Lincoln Football has been a dominate force in the state of Florida, now it is being recognized on a national level as a Nike 'Elite" Football School.
Lincoln Head Football Coach Yusuf Shakir says,
"Just excited and enjoying it. We finalized it about two months ago in January and just keeping it quiet for me was the hard part."
Lincoln High School Principal Allen Burch adds,
"From the moment we started discussions with Nike I was, I really wanted it to happen because being an Elite program, we are an elite program and just to be acknowledged is big for us."
The two parties signed the agreement in front of players, coaches, students and faculty in Lincoln's courtyard last Thursday. Nike will sponsor the Trojans in the fall. Lincoln in one of five schools in the sunshine state and the only member in North Florida to be labeled an 'Elite' program. Conversations with Nike started two years ago, but the label began long before that.
Yusuf Shakir adds,
"It's so excited because as you look back you always want your school to do well and so for me to be able to come back here and just to be a part of this, I feel so special and grateful."
In Lincoln's thirty four season of football, the Trojans have won over two hundred and sixty games , including sixteen trips to the state playoffs and two state titles.