It’s all about the passion.
The Lincoln football team lacked that extra bit of emotion last year, instead resting on past laurels and championships. That didn’t end well. The Railsplitters’ two-year championship run was snapped when the squad fell to Fort Hamilton in the Public Schools Athletic League semifinals, but this year, Lincoln is determined to regain its position at the top.
“We’re looking for them to be a little bit more hungry,” coach Shawn O’Connor said. “I think last year — aside from replacing a lot of starters — there was a bit of complacency after being back-to-back champions. A lack of focus and hunger.”
The Railsplitters return a good chunk of last year’s team, and this season’s group has a very distinctive chip on its collective shoulder.
Lincoln’s defense is one of the deepest squads in the city, chock-full of players who have spent the last few months determined to make up for last year’s playoff miscues. And players return with a very different mindset than previous years — this team isn’t a reigning champion.
“It was a hurtful feeling walking off the field,” said defensive lineman Romello Martin of last season’s loss. “We’re so used to getting to Yankee Stadium and winning it all. We got derailed, but we’re back on track now. Our mindset now is that we’re the underdogs.”
The team was locked in throughout the preseason, running through practices with a determination that was noticeably absent last fall. The squad also found its chemistry from the very first whistle — focused solely on its championship goal.
The experience on defense — and the focus on a championship — gives Lincoln a bit of breathing room on offense, where several players, including quarterback Faruq Shittu, are getting their first shot at starting positions.
The senior didn’t battle for the job — he appeared in six games last year and threw two touchdowns — but there are still a few question marks with him under center.
“He’s not a big kid, but he makes good decisions,” O’Connor said of his new quarterback. “He does have game experience, but the offensive line is returning two guys, so it’s kind of new. It’s key that our defense — especially at the start of the year — gives them the opportunity to put them in good situations.”
Lincoln expects to contend for a title once again this fall, but unlike last year, the Railsplitters aren’t taking anything for granted. The team remembers what losing feels like, and it’s not something the Railsplitters are anxious to repeat.
“They’re looking to create their own legacy,” O’Connor said. “That’s kind of been our mantra. Hang number five. We’ve got four banners up there, let’s hang number five.”
