Football | 10/25/2018 12:19:49 PM

Each week, the MIAA's featured writer David Boyce covers an intriguing story in the conference for a series called Boyce's Beat: Featured Stories of the MIAA.

This week David Boyce profiles the MIAA path of Lincoln University rejoining the association in football for 2019. The 2019 MIAA Football Schedule is available here.

When Steven Smith took over Lincoln University football program on Dec. 6, 2016, he was determined to instill discipline on the football field and in the classroom for every player who donned a Blue Tigers jersey.

Last spring, he started to see some fruits of that effort when the team GPA rose from 2.4 when he took over to 2.8.

"They are understanding what we are trying to get done," Smith said. "Be disciplined in the classroom. We will definitely be disciplined on the field. The culture has changed. All those things will help them in life."

And it is helping the Blue Tigers on the football field. Last Saturday, Lincoln traveled to William Jewell for a Great Lakes Valley Conference game and came away with a 23-14 victory.

In many respects, the win was a landmark achievement for the Blue Tigers. It was their first road conference win since 1975. At 3-5, with three games remaining, Lincoln University is going for its first winning season since the 1970s.

Simply put, the upward trend Lincoln's football program is taking makes the Blue Tigers ready for their return to the MIAA in football.

The Blue Tigers and Southwest Baptist left the MIAA in football for the GLVC in 2014 but remained in the conference in all the other sports.

Lincoln was poised to return to the MIAA in football in 2020, but that timetable moved up a year when Lindenwood opted to leave the MIAA after this school year.

"There was a caveat in the alliance that the presidents and athletic directors agreed that if the MIAA lost a football playing member that the alliance would end early and any MIAA school playing in the GLVC would be pulled back into the MIAA for the football schedule," said MIAA commissioner Mike Racy.

Lincoln will slide into the spot vacated by Lindenwood. But this is not the same Lincoln program from 2013. And the Blue Tigers actually left on a good note, winning its final two MIAA games in the 2013 season.

"From a university standpoint, we have made a greater commitment to providing scholarships for student-athletes," said Lincoln athlete director and men's basketball coach John Moseley. "We have upgraded the facilities tremendously from when we last played in the MIAA.

"You are seeing a belief in our players with this coaching staff and this university that it does lends itself for excitement for our program. Now we get to bring that back to the MIAA."

Racy is thrilled Lincoln will once again be a full member of the MIAA.

"Lincoln is a historic and important member of the MIAA," Racy said. "I think it is great that we have 12 schools in the conference that will play football in 2019.

"The trajectory for their program is up. Their athletic director, John Moseley is committed to making Lincoln a competitive football program. They have invested money in facilities."

Smith is motivated to make sure the Blue Tigers are more than just a member of one of the toughest conferences in Division II football. He knows all about the national championships won and other teams knocking on the door for one.
"The MIAA is like the Big 10 in Division II," Smith said. "We are going into a conference that is very competitive."

"It is a great conference. It will give us a chance to compete against top-notch competition and test who we are and where we are trying to go."

The Blue Tigers want to be competitive each week with an opportunity to win. For that reason, Smith isn't currently looking at any MIAA teams. His focus is on Missouri S&T, and then, Tarleton State and finally, McKendree.

"Right now," Smith said, "our goal is to be 1-0 this week."

Smith said the GLVC was perfect for Lincoln during the five seasons it played in the conference.

"Playing in the GLVC has prepared us to make that move to the MIAA," Smith said. "I think we will be ready. Our team will be ready to step in and play some good football.

"I definitely like where our program is headed. Our coaches are doing a great job of pushing this program where it is capable of going. The biggest thing is the kids understand the transition and the building process along with the seniors who are here now. They laid the foundation for what we are trying to do. The guys are buying in and focusing on discipline and trying to get it done."