2021 MIAA Football Season Preview Series: Lincoln
Story courtesy of: David Boyce, MIAA Contributor
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On February 5th, 2021, Missouri Southern hired Atiba Bradley as its 14th head football coach. Bradley had little time to soak in the fact he was returning to the school he once played for in the city he played high school football at.
Bradley was truly coming home to Joplin, Mo. But that feel-good moment wasn’t going to put any points on the board when the Lions traveled to Bethany, Okla., on March 18 and took on Southern Nazarene in the only football game the Lions would play in the previous school year.
“The biggest challenge was being hired after signing day,” Bradley said. “We weren’t able to take advantage of a full recruiting period. The timing of getting ready for a game was definitely a challenge of getting all the coaches here and getting a scheme.
“In addition to having Covid, we had an ice storm that kind of prevented the school from being open and limited the number of workouts we could do. Everybody has different challenges. It is just another story in the book.”
Well, this particular story had a happy ending with the Lions eking out a 21-20 victory. It definitely helped the psyche of the Lions going into the spring and summer.
Missouri Southern wants to bounce back from a 2-9 season in 2019. The Lions had a potent offense in 2019, averaging 29.3 points and 444.5 yards of total offense. Gone from that offense is the quarterback, the starting running back and three of the top five receivers.
Building some momentum heading into the 2021 season was vital for the Lions.
“The turnaround from hiring coach Bradley to us actually playing a full game was different, but I appreciated it because it showed how hard we had to work to prepare for the game and how much we had to endure throughout to play at the level we did,” said senior defensive back Malachi Broadnax. “Not that it was our best. We can work harder. But that was the base we set.
“We have to build from that. Like the saying goes, we have to build brick by brick from here on out. If we do that, we should be ready for the season.”
Bradley brings a perspective that makes him relatable to the players because he once sat were they are now sitting. He knows what it means to suit up in the green and gold uniform and represent Missouri Southern as a player.
During his playing days, Bradley was a two-time, All-MIAA honorable mention selection at linebacker in the early 2000s.
“It is definitely a special feeling,” Bradley said of returning to his alma mater. “As a player, I saw one side of it. I got to compete and put in the work.
“Now as a coach, I am able to see the other side of it. I have an interesting perspective now that I am the coach. I can put them both together and figure out a way to be more successful.”
One of the first things Bradley wanted to do was create a culture of competition whether it is at quarterback, defensive back or the offensive line.
“You find the best teams in this league have competition at every position,” he said. “That is something we addressed in recruiting and in our day-to-day interaction with our kids.”
In late July, at the MIAA football media day, Broadnax spoke about the eagerness the Lions are feeling for the upcoming season.
“I was speaking with teammate Brian Boyd just about how excited I was seeing all the other teams in here and in four weeks we will be playing against them,” Broadnax said. The turnaround is fast but we are ecstatic about it.
“We have talked about it since June started. I know for a fact the players and the coaches are excited for this season. I am just anxious to see how we come together.”
Head Coach Defensive Back
Atiba Bradley Malachi Broadnax