Buffaloes streak has become something of a myth 
The North Parkland Buffaloes' coach is humble as his 110-pounders rack up the victories

By GEORGE WACKER
The Allentown Times

The only praise Terry Stoudt wants is something no one else may ever notice.

After over 30 years of coaching in the Suburban Youth Football League, Stoudt recently claimed what could be a national first.

Since 1995 the Stoudt coached Parkland Buffaloes 110-pound team has gone 100-0.

100 and 0.

Not a single loss. There has only been a handful of close games along the way but several drubbings punctuated by a roster boasting future high school, college and even pro talent.

100 and zero.

Even after the cheers and acclaim Stoudt received after hammering Easton 60-6 in the second round of the SYFL playoffs, Stoudt didn't think about himself.

Instead he noted the determination of his players. He pointed out the hard work of his assistant coaches. He lauded the support of the families and players' parents.

When pressed to find one thing he will allow himself to receive praise for he stopped, thought for a second, and found it.

"When those high school football players take off their pads and they're wearing a Parkland Buffaloes T-shirt underneath their gear, that's what I love to see," he said. "That shows how tight a family this is."

That tight family recently got tighter with the 100th consecutive win by the Buffaloes, which brought in television cameras from as far as Philadelphia, newspaper reporters and football players of old.

"If anything I'm happy there are so many people who are excited about this," he said. "That means we're excited about this program and that's what is important."

It's hard not to be excited about the Buffaloes.

Teams fear them. Eyes open wide like full moons before kickoff.

"It's become something like a myth now," Stoudt said of the streak. "We'll start a game and it will be over in the first play. You can see the awe some of the players from the other teams have. But it's just a myth."

Some myth. This year alone the 110-pound Buffaloes have outscored opponents 323 to 18 in just eight regular season games.

They've never trailed and they've never even thought about trailing.

"When you start something like (the streak) it just keeps on going," he said. "Success breeds success. I was talking to the players who won last year's (PIAA) state championship with Parkland's High School team. They had lost just one game since they were eight years old.

"If you never lose you don't know how to."

Stoudt remains staunch about the reason losses haven't made an appearance on the Buffs schedule.

"When we started this league over 30 years ago we wanted to do it so that kids would be able to have a chance to play high school football," he said. "Or any sport for that matter.

"The winning is great and all but that really isn't what it's all about. Here you have all these kids that are getting a shot at a young age to play and be coached and that allows them to stay active and gives them a chance to go on and play high school football or at least gives them a chance to be a part of the team and on the field."

Stoudt's squad numbers about 55 and he has 11 assistant coaches at his disposal at any one time. Like an army, the assistant coaches have the time to drill the youngsters on specific football skills such as angle blocking, something not routinely coached to young players.

"We also throw the ball a lot," he said. "Kids love to kick and throw the ball, so why should we run it all the time? That doesn't make sense. We want this to be fun. We don't want these kids to quit because it's not fun."

Players rarely ride the pine on the Buffaloes, something Stoudt said keeps them interested in continuing to play football at an older age.

"I see all these junior high football teams with well over 60 kids on a team," he said. "Nowhere near 60 kids get to play in a game, so when it's time for those junior high kids to go out for varsity, they don't. They never got to play, why would they think they could on a varsity level?"

The idea of getting as many players into a game as possible is one of the staples of the Suburban Youth Football League.

"He doesn't play favorites," Jodi Scanlan, mother of Casey Scanlan, who plays on the 95-pound North Parkland team, said. "Our family has been involved with the North Parkland Athletic Association (NPAA) for six years now and I couldn't name a person who is more professional and incredible with the kids.

"He doesn't play favorites and he doesn't just teach them about football, he teaches them about character."

While Scanlan's son doesn't yet play under Stoudt, through her relationship with the NPAA, which Stoudt is the president of and which governs the various North Parkland football teams, it's hard to ignore his presence.

"It's amazing to see how many people come out to these games," she said. "The community is so supportive of this sport and of their children. It brings everyone together. It's great how something as simple as football pulls us together as a community."

Stoudt would rather hear about the community aspect than to have to talk about his 100th consecutive win again.

"Some parents can get all rowdy when it comes to children's sports," he said. "Not here. If there is ever a parent getting out of line I'll ask them to stop."

More like tell them to stop. Stoudt ruled the NCAA hardwood as a basketball official in the Big 10 and ACC for many years and he understands the value of good sportsmanship.

"I think I've had one15-yard penalty in my 30 years," he said. "There isn't a reason to get all angry about these games. The idea is fun. The idea is to get people together and to allow these kids to have a chance to experience the sport."

Stoudt's refereeing career was one of the main reasons he never stepped up from the 110-pounders. Even with numerous offers from high schools and colleges he was more than content to stick with the Buffaloes.

"I used up all my desire for college when I was a ref," he said. "This is where I belong."

According to Parkland High School football head coach, Rob Melosky, Stoudt's work with the Buffaloes is a main reason why Parkland High won the state championship last year.

"It's a very good feeder program," he said. "We get players who know how to win and have the basic fundamentals of football already in them. The fact that he has been there for 30 years adds stability to the program as well. The winning carries over, our players are ready to go when they get here, and ready to move on into the high school ranks.

"I congratulate Terry on his accomplishment and congratulate the entire North Parkland Athletic Association as well."

After the win Stoudt was ready to move on.

After all it was only a playoff game.

"When we won our first championship we decided to get all the players jackets," he said. "Now some of them have more than a few of them, we never expected to win so much."

Despite all of his humbleness the old coach did manage to leak a bit of his confidence in his players and the parents and families of the Parkland community.

"I think we're ready to go for 200 straight wins, that's the only thing left, right?"

( The Buffaloes will play Emmaus Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. at Pleasant Valley High School Field for the championship.