players to eligibility rules.

John Lund, a junior running back, said the season was fun even though they lost. "I got to play one last season with my friend [Colton Paskewitz], who is a senior," Lund said.

"The toughest part was losing homecoming on the last play of the game," he said. "Even though it doesn't show in wins yet, I think we are starting to turn it around. We have a young team."

Dave Giles, historian for the state coaches association, said the record for consecutive losses is 70, but he acknowledges 38 is atypical. Because football is so ingrained in small communities, it can influence the morale of the town, he said.

The fans had become complacent and disinterested, Schmidt acknowledged. He said he has worked toward winning over the community, talking to members at the local pizza joint where he finds "our biggest fans and our biggest critics."

Schmidt and VanOverbeke tried to boost players' confidence off the field. The kids put on their jerseys and volunteered for Dollars for Scholars, giving community members a chance to thank and congratulate them.

The school tried to enhance homecoming, offering such things as a movie screen set up on the field one night.

They played Warroad that week, and almost came up with a win, losing 21-14.

"The kids said no one had ever cheered for them that loudly," Schmidt said. "It could have been a great win, but we lost. In four years, I had never seen athletes cry after a game. They did that night. It was the first time I saw the boys become young men."

I asked Schmidt what the football memories will be for kids graduating this spring.

"For the seniors, I hope they can look back, and next season when the wins come, they will know they were the rock solid foundation of what's to come."