# Lincoln Blue Tigers football

The Lincoln Blue Tigers football program represents Lincoln University in college football and competes in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletics 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

| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
| 1910 | Missouri Valley Conference for Black Schools | Romeo A. West | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| 1919 | Western region/conference | N/A | 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: | Total conference/regional championships: | Total conference/regional championships: | 7 | 7 |
| † Denotes co-champions |||||||

## Postseason appearances

| No. | Season | Game | Result | Opponent | Stadium | Location |
| 1 | 1946 | Prairie View Bowl | L 0–14 | Prairie View | Buffalo Stadium | Houston, Texas |
| 2 | 1958 | Mineral Water Bowl | W 21–0 | Emporia State | Roosevelt Stadium | Excelsior 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

| Season | Pittsburgh Courier rank | ANP rank | Overall record | Conference record | Head coach |
| 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