Olean Diesel

The Southern Tier Diesel, occasionally known in the press as the Olean Diesel to indicate its home city, is an amateur American football franchise that participates in the Northeastern Football Alliance. The team is owned by Lawrence "J.R." Bennion and is based at Bradner Stadium in Olean, New York. A permanent name for the team is expected in early 2009, but the team has decided to keep the Diesel name.
The team was founded in 2005 as the Southern Tier Diesel after the Hornell Dragons moved to Corning (becoming the "Crystal City Dragons"). The Diesel played at Hornell High School (Maple City Stadium) in Hornell and later at Victory Park in nearby Wayland. As the Diesel, Bennion stated that a lack of football players in the area led to a limited talent pool (Hornell High School has a football team but most of the surrounding towns' schools do not. As such, players from the Olean area, where football is more popular, were joining the team). Because of this and a small population, This is Cattaraugus County's second NFA/NYAFL franchise; the Buffalo Gladiators had played at Veterans Park in Salamanca, 18 miles away, for a year in the early 2000s. Bennion cited the higher population density and more high school football teams in the area as the impetus for the move; In 2010, the Diesel played one of its home games against the Gladiators at the same Veterans Park, losing to the Gladiators (who would go on to be undefeated) by a score of 37-0.
The team actively recruits current college football players, meaning its players are strictly amateurs and receive no payment for services, to prevent those players from losing eligibility to play at college. (The NFA does allow players to be paid if teams so choose.)
Diesel home games are broadcast on WGWE, the Seneca nation owned station based in Little Valley.
2008 Season Stats
<table border="1">
<tr>
<td>Date</td>
<td>Result</td>
<td>Opponent</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.12.08</td>
<td>Lose, 0-48</td>
<td>at Buffalo Gladiators</td>
</tr>
<td>7.26.08</td>
<td>Lose, 0-2</td>
<td>at Troy Fighting Irish</td>
</tr>
<td>8.2.08</td>
<td>Lose, 6-42</td>
<td>Utica Yard Dogs</td>
</tr>
<td>8.9.08</td>
<td>Lose, 0-2</td>
<td>at Lockport Rage</td>
</tr>
<td>8.16.08</td>
<td>Lose, 8-36</td>
<td>Glove City Colonials</td>
</tr>
<td>8.23.08</td>
<td>Lose, 0-44</td>
<td>Lyndonville Tigers</td>
</tr>
<td>9.6.08</td>
<td>Lose, 12-47</td>
<td>Buffalo Gladiators</td>
</tr>
<td>9.13.08</td>
<td>Lose, 0-2</td>
<td>at Glove City Colonials</td>
</tr>
<td>9.20.08</td>
<td>Lose, 14-50</td>
<td>Lockport Rage</td>
</tr>
<td>9.27.08</td>
<td>Lose, 7-35</td>
<td>Lyndonville Tigers</td>
</tr>
</table>
2009 Season Stats
<table border="1">
<tr>
<td>Date</td>
<td>Result</td>
<td>Opponent</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.20.09</td>
<td>Lose, 7-34</td>
<td>at Buffalo Gladiators</td>
</tr>
<td>6.27.09</td>
<td>Lose, 0-37</td>
<td>vs. Jamestown Chiefs (from Wayland, NY)</td>
</tr>
<td>7.10.09</td>
<td>Lose, 6-33</td>
<td>at Lyndonville Tigers</td>
</tr>
<td>7.18.09</td>
<td>Lose, 0-40</td>
<td>at Troy Fighting Irish</td>
</tr>
<td>8.1.09</td>
<td>Win, 29-0</td>
<td>at Rome </td>
</tr>
<td>8.8.09</td>
<td>Win, 42-0</td>
<td>vs. Cortland (First game at Bradner's)</td>
</tr>
<td>8.15.09</td>
<td>Lose, 30-6</td>
<td>vs. Buffalo</td>
</tr>
<td>8.22.09</td>
<td>Lose, 46-14</td>
<td>at Jamestown</td>
</tr>
<td>8.28.09</td>
<td>Lose, 31-0</td>
<td>vs. Lyndonville</td>
</tr>
</table>
The Diesel were awarded an additional win by forfeit after the Rome Rampage left the league.

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