From 1952-53, Lincoln had the greatest two-year run in the history of its football program. Under the direction of legendary head coach Dwight T. Reed, both the 1952 and 1953 Lincoln football teams went unbeaten, finishing with a combined record of 16-0-2. This marks the only time in Lincoln history in which its football team went two years without losing a game, and the 1953 team was the last Lincoln squad to go undefeated. In 1952, the Blue Tigers won three games by 43 or more points; defeated four future NCAA Division I opponents in Alcorn State, Jackson State, South Carolina State and Tennessee State; and finished as the No. 2 team in the country according to the Pittsburgh Courier. In 1953, Lincoln won six games by at least 19 points and beat five current Division I opponents, including Alcorn State, Eastern Illinois, Jackson State, South Carolina State and Texas Southern.
Members of the 1952 Lincoln Football Team
James Adams
Charles Alexander
James Boganey
Daniel Booker
Richard Booker
Gerald Brown
Wade Campbell
Lester Dabney,
Alonzo Dent, Asst. Coach
James Dorsey
Edsel Fletcher
Ollie W. Gates
Joseph Hardaway
James Harrison
Aubrey Hawkins
Frank Holman
Otis Jordan
Will Kellogg
Leo Lewis
James R. Lucas
Harold L. Mabrey, Mgr./Stat.
Raymond Marsh, Co-Capt.
Charles McClanahan, Mgr.
Ben F. McCoy
Lamon Ogletree
Matthew Paige
J.C. Patrick
Dwight T. Reed, Head Coach
Oliver Sellers
Sherman Scruggs, Jr.
Marion Smith
Calvin Stephens
Harry Stokes
Henry Thomas
Alphonso Thompson
William Tipper
Tommie Toland
Herbert MAJ. Tucker, Asst. Coach
Harry Walker
George Wilson
Robert Wren
Robert Wyatt
Lawrence Young
Members of the 1953 Lincoln Football Team
Charles Alexander
Earl Beeks, Asst. Coach
Richard Billingslea
Daniel Booker
James Bostic
Gerald Brown
Martin Carrington
Lester Dabney
James Dorsey
Edsel Fletcher, Student Coach
James Ford
Ollie W. Gates
H. Randolph Halsey, Mgr.
Joseph Hardaway
James Harrison
Aubrey Hawkins
Frank Holman
Otis Jordan
Raymond Kemp, Athletic Director
Norvel Lee
Leo Lewis
James R. Lucas, Student Coach
Harold L. Mabrey, Mgr./Stat.
Charles Martin
Charles McClanahan, Mgr.
Ben F. McCoy
Nathaniel McKnuckles
D.W. McMoore, Asst. Coach
Thomas McNair
Lamon Ogletree
J.C. Patrick
Griffin Peoples, Mgr.
Arthur Pugh
Dwight T. Reed, Head Coach
Lester Roundtree
Marion Smith
Calvin Stephens
Henry Thomas, Capt.
Alphonso Thompson
William Tipper
Ronald Townson
Harry Walker
Robert Waters
Robert Wren
Robert Wyatt
Clifford Young
Lawrence Young
