LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA (October 20, 2008)- Since the disbandment in 1960 Lincoln spent 48 years without the excitement of a Homecoming football game. The Lincoln family adjusted well without the team but there was still something missing. Through teamwork, encouragement, support and the athleticism of the 50 plus young men who reinvented the team, Homecoming 2008 will go down in history.
Homecoming without a football game is like peanut butter without jelly, you could have one by itself but together they make a great combination. Once the word about the revival of Lincoln's football team was official, assistant coach Elliott Lightfoot began the recruiting process. Among the first set of recruits was sophomore wide receiver and health science major Shawn Bethea (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway HS) (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway).
“Lincoln showed the most interest,” said Bethea. “When Coach Lightfoot said they were starting a team I figured it would be a nice chance for me to start, and I wanted to make history. Coach said he believed I had the potential to go places and I could help make a difference.”
Bethea caught a game high six passes in the homecoming game against Elizabeth City State and scored Lincoln's only touchdown off a five yard pass from quarterback Aaron Thomas (Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area HS) on the final play of the first half.
Bethea finished the game with 52 receiving yards and is second on the team with 29 catches for 246 yards. Bethea has been busy during the month of October, catching 17 passes.
“Bethea is a diamond in the rough,” said Lightfoot. “Once he realizes his potential and his ability, he'll be a force to be reckoned with. The future is bright for this young man.
Bethea's touchdown catch was a repeat of Lincoln's season opener against George Mason where he scored his first career touchdown of the season off a five yards pass from starting quarterback Kareem Dennis (Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln). His effort helped fuel Lincoln's 34-7 victory over George Mason.
Bethea began playing football at the age of seven and started again at 10. He said as a kid they never had a basketball court, all they had was a field of grass so his dad bought him a football and nothing else seemed as exciting. Bethea's father (Eric Bethea) as been his number one supporter, never missing a sporting event in high school and continuing the tradition in college.
Bethea said, “My dad has been at all the home games this year. He never really played football but he likes to give me pointers as a dad and as a fan.”
George Mason, according to Bethea, was a real confidence booster for the team. They felt unstoppable and sometime overly confident about the season. Bethea believes they need to regain that confidence if they wish to finish the season as strong as they started.
With the excitement and nervousness of the first season almost out the way, Lincoln now has something to show when they begin the recruiting process again. The campus and the Lincoln family have embraced the team and look forward to seeing the damage they will cause on the field in the future. Lincoln's small campus and big heart is what makes it such a unique place to build a foundation.
“The campus seemed active, like it had a fun environment,” said Bethea. “It seemed like a great place to play and get an education because it was in the middle of nowhere, less distractions to worry about.”
With players like Bethea putting in work on and off the field Lincoln is finally beginning to restore the roar in its athletic department and within the Lincoln community.
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