The first time Jeremiah Blackwell heard about the football team at College of Faith, he was not sure what to think. Who was on the team? Which schools did it compete against? If there is no campus, where does the team practice?

A 2009 graduate of Memphis (Tenn.) Central High School, Blackwell first gave a college football career a shot was at Cumberland (Tenn.) University in the NAIA. He lasted a year before he returned home to work to help his family financially.

Blackwell had various factory jobs around town, working long hours to support his family. He took some classes at a local community college. All the while, he watched his childhood dream shrink in his rearview mirror. Then a friend told him about College of Faith - an online Bible college with no accreditation that was starting a football team with hopes of playing against real NCAA and NAIA institutions.

'Play like we want to win'

Blackwell's friend urged him to talk to the school's president and athletic director, Sherwyn Thomas.

Thomas, who also identifies himself as a street preacher, talked Blackwell into joining the team. Now Blackwell, who is listed as a running back and defensive end on the roster, is the team's top offensive player through two games.

"I questioned it a little bit, but coach Thomas is a good guy," Blackwell said. "I felt like it was an opportunity no matter what school it was. Everybody wants to go to a big school and play on the pro level, and you have to start somewhere."

Blackwell's journey brings him to Houston this weekend when College of Faith plays Houston Baptist on Saturday night.

Coincidentally, College of Faith's sister school from St. Petersburg, Fla., also will play in the area on Saturday. University of Faith will take on Prairie View A&M at 1 p.m. at Waller ISD.

College of Faith is scheduled to return to town on Oct. 31 to play Texas Southern. The scores are likely to be lopsided in the local teams' favor. University of Faith, which is 0-13 over two-plus seasons, has lost its first three games this season, 38-12, 76-7 and 77-7. College of Faith has lost its first two games 68-0 and 86-0.

"Nine times out of 10 we aren't going to win unless the sky falls down," Thomas said. "But we're going to play like we want to win."

Positive impact

Thomas created College of Faith in West Memphis, Ark., after the school where he previously worked - Shepherd Technical College - folded. Thomas already had basketball and football schedules lined up, so he decided to stick with them.

The idea for College of Faith, which gets almost all of its students from the Memphis area, is to give people an opportunity to play football or basketball while exploring religion and how it could impact their life in a positive way.

Thomas said he has given two assignments to his players so far. The first was a minimum 150-word testimony of their life.

"That one is about soul searching," Thomas said. "I get to see what is in their heart and mind. It helped me direct them where they want to go."

Anthony Givins is going through similar assignments with the University of Faith. A journeyman coach, Givins heard about Thomas' creation and asked permission to start a sister school with the same idea.

All of Givins' players are from Florida and in similar situations as the ones in Memphis.

"Some of them are looking for second chances in sports and some are trying to straighten out their life," Givins said. "We help them get their grades up and they can stay with us or transfer. Our goal is to get them Division I status."

Corey Roepken is a freelance writer.