Times have been tough for decades for the Lincoln football program, and they've only seemed to get tougher in recent years.
I just finished covering my sixth season with the Blue Tigers -- well, maybe five, if you don't count their two games this spring after last fall was wiped out by COVID-19. In that time, Lincoln has posted a record of 7-46 (or 7-48, if you count those two spring games).
Lincoln's 41-12 loss Saturday to Missouri Western put an end to an 0-10 season, the Blue Tigers' first winless campaign since 2009. In the two decades since the university reinstated the football program, Lincoln has not won more than four games in a single season.
You can point to a lot of reasons why Lincoln hasn't found success on the football field.
This season, the reason I will give is because of the team's low roster numbers. Lincoln began the 2021 season with 62 players on the roster. By comparison, the Jefferson City Jays have 73 players listed on their roster, and that's a Class 4 football program compared to a Division II college team.
You can blame COVID-19 for restricting last season's recruitment. You can blame the transfer portal, which, if you look at last year's roster, it appears several Blue Tigers took advantage of during the past offseason. You can even blame Lincoln's lack of recent success, making it an unlikely destination for players who have postseason aspirations.
You can blame one of several things and not be wrong.
Me? I blame Lindenwood.
In October 2018, the Lions announced they were leaving the MIAA to join the GLVC. The St. Charles school, which began its transition from the NAIA to Division II in 2011, probably preferred the move based on geographic purposes. After all, bus trips to Nebraska-Kearney, Central Oklahoma and Fort Hays State are at least seven hours one way.
But as far as football goes, you could easily make the argument the MIAA is a tougher gauntlet than the GLVC, and for Lindenwood, the switch means more chances for wins.
The downfall for Lincoln was, with Lindenwood's move, it ended the Blue Tigers' brief stint in the GLVC as a football program and moved them back into the MIAA, no ifs, ands or buts.
So how has the move worked out for the two football programs?
Lindenwood just celebrated its second GLVC championship Saturday following a 45-30 win against McKendree, while Lincoln has only won one game since the end of the 2018 season.
The move back to the MIAA hurts Lincoln because the Blue Tigers aren't able to schedule any non-conference games, due to 12 teams and an 11-game schedule.
A non-conference schedule would not only give Lincoln an opportunity to play other HBCU schools -- Langston, Lane or Lincoln (Pa.), for example -- but also a chance to schedule opponents that give the Blue Tigers better odds for a win.
But that option is off the table as long as Lincoln is in the MIAA.
I'm not advocating Lincoln leave the MIAA. It's a good conference for their nationally ranked track and field program to compete against, and many of the nearby conferences are probably not looking to add to their membership. And being an independent would be a scheduling nightmare.
Lincoln's best bet is to advocate for two six-team divisions in football, which would open up a few dates for non-conference games. This move would also be good for other struggling programs like Northeastern State and Missouri Southern, but for powerhouses like Northwest Missouri, they probably prefer the schedule the way it is, not having to deal with scheduling additional opponents.
Lincoln likely has very little leverage in pushing for divisions, but if the MIAA -- which boasts itself as the toughest Division II football conference -- is only able to get two teams into the NCAA playoffs, perhaps the powerhouses might start having second thoughts about the topic.