For the past three years, Lincoln University has existed on the outskirts of college football, operating without NCAA affiliation, a dedicated stadium, or adequate facilities. Known as the Oaklanders, they have played every game on the road, mostly resulting in losses by significant margins. Players, including long snapper Etem Ulusan, described their experience as being akin to “sacrificial lambs.”
However, the challenges extended beyond the field, with players revealing troubling conditions behind the scenes. Allegations included practices without a certified athletic trainer, insufficient equipment, players on food stamps, unexpected financial burdens, a scarcity of water during practice, and overcrowded housing arrangements, such as players sleeping in living rooms and kitchens.
In interviews with 46 current and former players and five assistant coaches, a distressing image of the program emerged, shedding light on the realities of lower-tier college football programs like Lincoln, which can schedule games against Division I schools and receive payments while struggling with minimal resources.
The Oaklanders, unregulated as they aren’t part of the NCAA or NAIA, have become known as college football vagabonds, often playing away games at higher-profile opponents’ stadiums in exchange for financial guarantees. Despite receiving at least $742,000 over three seasons, including $421,000 last year, Lincoln’s financial struggles persisted, exacerbated by the university’s exclusion from federal financial aid programs.
Lincoln University, primarily a business school, turned to sports, particularly football and basketball, to boost enrollment after a decline in overseas applicants due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The university hired Desmond Gumbs, a coach and businessman, to start its athletic department. However, the athletic ambitions outpaced the financial resources, leading to challenges such as NBA legend Gary Payton using his own money to fund the basketball team’s essentials.
While Gumbs spoke of a vision for the football program, players and coaches experienced broken promises, financial burdens, inadequate equipment, housing issues, and a lack of certified athletic trainers. The team’s practices took place at the College of Alameda’s soccer field, which had no goalposts and deteriorated artificial turf, showcasing further cost-cutting measures.
Players also faced housing challenges, with overcrowded living conditions and some paying rent directly to coaching staff members. The team’s turnover was high, and Lincoln attracted players from diverse backgrounds, including those with allegations of sexual assault. The program’s unorthodox nature was highlighted by a lack of certified athletic trainers at practices, relying on opposing teams’ medical staff during games.
Despite these issues, Gumbs defended the program as an opportunity provider and insisted that the startup aimed to give students opportunities rather than putting them in harm’s way. Some players acknowledged the challenges but viewed the experience as worthwhile due to the opportunity to play against Division I schools.
However, critics questioned whether the lack of resources at Lincoln was a hurdle to overcome or a red flag that should have prevented the program’s establishment. The debate raised broader questions about the minimal level of resources and care provided to collegiate athletes, especially at institutions with limited budgets. The revelations surrounding Lincoln University’s football program shed light on the harsh realities faced by some athletes at the lower rungs of college football.