The Lincoln Blue Tigers football program represents Lincoln University in college football and competes in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In 2014, Lincoln became an affiliate member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, returning to Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2019. Lincoln competed in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association from 1970 to 1989 and 2011 to 2013, while primarily remaining as member of that conference. LU's home games are played at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Missouri. The programs maintains an all time record of 248–453–25.
Conference affiliations 1896–1931: Independent 1932–1969: Midwest Athletic Association 1970–1989: Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association 1990–1999: No team 2000: Central States Football League 2001–2005: NCAA Division II Independent 2006–2009: Great Lakes Football Conference 2010: NCAA Division II Independent 2011–2013: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association 2014–2018: Great Lakes Valley Conference 2019–2022: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association 2023: NCAA Division II Independent 2024–present: Great Lakes Valley Conference
Venues
Prior to 1936, the Lincoln football team played their home games on a gridiron where Jason Gym is now located. In 1915 this field was known as West Athletic Field. The team played on Lincoln Field from 1936 to 1970. This field was home to four conference championship teams between 1952 and 1962. Lincoln Field is now called the practice field.
The Blue Tigers have played their home games at Dwight T. Reed Stadium since 1971. Reed Stadium was named for Dwight T. Reed, who coached the team from 1949 to 1972. The current capacity of the stadium is at 3,000 but the university lists it at 5,500. Reed stadium underwent renovations from March to September 2017 after the university's Board of Curators approved the $1.8 million project. The renovations included new stadium lights, an artificial turf playing surface, and a new digital scoreboard that included a video board. In addition to American football, Reed Stadium can also host soccer games. Reed Stadium also hosted Commencement before it was moved to the Linc Recreation Center in May 2017. Commencement was moved back to Reed Stadium two years later in May 2019.
Championships Conference championships 1910 Missouri Valley Conference for Black Schools Romeo West 2–0 1–0 1919 Western region/conference S. L. Burlong 3–0 3–0 1952† Midwest Athletic Association Dwight T. Reed 8–0–1 4–0–1 1953 Midwest Athletic Association Dwight T. Reed 8–0–1 4–0–1 1958 Midwest Athletic Association Dwight T. Reed 7–1 3–0 1962 Midwest Athletic Association Dwight T. Reed 5–3–1 2–0–1 1972† Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Dwight T. Reed 9–1 5–1 Total conference/regional championships: 7 † Denotes co-champions
Postseason appearances 1 1946L 0–14 Prairie View Buffalo StadiumHouston, Texas 2 1958W 21–0Emporia State Roosevelt StadiumExcelsior Springs, Missouri
Retired numbers
Lincoln Blue Tigers retired numbers No. Player Pos. Tenure Ref. 20 Lemar Parrish CB 1966–1969 30 Leo Lewis RB 1951–1954
Team records and statistics
In the national polls
HBCU polls 1946 7 5–3–1 1–1–1 David D. Rains 1947 13 3–4–1 1–3–1 David D. Rains 1951 10 9 7–2 1–2 Dwight T. Reed 1952 3 2 8–0–1 4–0–1 Dwight T. Reed 1953 4 3 8–0–1 4–0–1 Dwight T. Reed 1954 11 16 4–3–1 3–2 Dwight T. Reed 1955 10 5–3 3–1 Dwight T. Reed 1957 5 8–1 2–1 Dwight T. Reed 1958 5 4 7–1 3–0 Dwight T. Reed 1959 11 7–2–1 0–2–1 Dwight T. Reed 1962 16 5–3–1 2–0–1 Dwight T. Reed 1964 5 8–2 2–1 Dwight T. Reed 1968 5 8–2 N/A Dwight T. Reed
Seasons Lincoln University Blue Tigers football seasons
References
External links